Carpet or laminate?

3plus1

Imp wrote: »

As a tenent, I won't rent somewhere with laminate - it's too easily damaged, such as high heals, furniture scratchs etc. Carpet is much nicer to live with. Anything spilt on it can be spot cleaned. It is quieter. etc.

Well, as a tenant, I wouldn't rent anywhere without laminate... It's much easier to clean and it's better for people with allergies (like me). Carpets and rugs are full of dust mites and can make life difficult for people with asthma and eczema.

Why not laminate throughout and stick rugs down on top? Any potential tenant who doesn't like laminate flooring will be consoled by a rug, and anyone who doesn't like carpetting will just roll up the rugs and stick them in a cupboard!

As for what's dated and what's not... You can get nice carpets and nice laminate flooring... But you will never get nice carpet in a bathroom. My OH at one point rented a house with carpet down in the bathroom... It was absolutely horrid.

Dee140157

Thanks for all replies so far. I personally hate laminate which is why I asked. The only other thing I wondered about is whether it is worth getting the floorboards done instead as the house has lovely boards that would come up a treat. And then put a rug or two down. Not sure if this would be popular though as could be cold?

kizzykizzywizzy

Laminate for downsairs IMO - speaking as someone, who has just trodden cat !!!!!! all the way up my stair carpet:eek: ( don't usually wear my shoes upstairs as carpeted, but was in a hurry, that'll teach me! ) laminate easy to clean, I've got 2 children & they are forever spilling things, have tiles in bathroom & kitchen.

Doozergirl

You have to think with your budget rather than what you would want in your own home. And that's budget for future not just this tenancy. Consider what is cheapest that will last. I've got solid oak boards in my own house - there's not a chance a tenant would get that and I don't have to live with the laminate so that's that one decided!

Sanding the boards might be quite cheap and practical. Yes, it's possible it will be cold (is that your concern or not though!). Don't bother with rugs. You don't get a financial return from them so it's wasted money. It mightn't be to someone's taste anyway.

I wouldn't really worry about what is popular with your viewers too much as you'll never get it spot on but it doesn't matter as long as everything is clean and modern. As I said before, by the time we'd seen all the yucky places, there was one house to choose from! You have to move in specific timeframe usually, so you can't hang around waiting for certain floor coverings. Perhaps with apartments you have a choice of fixtures and fittings, but with family homes there isn't much choice at all.

sugarwalsh

Polish the boards, you can not go wrong with that. If it is cold the tennants can buy rugs. And a little effort sanding and varnishing/painting boards will be worth it. They may/may not sway possible tennants, but they wont cost much to do (Hire an industrial type of sander and invest in good dust masks!) and they will keep really well. Make sure you use a really good varnish too. I'm sure I once read about someone using yaught varnish. We used one from Sikkens (I think) 5 years ago. Like I said, still very tough wearing.
Good luck with finding some great tennants.

kizzykizzywizzy

Dee140157 wrote: »

Thanks for all replies so far. I personally hate laminate which is why I asked. The only other thing I wondered about is whether it is worth getting the floorboards done instead as the house has lovely boards that would come up a treat. And then put a rug or two down. Not sure if this would be popular though as could be cold?

I have floorboards in master bedroom & dining room, they look lovely & are very easy to look after too, was quite a long job sanding, with industrial sander & edger, cost well over £100 to hire per day + sand sheets, make sure you get the tool to hit the nails down properly, as if you don't & run over a nail that's a sand sheet ruined & they aren't cheap!
Not mad on laminate either, but floor boards were rubbish in other rooms & have already had 3 carpets in lounge in 8 years:eek:

jaype

I'd go for doing the floorboards. All the advantages of laminate but without the 'Ugh' factor. Personally, I would never, ever rent a house with laminate. We have children and the noise of anything moving over laminate sounds like a herd of elephants - it's awful. Carpets just get ruined rather quickly. However - personal rant - to me, laminate is up there with the avocado bathroom on he list of mustn't haves. If your house or flat has decent flooring it will give it the edge over your competitors and will probably pay for itslef in terms of fewer voids.

neverdespairgirl

We have wooden floors in our flat in the living room, hall, and bedrooms. I'm not sure exactly what laminate is as opposed to other types of wood floors - ours is quiet and underlaid and doesn't mark, though.

I love it. With a toddler spilling everything in sight at every opportunity, it's so easy to sweep and / or mop up, much better than carpets.

So_Sad_Angel

Real wood lasts & lasts....costs slightly more to buy (but shop around) & the fitting cost same as laminate!! Perfect for the buy to let market!...& seems a winner with the tenants too!!

Angex

wymondham

I'd use cheap carpet throughout, and aim to replace it if needed on a room by room basis when you get a new tenant. This way it looks good when you get a new tenant and you can up the rent! (you can tell i have no experience of this can't you!!)

I don't like wooden flooring - noisy and scratches etc...