I am looking at replacing my kitchen floor, which currently has carpeting. (Bought the house like that.) And now I am looking to do either vinyl or tile. I understand tile is good for a lifetime, where as vinyl is good for 15-20 years for the heavier kind, but tile is double the cost. We plan on staying in our house a long time, if not forever, but in the case we would decide to sell, would tile or vinyl give us more value?
I think you're correct about your comment with respect to wet, high traffic areas. I don't thinks self stick is a good idea in a bathroom or a kitchen. I have had success with a better quality vinyl, they are much easier to work with than cheap stuff while still being inexpensive. I also recommend laminate flooring, it installs easily with minor trimming around corners, edges etc. but I've done 2 kitchens in the past year for friends the project only take a day and they love it.
I've always been happy with vinyl sheet flooring. You drop something breakable on tile and that puppy's BROKE. You will never recoup the added expense of tile for resale purposes--so don't do it with that in mind--the color and style you choose will probably be out by then. A maintenance for the grout is a pain; unless you're obsessively scrubby, then it always looks dingy and dirty--I don't have time or inclination for that level of home care.. Vinyl's beautiful and durable nowadays, with it being relatively inexpensive, you could afford to replace it for fashion's sake if you like.
I can only answer this according to resale in my area where I live. Tile will up the value of your home here. But...here, we have cold winters, and if you have tile, it had better be heated or the tile will be worthless as they get very cold underfoot. Personally, I like vinyl for the fact that it is warmer underfoot, and it can come in tons of colours/designs/thicknesses. It can be expensive too, so you will have to shop around. Vinyl will mark, but so will tile. Tile will last longer, but be sure it is installed properly. Tile is tougher overall, but you might want to change it after 15 years and it will be cheaper to change vinyl than it will be to change tile. If you choose vinyl, just do not choose the cheapest as it will have more of a tendancy to yellow and tear. Ensure your heavy appliances are on wheels so the vinyl will not tear when you move them for cleaning (done that one before).
Tile will always increase the value of your home. The problem with vinyl is that it is soft, so the chair and table legs will soon leave indentations in the vinyl and they will be permanent. This is also true for the appliances and any heavy furniture. It also chips, tears, and gouges easily. Vinyl can also stain. A tile may crack, but a tile can easily be replaced. There is virtually no upkeep to a tile floor.
I could write a book on how to lose money in real estate, so listen up! Tile will NOT increase the value of your home. Value is based upon an old formula that counts Square Feet, and that's all! Whatever you put on the floor today will be outdated in 15-20 years and the new buyer will want to replace it. Tile can crack when you drop a heavy pan or pot on it. Expensive repair. Tile is not as comfortable to walk on. Tile will feel cold in the winter. And when wet, tile will be super slippery. Plus, tile needs a Perfectly Flat base- most homes don't have that and require extra sub-flooring or leveling compound if you're on a slab. Now-a-days the vinyl flooring is Excellent. You can get vinyl that Looks like tile, is a little cushioned and comfy to walk on and has an expected life of 20+ years! When you sell, there is NO difference in what your house will appraise. Save the extra money and get a Better floor, more livable and half the expense of tile and go with a high quality vinyl.
