As the owner of student housing it’s important to take careful consideration when choosing a flooring material.
Some of the key features that are beneficial for student housing flooring are:
Cost-effectiveness – when owning an investment property, the overall cost is often a big consideration. You may be working to a budget, or trying to keep expenses to a minimum, so finding suitable flooring at a reasonable price point is a common requirement.
Durability – you’ll want your chosen flooring to last a long time, even with multiple occupants living at the property. Over the years, students will move in and out, furniture will be assembled, dragged along the floors, and disassembled again, and this can really damage the floors. The best flooring for student housing is one that is durable enough to withstand common wear and tear.
Maintenance – it’s unlikely that you’ll be living in the property yourself, and therefore can’t guarantee that the floors will be properly maintained. Certain flooring materials require regular upkeep and maintenance to ensure longevity, but there are others that can get by with a lot less.
These are the main considerations for most owners of student housing, but of course, you may have additional requirements depending on the nature of the property and your personal preferences. In this blog post, we’ll look at some of the best flooring for student housing to help you make an informed decision.
Vinyl flooring for student housing
Vinyl is a cost-effective flooring for student housing, with prices starting at around $1 per square foot, ranging up to $10 per square foot for luxury vinyl plank (LVP) and tile (LVT), and an expected lifespan of 10 – 20 years. Professional vinyl flooring installation is also very reasonably priced compared to other materials.
Vinyl flooring products are composed of multiple layers of plastic pressed together. The uppermost layer protects the design of the boards, making them unlikely to get scratched, scuffed or dented from regular, everyday use. However, if they do get damaged by heavy furniture being dragged across them, unfortunately, there’s no way to fix them and they must be replaced. Cleaning and maintaining vinyl flooring products is relatively easy. The boards can be vacuumed and mopped with general hard floor cleaning solutions and don’t require any specialist equipment to maintain.
Some products may be entirely waterproof, whilst others will still offer excellent water resistance. Although the boards themselves are unlikely to be damaged by water exposure, any spills or leaks should be cleaned and not left to seep into the floor, as water can damage the adhesive underneath. If this occurs, the affected boards can simply be re-adhered to the subfloor, so it’s an easy fix.
Another benefit of vinyl flooring is its sound-reduction qualities. Vinyl has the best sound reduction of any hard flooring material, which is often appreciated by students who are trying to focus on their school work whilst their roommates are active elsewhere in the property.
Laminate flooring for student housing
Laminate flooring is very comparable to vinyl, with prices ranging from around $1 – $3.50 per square foot and an average lifespan of 15 – 25 years. Laminate boards are also made up of layers, but instead of plastic, the boards usually have a fiberboard core with the other layers composed of wood byproducts. The uppermost wear layer protects the flooring from scratches, scuffs, and dents, but just like vinyl, laminate is not immune to damage from heavy use.
Cleaning and maintaining laminate is simple, only requiring regular vacuuming and mopping. However, despite being water-resistant, laminate boards can be damaged through prolonged exposure to liquids. Not only does this mean that spills or leaks must be promptly cleaned, but extra consideration should be taken when cleaning the boards with a liquid-based method, like a mop bucket. Unlike vinyl, liquid can directly damage laminate boards, requiring the replacement of the entire affected area.
It’s worth noting that the sound reduction of laminate flooring isn’t quite as impressive as vinyl, but thicker laminate boards and/or certain soundproofing underlays can help enhance this.
Carpet for student housing
Generally, carpet is a less than favorable flooring material for student housing as it can stain easily, along with other types of damage like matting and crushing. However, carpet is a comfortable material for homes, especially bedrooms, as it is soft and warm underfoot, so it shouldn’t be neglected as an option.
If installing carpet into student housing, opt for a darker color and consider carpet tiles. If a section of the carpet gets stained or damaged, the individual tile(s) in the affected area can be replaced, rather than the entire room, which is a much more cost-effective fix. The initial cost of carpet tiles averages around $1 – $2 per square foot. Most carpets are expected to last around 10 years, but with the replacement of any worn or damaged areas, carpet tiles may last longer.
The general cleaning of the carpet is simple; regular vacuuming is required to keep the fibers clear of dust and debris. However, it is recommended to periodically invest in professional carpet cleaning, not only to keep the floors clean and sanitary but also to help preserve the fibers and increase the lifespan of the carpet. For student housing, it would be beneficial to have carpets professionally cleaned at least once a year and every time previous students move out and new ones move in.
Whichever flooring you pick as the best for your student housing, always have it installed by a professional. Professional flooring installation ensures maximum safety of the floors, and can also help to extend the lifespan of the material.