Ceramic tile insalatin isn't rocket science. I taught myself.

Doing it yourself makes it cheaper than carpet. It is a bit of work. 216.127.220.116

I have installed many ceramic tile floors in kitchens and baths. I would not install one in living rooms ro bedrooms in northern ohio. However, I think that in florida they would be a plus. Installation is not dificult. Since your home is no a slab, you will not even have to install tile backer board first. The tiles can be installed directly on top of the cement slab using thinset mortar. If you buy a wet saw (available at home depot for just under $100 the job will be even easier. A single person can lay the floor. However, it is much easier with 2 persons. One person applies the mortar to the floor with a notched trowel. The second person hands tiles to person 1 and cuts any tiles needing cutting. You may wish to purchase a how to book at your local home improvement store or get one from the library. Good luck. 64.12.104.37

I found that the hardest parts were (1) learning to trowel out the morter quickly and smoothly, (2) keeping the lines straight, and (3) cutting any kind of curve in the tiles. I found that grouting was really pretty easy. Grouting is really a good job for 2 people. One person grouts a section, then other wipes it down (several times) while the first grouts the next section. Done in no time.

It took me much longer to do than I anticipated. However, by the end, I could do it pretty fast. There was just a fairly steep hill for me before it became easy. I started with a really *large* family room. It was too much to start with. Do a bath or a kitchen first.

Use colored grout (not white) so that dirt won't show. You can seal the grout to keep dir out, but that is real tedious and has to be redone every 6 months or so. 198.151.12.20

Friends of mine that live in Palm Beach used tile in all their rooms. Made cleaning a snap. Just a sweep of a broom to get rid of dirt & sand. Area rugs added warmth to the living and dining rooms. Great look for Florida. 56.0.96.17

People with allergies or children with asthma would probably prefer ceramic tile to carpet any day. 64.12.102.48

If you build any units from the ground up---construct them on a slab. SCORE the concrete while it is "green" and stain/finish. We did a six-plex Townhouse unit that way and the Tenants have yet to figure out a way to tear the kitchen,dining,bathroom floors!! The layout of the units left 12ft wide carpeted areas that allow for the use of remnants. Being a landlord and a Floor store owner, I can tell you this has saved a tremendous amount of material and labor. 216.152.15.110

We tile entries, kitchens and baths. We also do all our bath walls up 4 ft and do the tub surrounds in tile. We even build our own kitchen counter-tops with ceramic and create gorgeous custom patterned counter tops. We've learned to do two toned floors on diagonal that get the houses rented the instant the wife looks at them.

It returns a good price when you have the properties appraised. Our tile work is always mentioned in the appraisals.

Also learn how to refinish hardwood if you have it in any rentals (what does this property have?), another equity booster when the properties are appraised plus gives you a floor that is less expensive over the years than laying carpet every 3-4 years or having it cleaned over and over with the attendent smell issues that you mentioned.

Beautiful floors and well painted attractive walls and trim in warm colors will rent your properties faster than houses with worn carpet and apartment white flat paint walls. 64.12.107.46