Flooring question - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Phaneufenstein · 08-09-2016, 10:41 AM

I have a rental property that has a side door entrance into the basement suite.

There's a small landing as soon as you enter with stairs going up to the main level and stairs going down to the shared laundry area and actual basement suite.

Right now the entrance and bottom landing are linoleum, while the stairs are carpeted.

Since this is a shared area and tenants that live downstairs don't take shoes off until they get to the bottom landing, the carpet is in really bad shape and I want to replace it.

The question is, what type of flooring do I replace with?
Easy to clean and not slippery are my main considerations.
Something that will last is also nice.

Thanks all.

llwhiteoutll · 08-09-2016, 10:58 AM

If it is a rental, just do lino on the stairs until you go to sell. Since it is clear they don't give a ####, why give them nice things?

Also, you might be able to claw this back from their DD. No reasonable person would consider tracking dirt and whatever else onto carpet as normal wear and tear.

DoubleF · 08-09-2016, 11:34 AM

Agreed with ||whiteout||. There are two problems here.

1. Tenants shouldn't be walking on carpet with their shoes, especially not in a common area. From another angle, let's say it's not carpet and lino, should other tenants have to deal with the basement tenants tracking snow, ice and water on the stairs to access the shared laundry area?

2. Linoleum to match top and bottom probably would be cheapest and easiest to install. If you're concerned about slipperiness of linoleum, consider installing stair nosing?

https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.s...000414477.html

Phaneufenstein · 08-09-2016, 12:12 PM

Good points, I'm still trying to figure out a better solution for that area and how to approach it with two sets of tenants.

The only reason I'm kind of OK with them wearing shoes while going downstairs is because there isn't much space at the entry landing to leave/store their shoes, especially since the upstairs tenants walk through this spot to do their laundry.

So essentially the downstairs tenants would need to take their shoes off and carry them downstairs each time, which is a bit of a hassle, but this is a rule I should look at implementing.

Appreciate the advice!

rain_e · 08-09-2016, 12:22 PM

If you are going to spend the money on lino put in laminate instead. Looks better imo.

Bigtime · 08-09-2016, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rain_e

If you are going to spend the money on lino put in laminate instead. Looks better imo.

If they are tracking in wet/muddy shoes though the laminate could fail due to that moisture making its way into the HDF core. I wouldn't recommend it.

V · 08-09-2016, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoubleF

2. Linoleum to match top and bottom probably would be cheapest and easiest to install. If you're concerned about slipperiness of linoleum, consider installing stair nosing?

I don't think I've ever seen lino on a stair without nosing. You can't do one without the other. The nosing might vary from vinyl to metal, but you can't do lino without nosing. At least if you don't want it to look terrible.

For the record, sounds like lino is the right application for this situation. That's what I would use, at least.

Amethyst · 08-09-2016, 01:22 PM

Lino definitely sounds best for this purpose. You can get good quality (expensive) stuff that looks really nice, but you may not want to spend that on the rental.

If the tenants are messy in general, then maybe you have an issue, but if the only real mess is tracking dirt onto the stairs, it is more likely a result of the way the house is set up (small landing and the entrance to their unit is downstairs). Taking off shoes/boots at the landing and carrying them down is a nuisance, especially if you have things in your hands.

calumniate · 08-09-2016, 01:34 PM

You could buy a bunch of doormats and cut them up!

wooohooo · 08-09-2016, 02:29 PM

I am doing a similar renovation. I chose to do tile. Ripped out the old lino. But you can't go wrong with either. I would definitely not do laminate though. It'll be destroyed at first snow fall

Travis Munroe · 08-09-2016, 03:21 PM

There is a product I stuck in a rental property that is perfect for this. It looks like laminate, but is more of a lino material. It is scratch proof and water from wet boots or dog bowls doesnt damage a thing.
Cost is a touch more than laminate but install is a bit cheaper so it balances out. I wish I could remember the name off the top of my head but I am sure a google search will get it.

Phaneufenstein · 08-09-2016, 03:21 PM

Tiling will be too nice for what it is and there's a concern with slips.

Thanks all, looks like lino is the way to go.

OMG!WTF! · 08-09-2016, 05:08 PM

Whatever you choose you could add a carpet runner down the middle of the stairs. It's really cheap...about four bucks a lineal foot at home depot. If you're any good with a staple gun you can install it yourself. Then you can rip it out and replace it for a hundred bucks. I'd also recommend plastic wrap for couches and chairs.

You Need a Thneed · 08-09-2016, 07:50 PM

Lvp/lvt

ken0042 · 08-10-2016, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Realtor 1

There is a product I stuck in a rental property that is perfect for this. It looks like laminate, but is more of a lino material. It is scratch proof and water from wet boots or dog bowls doesnt damage a thing.
Cost is a touch more than laminate but install is a bit cheaper so it balances out. I wish I could remember the name off the top of my head but I am sure a google search will get it.

Are you thinking Tarkett?
http://home.tarkett.com/

DoubleF · 08-10-2016, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V

I don't think I've ever seen lino on a stair without nosing. You can't do one without the other. The nosing might vary from vinyl to metal, but you can't do lino without nosing. At least if you don't want it to look terrible.

For the record, sounds like lino is the right application for this situation. That's what I would use, at least.

I have, multiple times. Probably whoever had it installed was being too cheap and wasn't getting it done properly.

Chingas · 08-10-2016, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Realtor 1

There is a product I stuck in a rental property that is perfect for this. It looks like laminate, but is more of a lino material. It is scratch proof and water from wet boots or dog bowls doesnt damage a thing.
Cost is a touch more than laminate but install is a bit cheaper so it balances out. I wish I could remember the name off the top of my head but I am sure a google search will get it.

Vinyl plank flooring.

topfiverecords · 08-11-2016, 11:50 AM

http://m.uline.ca/h5/r/www.uline.ca/...ads-and-Risers

GGG · 08-11-2016, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phaneufenstein

Good points, I'm still trying to figure out a better solution for that area and how to approach it with two sets of tenants.

The only reason I'm kind of OK with them wearing shoes while going downstairs is because there isn't much space at the entry landing to leave/store their shoes, especially since the upstairs tenants walk through this spot to do their laundry.

So essentially the downstairs tenants would need to take their shoes off and carry them downstairs each time, which is a bit of a hassle, but this is a rule I should look at implementing.

Appreciate the advice!

I would think that walking from the outside entrance to the Primary apartment entrance is a shoes on activity. In a loose rental market to me that could be a differentiator as a rule like that would make you seem like an unreasonable land lord.

Going Lino is the right solution, then the tenants can just wipe it quickly. Definitely need some grippy noses or it will be slippery when wet.