Hardwood in kitchen and bathroom

[Shanequa J.]

This lady is demoing her house 3 doors down. The wood floors are the same as mine in a house I'm rehabbing. I could get all the wood floors for free, but was wondering if it was a good idea to put the hardwood in the kitchen and the bathrooms instead of vinyl sheets. The house will be a rental.

[Aaron McGinnis]

In a rental? Not just no, but aw HELL no!

Vinyl will still be cheaper and when the renter invariably tears it up, you won't feel like a tool for having put it down.

Hardwoods in wet areas like a bathroom is just begging for water to be left sitting on the wood so it can rot.

Hardwood in a kitchen works ONLY if you're selling the house and the person will therefore give a damn about not leaving water on the floor.

For a rental, use vinyl or tile.

-------

Edited to add: It might still be worth while to salvage the hardwoods from her house if they're in good shape. Store them until you can use them or sell on Craigslist... hardwood flooring ain't exactly the cheapest stuff in the world.