Hi D - I’m answering based on your statement of “selling in the near future.” As someone who is looking for another home, I’d remove all tile and replace with wood before I even moved in. However, LVP may be ok with me and I might live with it a bit. However, your needs sound like tile could be appropriate. If you do choose tile, pick something pretty neutral especially if you’re thinking of selling soonish. No marble look tiles. Something neutral, not very busy, maybe a little bit of texture. Larger tiles, and as small a grout line as the tile can handle. Just my unprofessional opinion. Good luck to you.

Thank you so much Etta! Yes, we plan to sell in about a year or two - once the kids are a little older. I will certainly bear this in mind.

Tile and it’s labor should be WAY more expensive than snap together plastic floors and their labor. If it isn’t, you‘ve got really suspect installers. Bad vinyl is acbetter look than bad tile. Marble look mifht be OK in TX bathroom maybe, but not outside that bathroom.

Thank you so much. Unfortunately due to the issues in supply chain, Luxury vinyl is turning out more expensive than tile. That is why I am torn between the 2 choices.

You may can find $1 tile, but you're not finding $1 labor to install it even in TX. Unless they are complete hacks. You can find $3 vinyl and $2 install for it, if the floor prep to get it FLAT is already done. If that prep isn’t done? You can’t install any type of flooring.

Material costs are only a small bit of the whole.

We had LVP in the whole main level of our house in TX. Potential buyers liked the continuity of one flooring (laundry and bathrooms included). The appraiser also liked it. It wore well with pets. We used a mid-tone, no gray in the planks.

You may wish to check with a real estate agent for an opinion. What might be ok in one area is frowned upon in another. Price point of the house could play into it also.

I currently have tile with carpet in this house. I don't care for tile in the living room area and this is what the builder offered. I'll live with it until I make up my mind on the future of the carpeting, On the one hand 'everybody' hates carpeting but on the other hand 'boy does it feel good on the feet'. With hard flooring I always put a large area rug on it anyway so no rush.

​Having built in Austin and bought in Fort Worth, I had and would expect tile. Mostly because tile is cooler and it made me feel better during the summer.

For your family longevity is not a factor if you think you're going to sell between one and two years. For resale purposes in Texas tile or LVP would be acceptable but you do have to consider price points. For those purposes maybe reach out to realtor and ask them for the price point of your current home what they would expect to see as far as flooring.

Given that you feel 1 to 2 years is the amount of time you'll stay in this home it's best to stay within the insurance quote because putting anything more expensive wouldn't get you a return on your out if pocket costs. Stick with the insurance budget regardless if it's tile or LVP.

Thank you so much Jen! We have tile today and that is what insurance is paying for. Appreciate your thoughts.

Jen K brings up some good points. I agree. Stay as close to insurance as possible. As well, it seems like HGTV has invaded everyone’s brain these days and the “I cannot live with that, etc” mindset. Someone will want to remove whatever you put in. Ugh. Granted, I said I’d rip out tile, but I feel I’m entitled after making due with several homes over 40 years. This next one is all me 😄. Good luck to you D!

Thank you so much Etta!

I'm in S. Florida with a similar situation except we plan to move probably 5-6yrs.

When we bought our house 10 yrs ago it was carpeted except the living/dining room had engineered wood. It was very pretty looking but we knew the carpet had to go and it would be expensive because it involved 3 bedrooms and family room.

I have allergies and will not live in a house with carpet. Plus heat and humidity can cause mold. In our previous house of 40 yrs we had wood floors throughout except kitchen and baths.

I decided to use tile. Its easier to clean and I didn't have to worry about water from the kitchen.

We put tile in all the bedrooms and bathrooms. The Family Room we went with a wood looking tile. I made sure the installer made the grout lines as close as possible to mimic wood.

Most people think its wood. Its so easy to clean, mop. The engineered wood has held up over 10 yrs but a section has buckled (have no idea why) and I find spots are hard to remove, unlike real wood.

If I were you, I'd go with insurance pays and put in wood looking tile at least in the living areas. It really looks good.

Jane

Thank you so much for your suggestion. I honestly hadn't paid too much attention to wood look tile. I will look into it further. Thank you!