Selecting the right type of flooring for your multifamily unit involves carefully weighing your options. Fortunately, flooring options have evolved significantly over the past two decades, so your choices are no longer limited to laminate or tile. Today’s multifamily flooring options give Northern Colorado property owners a wide range of choices.
FACTORS TO CONSIDER FOR MULTIFAMILY FLOORING
To begin, you’ll want to list the more important aspects related to your apartment flooring choice.
- Is the material durable?
- How cost-effective is it?
- How pricey is the installation process?
- Is it relatively easy to maintain?
- Is it on-trend/stylish?
- Which areas is it best suited for?
Renters want something that’s visually appealing but also relatively easy to maintain. Because rental units tend to be high-traffic, it’s critical that you choose multifamily flooring that performs as well as it looks. (Can it withstand kids, pets, and all of the year-round, in-and-out traffic associated with living an active Northern Colorado lifestyle?) Here’s a quick rundown of apartment flooring options favored by our staff at Element Design.
BEST MULTIFAMILY FLOORING OPTIONS
LAMINATE
Laminate is a favorite for multifamily flooring for its price point and durability. Warm underfoot and resistant to scratching and staining, today’s laminate has been updated to embrace the latest trends. It’s especially well-suited for the typical high-traffic areas such as foyers and hallways.
LUXURY VINYL (LVT)
Luxury vinyl (or LVT) has the benefit of being extremely durable as well as both water- and soundproof. Modern LVT is built to simulate natural materials such as tile, wood, and stone. Because of its versatility, it’s a strong choice for kitchens, bathrooms, laundry areas, and anywhere else where moisture might be involved.
When you see an apartment with hardwood flooring, there’s a pretty good chance it’s actually just luxury vinyl. This is a great substitute, as it’s easier to maintain and looks just as good.
HARDWOOD
Hardwood and engineered hardwood flooring both offer an upscale, sophisticated visual appeal. Both are relatively easy to clean, but are best left for areas where moisture isn’t a factor. While hardwood and engineered hardwood are softer on the feet than tile, they will scratch and dent, making maintenance – and even replacement costs – something to consider. Because of this, many will opt for LVT in their apartment buildings instead.
However, hardwoods upgrade the look of living rooms and multifamily units with open floor plans.
COMMERCIAL FLOOR TILE
Commercial floor tile is available in a wide variety of styles. Property owners in Northern Colorado appreciate that commercial tile is durable and waterproof, making it relatively easy to maintain. One upside is that if one gets damaged, you can replace the single tile rather than the entire flooring material. Tile is a great selection for high-traffic areas and apartment areas likely to be exposed to moisture on a regular basis such as kitchens and bathrooms. However, be sure to ask your flooring consultant for each tile’s slip rating to help avoid accidents.
CARPET
Carpet is still the flooring of choice for bedrooms for its perceived warmth. However, even the best carpets require regular maintenance through vacuuming and periodic cleanings, and their lifespan typically falls shy of 10 years. When looking for carpet for multifamily units, choose materials known for durability, such as nylon, polyester, and polypropylene. Berber carpet tends to show less wear than other options, but keep in mind that carpets in general don’t offer you stain or moisture resistance.
STILL NOT SURE?
Property owners in the Northern Colorado area have access to a seemingly unlimited number of multifamily flooring options. For assistance in selecting apartment flooring that’s both stylish and durable, set up a consultation with us (Element Flooring & Design Center) at our Loveland-area showroom. Visit our contact page to schedule.
