DESIGN POINT
FLOORING OPTIONS
Vinyl Flooring Decisions Made in the Field HOW REAL INVESTORS DECIDE WHAT RESIDENTS AND BUYERS WILL WALK ON.
by Carole VanSickle Ellis
F
LUXURYVINYL PLANK “We install luxury vinyl plank in our brand-new homes and our renovated turnkey properties. The look is appealing to our residents and vinyl’s durability and low costs of maintenance and replacement appeal to our investors.” – James Wachob, Memphis Investment Properties
or investors, flooring decisions are largely practical and revolve around return on investment (ROI) at the point of resale and maintenance prevention during ownership of the property in question. As technology improves, what used to be a relatively simple question (carpet or hardwood?) has evolved into a much more complicated discussion thanks to the evolution of vinyl flooring. Here, we break down the basics of vinyl flooring and how it compares to that classic flooring, hardwood, with insights from some of the highest-volume and most successful real estate investors, rehabbers, contractors, and builders in the country. WHAT ISVINYL FLOORING? Vinyl flooring, or sheet vinyl, and luxury vinyl plank (LVP) are made from colored polyvinyl chloride (PVC) chips formed into solid sheets and installed onto smooth, leveled sub-floor using special adhesives or mortars or using a click-lock system. "For rentals, luxury vinyl tile (LVT) or luxury vinyl plank (LVP) is best by far for durability and ease of replacing only a specific damaged section – if it ever damages.” – Bryan Blankenship, Ohio Turnkey
PROS • Extremely durable • Moisture-resistant • Lots of design options • Easy to replace partial sections
CONS • Does not absorb sound • Health & safety risks associated with falls and slipping, which are the leading causes of workplace injuries Cost of Installation: Sheet Vinyl & Luxury Vinyl Plank The cost of vinyl plank flooring runs the gamut depend- ing on materials and type of installation. For this reason, we
16 | think realty magazine :: september 2018
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