--100.11.xxx.xx

LVT’s main selling point is its ease of installation (which is why he’s steering you towards it, to make his job easier). It’s water proof, but will not protect sub flooring from moisture damage. It will eventually scratch and show wear. Porcelain tiles are one of the most bullet proof floorings you can put in a property. It can be installed in a manner that will protect the subfloor from moisture damage and will not scratch. If you install porcelain, you’ll only have to do it ONCE. --73.177.xxx.xx

I would agree with your contactor. Many reasons to go this route. --172.58.xx.xxx

--47.155.xx.xxx

Any domestic flooring in a rental unit will have low life expectancy where the lower price is going to be a higher price over a period of ten to fifteen years. While installing a commercial grade of porcelain is more labour intensive along with a higher cost of material upfront the commercial grade flooring is going to outlast along with a quick mopping then sometimes grouting then rent ready. The term luxury is not a luxury when seen many install the cheap laminate flooring the every three years replacing where more labour along with downtime for rental unit. Take a metal roof while may cost double then shingle roof but when compare warranties along with life expectancy over fifteen years the house next door has had three shingle roofs. Go to most commercial buildings what type of flooring is used. First a Schluter ditra membrane then porcelain or ceramic tiles on top of the water proof membrane then done. Remember in rental houses and rental unit a lit cigarette is thrown on the floor or pet is sneaked in then what flooring is easily cleaned up with mop and bleach. The rental units after 10 to 15 years the flooring is still there where vinyl does not last even commercial grade vinyl. Going to rip up the laminate flooring in the kitchen soon where that is garbage flooring then install a commercial grade porcelain where have not decided on wood grain type or other types of porcelain. Seen from experience what flooring is not luxury where the objective is to install what lasts in a hostile rental environment. Found commercial grade locks seem expensive upfront but in a rental environment the locks last where even spare parts are available which have grade one or grade two fire rating. --99.236.xxx.xxx

Gail --73.108.xxx.xxx

Putting ceramic or porcelain tiles on a OSB or plywood base by itself will cause cracking compared to installing a waterproof Schluter Ditra membrane where the weight from the tile is transferred out. For a concrete floor ceramic or porcelain tiles can be installed without membrane. Last year installed large porcelain tiles in the bathroom where first installed a Schluter Ditra membrane. Never had cases of porcelain tiles cracking or even in the bathroom not even one porcelain tile has cracked. Installing if done properly then the tiles will last a very long time. Like everything else if installed properly no matter what will last. It is important in a kitchen or bathroom to have a waterproof membrane as this is high moisture area. --99.236.xxx.xxx

However if I remember correctly the tile only went up to the edge of the cabinets...best practice is to tile the whole kitchen floor first and then put the cabinets in on top of the tile. This could make a difference if the leak water flows outward into the center of the room and doesn't have the tile lip at front edge of cabinets to make it's way under. --72.188.xxx.xxx

Same price installation? He's ripping you off. It's a LOT harder to do tile than LVT. *I* can do LVT, I couldn't begin to do a tile job. --50.82.xxx.xxx

There is no way LVT is going to be the same installed price as porcelain or ceramic tile. Apparently he thought you would be a great opportunity to learn. --70.16.xxx.xxx

If you do tile, make sure it is installed correctly and not haphazardly just slapped down on whatever subfloor is there. --76.178.xxx.xxx

No your contractor is familiar with rentals. Tenants break stuff. The drop heavy things that will smash tile and give you a giant headache. I always use vinyl and keep some extra around so I can replace a piece quickly if there is a problem. I hate cleaning grout personally as a landlord and a homeowner. --108.24.xx.xx

If your guy quoted ceramic and you go with LVT there should be a significant price difference for install. --209.16.xx.xxx

I thought this would be a porcelain vs ceramic story so I will advise that ceramic is not durable against heat such as taking a roast out and setting on the countertop, ceramic will often crack porcelain will hold up better. On the flip side most ceramic has a grid of squares - porcelain is hexagon honeycombs. For years I made my own porcelain countertops, now I just make pot holders from porcelain tiles. --76.188.xxx.xxx

Vinyl click tiles do not require a perfectly still floor as they can flex. --73.194.xxx.xxx

That said, if my houses were C-level finishes, I might go with tile just because I don't think the tenants would care about color, cracking, or cleanliness. --104.230.xxx.xx

If this is a class A unit, maybe porcelain, but for the majority of Cs and Bs, I like using the vinyl as it is fast and easy to do. It also holds up much netter --72.23.xxx.xx