Flooring choice for rental

[Triplegreen500]

So. I'm renovating one of my rentals. Bare-stud, totally fresh redo - wiring, plumbing, lighting, all of it. Drywall is hung, I'm in the mud process now, I have cabinets and fixtures ready to go in. Doors will be 2-panel design

And kitchen cabinets will be farmhouse style, painted finish. Bathroom is also traditional

Porcelain tub will have subway tile and charcoal grout

Bathroom floors will be white hex with charcoal grout.

I like the traditional look and it's a country setting. Paint will be shades of neutrals, trim bright white.

My debate is, what to do with the rest of the flooring. It will be hard surface. Debating true wood (I can get unfinished hardwood for $1/sf), or waterproof composite (about $2/sf). But...how to finish it? Those bleached/pickled/white-gray wood floors are ... trendy, but still a lot of them out there. Or, a more traditional wood finish (blonde, gunstock, oak, etc).

Thoughts? Again. It's a rental, so it has to appeal to people potentially every couple of years...and I do not want to go redoing it every tenant so I also want durable. Upstairs apt is true hardwood from the 1950s and I love it

It isn't perfect, but for 73 years old it's damned nice. THAT, is durability!

 

[Scott Engelhardt]

LVT is really good stuff, I used a commercial grade in my retail store 12 years ago and it still looks great. I put LVT in my basement and we really like it. Very easy to install

 

[RR Fan Dan]

I used this for my kitchen, laundry room, and bathroom, 2 years ago. It is holding up nicely. It truly is water resistant. I even used it for my kitchen counter tops over the top of the existing Formica.

Lowe’s Quick Step

 

[Triplegreen500]

I guess my main question wasn't clear - what COLOR would folks go with? Natural wood, or the bleached/gray/pickled look?

 

[RR Fan Dan]

I guess my main question wasn't clear - what COLOR would folks go with? Natural wood, or the bleached/gray/pickled look?

Where is the flooring going? Is the picture above with the hardwood floors what is not being replaced? Is that what the new flooring is going up against?

 

[Triplegreen500]

The photo above is the finished unit in the duplex.

The new flooring will be going in the other unit.

Here.

 

[RR Fan Dan]

The photo above is the finished unit in the duplex.

The new flooring will be going in the other unit.

Here.

View attachment 1820823View attachment 1820824View attachment 1820825View attachment 1820826

Oh in that case, I would go with natural wood like an oak color, or cherry if I wanted a more formal look. Both of those are timeless and will age well and not look bad 25 years from now. Unlike shag carpet and avocado green bathroom fixtures.

 

[Triplegreen500]

No carpet - ever! - and the bathroom fixtures and tile are WHITE. Want color in the bathroom? Paint. Easy to change with trends compared to the tile and fixtures.

Upstairs unit:

White tile, charcoal grout, and currently navy blue paint.

I'm leaning towards natural wood tones as well. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't crazy by not doing the bleached stuff.

 

[Mopar Hunter]

I would go natural wood is classic.

 

[Moms68]

LL Flooring has a great selection. I've used their 6mm vinyl plank and it is terrific. Grays are very popular and look great. You can apply for a contractor account and get very good pricing.

Gray Vinyl Plank Flooring