Laminate or vinyl plank

[Ron Luna]

Starting to get general plans together for rehabs for both rental and flips. I was wondering what experienced investors recommend for flooring. We have visited several flooring companies and a few have told us that their vinyl products are now selling more than laminate. My target market is in MS just south of Memphis. I am looking to initially concentrate on SFP's that are around 1300-1800 sf and typically sell in today's market (retail) from $110k - $190k. My goal is to provide a quality rehab, so I don't want to use junk, but definitely not top of the line at this price point. For rentals I definitely want durability, but a look and quality that will attract the right kind of renters. Any suggestions or recommendations?

[David Fernandez]

Hi @Ron Luna, I rarely do flips, so I can’t speak for that. 

However I own quite a few rentals and LVP (Luxury Vinyl Planks) is the way to go for us. They look great (the technology has advance so much that people think they are real hardwood), they are very resilient, they are easy to install and maintain, they are waterproof (I had laminate in one rental and so had to change the entire flooring as it got ruin after a smal water accident; on the other hand, I install LVP in kitchens and bathrooms and never had an issue), etc. 

Keep in mind that, as with any product, there’s a wide range of qualities and prices. We found that the click system installation and a wear layer of 20 mil (definitively no less than 12 mil) gives a great combination of affordability, ease of installation, and durability. 

Here’s a link where you can learn a little bit more about LVP: https://www.flooret.com/vinyl-basics/

Good luck!