NORTHEAST INVESTORS, Flooring choices in 100 year old triplex

[David DuCille]

Hello everyone, I am based out of Tampa florida where i own and have rehabbed several properties but I just put a triplex under contract in Rhode Island.  I'm a native  to the South Shore of Massachusetts so i'm very familiar with these old early 1900s buildings.  My question isn't really one about construction per se as much as it is about people and expectations.  This property will be getting fully gutted, it had a pipe burst on the 2nd floor and the seller has already demoed most of the property including the original hardwood floors.  It is down to the plank subfloor.   I use laminate and vinyl plank all the time here in Tampa on our concrete slab homes and it's considered a pretty standard thing.  Even higher end homes are going with it vs Engineered wood which was previously the choice for the higher end homes.  But I can't help but feel like these old early 1900s homes just seem to scream out for real hardwood which is of course very expensive?   AM i way off base here?  We are shooting for the high end of the rental market when it's done but with that said, it's not located in a super high end area (woonsocket, RI).   Much of the lath and plaster has been demoed out so fresh new drywall will be going in.  I'm sure most of the door casing and trim work is gone too so part of me feels like, if we are going down to the studs, just bring it back to new modern standards.  But there may be some opportunities to salvage old solid wood doors and other charachter elements and it seems like if thats the case hardwood is appropriate.  

What do you guys think?

[Justin Hammerle]

Hi @David DuCille

Congrats on your new deal. Vinyl plank is what is going in most new luxury apartment communities in the area and is more than suitable for the Woonsocket market.  As long as the selection is done right, I don't see it taking away from the character of the home at all.