All Forum Posts by: Account Closed

@Christopher Chen

Hey Chris,

Great to meet you! Welcome to Bigger Pockets!

@Melanie Johnston Thank you so much this is wonderful advice!

Hey everyone,

I am looking into property investment in Arizona however I am unfamiliar about the market there,

was hoping someone who knows the market well can share some insight.

What areas are prime for upcoming development?

I was thinking Phoenix or Scottsdale (Phoenix preferred), what is your take on the area for Buy-and-Hold or AirBnB?

Cheers

There are two schools of thought when it comes to tiling the bathroom or kitchen. One camp says that the wall and floor tiles should complement each other but should not match because matching floor and wall tiles make a room feel smaller and more closed up. The other camp says that running floor tile up the wall is a dramatic way to add interest to the kitchen or bathroom, particularly when you’re using large-format tiles.

So, which camp is right? Well, either or both. Matching floor and wall tiles are a design choice that should be entirely based on what you like and what you think will look good in your room. Here’s what you need to know about floor and wall tiles, along with some great ideas for installing matching tiles on the floors and walls.

The Difference Between Floor Tile and Wall Tile

Perhaps you’ve heard rules of thumb like “Ceramic Tiles are for walls, and Porcelain Tiles are for floors” or “small tiles go on the wall, large tiles go on the floor.” To set the record straight, these old adages are, well, hogwash. You can put ceramic or porcelain on the wall or the floor, and both the wall and the floor can be decked out in large or small tiles.

But there are some key differences between wall tile and floor tile. Tiles made for flooring are very strong and resist wear and tear. The strength and durability of tile are measured with the PEI rating, which evaluates a tile’s resistance to wear on a scale of zero to five. A zero rating means the tile can only be used on the wall. PEI-0 tiles, can’t bear much weight and are generally fairly small and made from ceramic. Tiles with ratings one through five can be used on the floor.

However, when it comes to tiling the walls, you’re not limited to wall tiles. Floor tiles can also be used on the walls and, in fact, they often are, for a variety of reasons:

• Floor tiles are generally larger, so those who want large tiles on their walls will likely choose a floor tile.
• There’s a growing trend of running the floor tile up the walls of the bathroom to create a dramatic, minimalist look.
• Floor tiles come in more colors, shapes, sizes, and textures than wall-only tiles.
• Highly polished tiles on the walls are another design trend that’s hot in 2019, but it’s hard to find highly polished wall tiles.

All of that said, it’s important to understand that not all floor tiles can necessarily be installed on all walls. You have to consider the weight of the tiles and the adhesive and ensure your wall can hold the weight. In general, a solid concrete wall or cement backer board wall should be able to hold the weight of any tile, but a skimmed drywall wall may not be able to bear a very heavy load.

Ideas for Matching Floor and Wall Tiles

You can go any number of directions when matching wall and floor tiles. You aren’t limited to using identical tiles on both surfaces, although doing so creates a striking effect. Here are some tried-and-true ideas for creating gorgeous matching tile looks for your bathroom or kitchen.

Install Large-Format Tiles

Large bathroom tiles make your space feel bigger than it is, thanks to fewer grout lines to break up your visual field. Large tiles are dramatic and luxurious, giving your room a sleek, minimalist look. 

Match the Style but Not the Size

An interesting take on matching floor and wall tiles is to match the color and style but use different sizes. Installing the large tiles on the floor and continuing up the walls with the smaller tiles creates a unified, monochromatic look, but it’s broken up for greater visual interest.

Go Bold

You’re not limited to solid-color tiles when designing your bathroom or kitchen. In fact, you can create drama-loving looks with glass on both the walls and floors. You can create one continuous look with same-sized tiles, or you can use rectangular glass tiles on the floor and square tiles on the walls.

Consider Textures

For a unique aesthetic, choose tiles with interesting color variations and textures. With natural stones like marble, travertine, slate, and granite, you can achieve varying colors and textures in the organic material. In contrast to solid-colored tiles, you’ll attain perfect continuity while differentiating the walls from the floor, and these differing textures will create a fabulous feast for the eyes.

Play with Shape

You’re not stuck with square and rectangular tiles for the bathroom or kitchen. Large Hexagon Tiles or Honeycomb Tiles that cover the floor and continue up the walls creates vivid texture and interest. Some mosaic tiles, feature several different-sized tiles to create a dynamic, fluid look.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of tiles for the floor and walls to find the match that works for you. If you’re looking for clean lines and minimalism, choose tiles that are uniform in shape and solid in color. If you’re adventurous, you can create a powerful look using matching patterned or textured tiles. Either way, the sky’s the limit when it comes to matching floor and wall tiles, and it’s a sensational look that will continue to be on-trend well into the next decade.

@Zack Rosenbaum, let's connect - I am happy to share my network with you as I feel we can get you the specs you are looking for at a much lower cost. The price for 5mm thickness LVP is quite high in my opinion.

@Dante Foreman

Flooring materials I have a ton of recommendations.

PM me I can help you find some things.

@Vern M.

Great point!

Financing Options for a Remodel

The very first step of a remodel is to decide how much money you’re willing and able to invest in it. A good rule of thumb is to spend no more than 10 to 15 percent of your home’s value on any single room. Any more, and the remodel likely won’t add to the value of your home in proportion to what you spent.

You can finance your renovation in a number of ways:

Cash. If you’ve got it on hand, you can avoid paying interest and service fees by handing over cold, hard cash for your reno job. You may have the money in savings, or it may come from a tax refund or an investment in stocks, art, or other things you can sell to finance the remodel.

Personal or unsecured loan. If you need between $15,000 and $50,000 to pull off your ideal remodel, consider applying for a personal or unsecured loan, which won’t require collateral. These loans offer quick approval and fast payout, but they carry higher interest rates since they’re unsecured.

Secured loan. If you need more than $50,000, a secured loan is probably the way to go. A secured loan requires collateral, which can be a car, your home, real estate you own, or another high-value asset. Since the loan is secured, the interest rate is far lower than that of an unsecured loan.

Low- or no-interest credit card. A small remodel may fit on a low-interest or zero interest credit card, and if you have the means to pay it off before the interest rates kick in or go up, you’ll pay the same as cash or a little more. If you don’t pay it off by the end of the terms, the higher interest could add up quickly, making the renovation far more expensive than you intended.

Cash-out refinance. If you have equity in your home, you can refinance your mortgage and draw some of that equity out in cash. However, the interest rates for a cash-out refinance are often higher than average.

Home equity line of credit (HELOC). A HELOC lets you borrow money against the available equity in your home, which is used for collateral for the line of credit. You can draw on your line of credit like a credit card, using only what you need. A HELOC typically has a drawing period of ten years and a repayment period of 20 years, which starts at the end of the drawing period.

Reverse mortgage. If you’re 62 years old or older and have either paid off your home or have an outstanding mortgage that’s less than 50 percent of the value of the home, you may qualify for a reverse-mortgage. You can receive a large one-time sum, or you can establish a line of credit to draw from.

Once you’ve figured out where the remodel budget will come from and how much you have to spend, set aside 15 to 20 percent of those funds for those expensive surprises that almost always come up during a renovation. Now, with the remaining funds as your budget, it’s time to ballpark the cost of what you have in mind.

Estimating Remodeling Costs

The average cost of remodeling a space of less than 1,000 square feet is $18,347, according to HomeAdvisor. How much your remodel costs depends on a whole bunch of factors, including:

• Where you live.
• What room you’re remodeling.
• How extensive the job is.
• How many and which professionals you’ll need to hire.
• The materials and finishes you choose.

You can use a resource like the Remodelling Calculator to get started, but the more accurate your estimate is for your remodel, the better the chances of staying within your budget and avoiding unhappy surprises. Keep in mind that if your plans involve any structural changes, you’ll need to hire an architect. A designer can help you maximize your space and minimize your costs, help you prioritize your needs and wants to stay within the remodel budget, and provide plenty of options for materials across a range of price points.

If you’re going the DIY route, price everything individually, from the professionals you’ll need to hire and the Flooring Options you’re considering to the appliances, fixtures, and furniture that speak to your heart. Visit with contractors, and compare prices for materials and furnishings locally and online.

Once you have a solid estimate, it’s time to upgrade or downgrade your plans. If you’re over-budget, you’ll have to scale it back. If you’re under-budget, you’ll need to decide if you want to go farther with your renovation.

Staying Within Your Remodel Budget

If you remain flexible and stay on top of the reno, the chances of meeting your remodel budget are pretty good. That 15 to 20 percent you socked away will soften the blow when you find out you need new electrical wiring or mold remediation. Here are some other ways to stay on top of your remodel budget during your renovation.

• Keep track of every dollar spent. Small, seemingly inconsequential but unplanned purchases can add up to big money.
• Do your research, and choose reputable, knowledgable contractors. Cutting corners here can cost you big.
• Save wherever possible. Do the demo yourself, scour your local eco store for reclaimed building materials, and buy things in bulk or on sale when you can.
• Monitor the budget as you go, and make changes to the plans as needed. If it seems like you’re going to need to add some money for plumbing, you’ll want to figure out where it’s coming from.
• Resolve to stay strong. It can be tempting to add to the budget to accommodate a gorgeous refrigerator that just hit the market or go for the hand-hewn hardwood floors. But doing so can have dire financial consequences. Don’t let your eyes get bigger than your stomach.

Your reno doesn’t have to break the bank. By setting a realistic remodel budget, socking some of it away for little catastrophes, and planning and monitoring your renovation carefully, you’re looking to come out ahead in the end.

@Zoran Domazet

Hey Zoran,

In terms of Material costs I understand the need for flooring in some areas but to be honest looking at the pictures it may be better to replace them throughout. I am not sure where you have allocated budget in terms of Painting / Other materials but I feel the budget you’ve allowed is a stretch given the size of the property and I feel you can stay under that and still replace those floors.

However best to get a contractor to give it the once over as you discussed to get a quote together, looks like you are on the right track.

@Sergio B.

+1 to what everyone said.

Unless you are planning on re-selling the home it only makes sense to stick with Vinyl.

Do you have pictures of the previous Vinyl you used so we can compare?