Different flooring Types Opinions.

[Brian Pulaski]

I am not one to reach out for opinions, as I tend to make my decisions and stick with them. In this instance I made a decision, however I am thinking I could save some time and money if I adjust. With that said, I do not want to sacrifice the end product.

The house is a flip. ARV is in the $200-225K area (My realtor thinks it can sell for more but that is another conversation). Homes in the area have hardwood flooring in main areas, tile in kitchens and carpet/plank flooring in basements and sometimes carpet in bedrooms.

The house is a raised ranch/bilevel. Typical 3/1 set up, beds and baths down a hallway, kitchen/living/dining as you would expect. However this house had a 12x20 addition put on the end for added SF. The old owner had this as a porch and dining room. I am turning the old smaller living room into the dining, the kitchen will grow and be much larger than others on the street and the 12x20 becomes the living room (9' ceilings as well!).

The entire floor is already/will be 3/4" 2-1/4" wide oak hardwoods (everything but the bathroom). The 12x20 addition is sunken, with one step down. The original plan was to install unfinished HW and have them stained with the rest of the floor. What has me thinking of changing this up is the following:

     1.) Being accessed from the kitchen space only by an 8' wide cased opening.

     2.) Being a step down.

     3.)  The flooring would run perpendicular to the floor in the rest of the house. (left to right in the house, front to back in the living).

My theory here is to go with a very similar looking floor (color and finish wise) for this living room, however instead of having to install unfinished wood and then pay for finishing, I would like to go with a different floor that can be a simple install and done. I am not sure what to use, LVT, Engineered, Prefinished HW, Laminate... Just looking to see what others would entertain for this scenario.

Thanks in advance!