Shingles are composed of ceramic granules which reflect the suns ultraviolet rays.

We've installed canned lights in the front room, done all the sheetrock repair, sprayed the entire interior, and started working on the master bath shower.My GC is telling me in the next 10 days we'll have all the tile work (ceramic master bath shower, guest bath floor, slate entry extension, and kitchen backsplash), exterior trim, fence, new appliances, counters, fixtures, windows, and hard wood resurface done.I'm not expecting this, but we'll see what happens.

It goes in much like ceramic tile or glue down wood floors.

I could buy ceramic for 79 cents, and the best I've done on the porcelain is about $3.50.

NO, ceramic tile when new floors are required and not until then.

Another factor is the level of finish - each year we better the standard of finish based on the market demands (i.e. formica to granite, white to black appliances, VCT to ceramic, etc.).  

I prefer hardwood, ceramic tile, vinyl plank, sheet vinyl then carpet in that order.I generally don't install hardwood new because of the cost but I look for properties that already have it.

If you are planning to keep the property, you might want to consider ceramic tile.

Floating vinyl for kitchen/bath areas unless there's already ceramic tile there.Neutral colors, have done the "one color everywhere" deal but don't find it any cheaper or easier; satin or similar in kitchens & bathrooms, flat or eggshell everywhere else. 

Mistakes I made: Laying ceramic tile instead of linoleum.