There are some important attributes any flooring for multi-family residential properties should possess. Multi-family flooring should be:

• Durable
• Long lasting
• Affordable
• Comfortable
• Safe

Every property owner wants to save money without having to sacrifice too much on quality, which is why cheapest generally isn’t the way to go. The least expensive flooring options tend to be less comfortable and visually appealing in addition to requiring more frequent replacement. Flooring that costs 25 percent more but lasts 10 years instead of 5 years will save you money in the long run.

Higher quality flooring is also a positive attribute from a tenant’s perspective, allowing landlords and property owners to charge more and increase property valuations.

The most expensive flooring possible usually isn’t the best idea either. There are diminishing returns in the relationship between longevity, durability and price. Eventually you’re paying for the name rather than functional flooring performance.

Finding a middle ground where you’re getting the best flooring for your dollar is generally the ideal way to go about choosing the right flooring for remodeling multi-family housing.

Your Flooring Options and the Benefits and Drawbacks of Each

There are several common flooring types you’ll find in multi-family housing units, including laminate, vinyl, carpet, engineered hardwood and tile. The best flooring option for your property probably depends on your geographic area, the types of tenants you’re targeting and the price range of your rental property.

Carpet is comfortable and dampens sound, which can be an asset in multi-family housing. Carpet also gets dirty more quickly and you must rely on your tenants to vacuum and take other maintenance steps to maintain it. Depending on the laws and regulations in your area, you may even be forced to replace carpet in your rental unit every seven years or less.

Different types of hardwood flooring have their own benefits and drawbacks. Engineered hardwood flooring can last a long time if properly maintained but is expensive to install. If you ever want to refinish hardwood flooring, you either must wait for a tenant to move out or inconvenience them with a messy sanding and refinishing process. Hardwood flooring can also be susceptible to certain types of damage and will be expensive to repair or replace if you have a tenant who is especially abusive to your property.

Laminate can be a decent option, but the quality is generally pretty low. Laminate is also a notoriously thin flooring material, meaning it can be easily damaged, scuffed and nicked.

Why Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) Is One of the Best Multi-Family Housing Flooring Solutions

Luxury vinyl flooring has all the positive attributes you want in multi-family housing. It’s extremely durable and resistant to moisture damage, dings and dents. LVT also doesn’t compromise on aesthetics thanks to the photo-realistic printing process used to accurately mimic the appearance of wood, ceramic tile and other luxury flooring materials. It’s also hard to beat the comfort of LVT as a material to walk on.

Cutting-Edge Manufacturing Helps Set LVT Apart from the Rest

Luxury vinyl flooring is a multilayered product with several important components compressed into a simple, durable package. The layers in Attraxion, one of Metroflor’s LVT flooring brands, include:

1. Special protectant treated layer on top to resist stains, abrasions, odors and inhibit mold and mildew growth
2. Clear vinyl wear layer
3. High-resolution ultra-realistic printed film of natural wood or stone
4. Several layers of solid vinyl cores for stability and flexibility
5. Magnetic underlayment for adhesive-free installation and replacement

LVT is also great from a health standpoint. Carpet can harbor allergens and dust, while LVT does not.

There’s minimal maintenance required to keep LVT looking good, so property owners don’t have to rely nearly as much on tenants to perform their own thorough cleaning. Waxing and other surface treatments are never required.

The Best Multi-Family Housing Flooring

Attraxion Magnetic Flooring is an innovative new flooring material and installation technique that makes new installation easier and replacement a breeze. Thanks to a magnetic underlay, which won’t interfere with electronics, Attraxion can be secured in place without adhesives, which means no adhesive-related VOCs.

In addition to minimizing the cost of floor prep, Attraxion also acts as a moisture barrier and crack suppressant membrane.

This flooring isn’t just the ideal option for multi-family housing. It was also designed to meet the flooring needs of healthcare, hospitality, commercial facilities, schools and retail facilities.

If you’re looking for an all-purpose spill and moisture-resistant flooring that’s equally effective in bathrooms, bedrooms, living rooms and kitchens, it’s hard to go wrong with Attraxion from Metroflor.

Contact us to learn more about this revolutionary multi-family flooring solution.