Could be a number of things like improper install, wood shrinkage, framing deflection. 

@Joshua H.Have you looked at ceramic wood looking tile?  

@Josh Cohen - Bigger Pockets has two great books that can be found here - The Book on Estimating Rehab Costs is a fantastic source of numbers, while The Book on Flipping Houses is a fantastic source of strategy.I believe that you can get them in PDF form or hard copy from either BP or Amazon.To give you an idea of what the first book has - an example page is for flooring, where it will go over all of your options (laminate, hard wood, tile, etc) with cost per square foot, installation cost, comparisons for how long each option will last before needing to be replaced, etc.

Depends on the house though - if it's high end, go wood.

On a typical move-out/move-in job I had my "standard" tool box plus a materials box containing;the standard paint color I used for rentals-Navajo White, a bunch of paint stirring sticks (for sheetrock repair more than stirring paint), a couple of pieces of sheetrock 2' X 2', Elmer's glue, sheetrock screws, switch plates, a couple of outlets and switches, scrubbing stuff and chemicals, DOORSTOPS, light bulbs, mineral spirits and linseed oil and 000 steel wool for touching up stained wood, paper towels, TOILET PAPER, rags, paint brushes, SMALL LADDER, joint compound.Once you've gone through every room doing the "touch ups" you'll have a good idea if you need to come back with your 8' and extension ladders, paint rollers and 5 gallon can of paint and drop clothes.

Typically, you will have some sort of tile or stone in the kitchen (possibly wood too) and so you can have a transaction to carpet or use the same material and have it flow (my preference).

But here's the thing - he charged a premium for his work.

The building was a chicken coop , converted to a workshop in the 1980's Bare wood in the interior .

Nice building & interior, I would've carried the wood flooring into the kitchen, too.

Have not been able to source a supplier for fire retardant  ply wood and lumber.