Think in cost per year, not cost per foot
A cheaper floor that has to be replaced every other turnover costs more than one that survives three tenants. Before comparing prices, estimate how many turns each option will realistically last in your units, then divide.
For scale: at the posted starting installed rate, a 900 sq ft unit in SPC starts around $4,347 and in carpet around $2,232, before removal and prep. The calculator runs your own unit sizes.
Which floor goes where
Living areas, kitchens, baths
Rigid-core SPC. The plank is waterproof, so spills, pet accidents and mopping don't ruin it, and a damaged plank can usually be swapped instead of redoing the room.
Bedrooms
Plank throughout is easiest to clean between tenants. Carpet costs less up front and is quieter in upstairs units, but stains and odors often mean replacing it at turnover.
Wear layer: the number that matters most
The wear layer is the clear top film that takes the abuse. It is measured in mil (thousandths of an inch) and is separate from total plank thickness. More mil means more resistance to wear from grit, chair legs and moving day. Scratches and dents can still happen on any floor, so felt pads and door mats still matter.
The SPC planks Vegas Flooring Outlet lists online (Sandhill, Pebble, Rampart, Eastern) carry a 12 mil wear layer. See them at Vegas Flooring Outlet.
One SKU across every unit
- Leftover boxes from one unit patch another, so a damaged plank is a swap instead of a whole room.
- Photos, listings and move-in checklists look the same everywhere.
- Keep a few spare boxes from the same production lot in storage; colors can shift between lots.
- Write the product name, color and lot on the inside of a closet door or in the unit file.
Fitting flooring into a turnover
- Measure at move-out notice, not after the tenant leaves.
- Order material early so boxes can acclimate in the unit per the manufacturer's instructions.
- Schedule removal and slab prep first, flooring next, then baseboards, paint touch-up and cleaning.
- Leave a buffer for slab surprises when old tile comes up.
Vegas Flooring Outlet also works on apartment and multifamily projects: apartment flooring at VFO.
Printable unit-turn checklist
- Photograph every room's floor at move-in, with the date visible
- Record product name, color and lot number in the unit file
- Note existing scratches, chips or stains on the move-in form
- Furniture pads and door mats provided or required in the lease
- At move-out: photograph the same angles in the same light
- Check plank edges near the tub, toilet, dishwasher and fridge line
- Look for lifted edges or gaps that point to a leak
- Replace damaged planks from spare boxes
- Clean with a manufacturer-approved cleaner only
- Update the unit file with any repairs and remaining spare boxes
Print this page with your browser's Print command; the checklist prints with tick boxes.
Photo documentation that holds up
Shoot from the doorway and from each corner, at the same height, with the room lights on. Add one close-up of anything that is already damaged, with a coin or tape measure for scale. Store the files with the lease, named by unit and date.