What type of flooring, where? Carpet/Engineered wood/Tile

[Leland S.]

Hi - I've got a 3 bed/1.5 bath, two level unit. I think we're set on using this CoreTec engineered laminate flooring throughout, including the bathrooms. I initially felt I should use ceramic tile in the bathrooms for the modern look but understand it's harder to install. I'm looking to install the wood floor myself to save about 3-4k. Since this flooring is waterproof it is supposed to be able to handle kitchen and bathroom use. However, I'm thinking of using carpet for the stairs, upstairs landing, downstairs garage converted bedroom at a minimum. Home Depot has free install which saves a lot of cash so if I need to hit their minimum carpet purchase I would include the bedrooms. 

So my main interest in your feedback is:

- Is any carpet acceptable? I think a fully wood floor house is too much, unless their bathroom differentiation. Also costly for a flip. 

- I definitely want carpet in the garage converted bedroom to make it look more cozy like a room. But I'm not sure about the upstairs rooms. Do people prefer or not prefer wood floors in bedrooms?

Thanks for your inputs.

[Mary Shea]

I would venture to guess that in Mt View you are going to get every penny you put into our flip back out.  Use the highest quality finishes you can afford.  Carpet on stairs is a disaster and very hard to keep clean, go with hardwood.  Home Depot has the unfinished white oak for under $30 a piece.   You can finish them in whatever color matches the rest of the flooring.  MDF for the risers and side pieces (not sure what those are called).  I would never do anything else on stairs.  Depot has unfinished rails too, so you can stain those to match.  Again about $30 a pop.  Good Luck!