Buying an investment property often includes the installation of a new type of flooring. When you start to look into the best flooring options, you may be tempted to choose an expensive choice like marble or natural stone. But if you want an affordable option for your rental property, you can find other flooring materials that will have better qualities to suit your needs.

When you choose new flooring for your rental property, select one that has low maintenance and does not require continuous maintenance, such as waxing, oiling or fluffing. In regards to flooring options for a rental property, every landlord is aware that tenants will most likely not perform maintenance tasks on any part of the property. Carpet and tile are two of the lowest maintenance flooring options.

Affordability is another option that an investor wants to consider in their flooring choice. The costs of material, installation, and maintenance will contribute to the efficiency and affordability of that flooring option. Just like the low maintenance flooring, carpet and tiles is also very affordable.

Durability is another factor to consider when looking for any flooring option. Durability is the ability of the flooring to withstand foot traffic and constant movement. As a property investor, durability should always come to your mind when looking for flooring options. When considering strength, choose vinyl floors and laminate as they are both durable.

If you want to know the best flooring materials for your rental property, here are some flooring options and different reasons why they are suitable for your property.

Carpet is one of the best flooring materials that is great for insulating any room and increasing energy efficiency. This is great to use in multi-family rental properties as it can help reduce the noise throughout the property. However, there are downsides in a carpet, as you will find it hard to remove stains and odors. Maintaining carpeted floors usually requires good, frequent cleanings and sometimes even large patches.

Tile is a popular flooring option for a lot of rental properties. This type of flooring material is waterproof, easy to clean, and affordable. On the downside, tiles can crack, the grout might need to be replaced, and it has a more expensive installation cost. Tiles are great to install in rooms such as the bathroom, kitchen, and basement.

Hardwood floors are preferred by many homeowners, as they think this type of flooring material has the best aesthetic appeal. Hardwood floors can last forever when properly maintained. They can be cleaned easily and can be refinished for a brand-new look. On the other hand, hardwoods can easily be scratched and dented, and it’s an expensive option. It’s best to use a hardwood floor in areas like the living room, dining room, and bedrooms. Generally, it is recommended in any place with less foot traffic.

A laminate flooring option is a cost effective option to achieve the look of hardwood without the expense. Laminate flooring has many options, styles and shades available in the market today. Many property investors prefer this type of flooring because it’s more affordable than hardwood, it’s easy to install, and resistant to scratches. Of course, there are downsides to this flooring option as well, such as not having the same lifespan as real hardwood floors, and you cannot refinish it as you would do to hardwood floors. Laminate floors are great to use in high traffic areas such as living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens.

Many property investors do not find vinyl to be the best floor option for their rental properties. This type of flooring material does boast some good qualities though. Vinyl is affordable, easy to install and clean, and it is water-resistant.

Cork floors may not be the most popular flooring option available out there, but this type of flooring material offers excellent qualities compared to other options on the market today. Cork floors can be installed quickly and can reduce noise, however they do need to be resealed regularly to ensure no water damage occurs.

While choosing the best flooring options for a rental property can be challenging, the top factors to consider will be affordability and durability of the flooring materials that you wish to choose.