Best countertop options for a rental?

last year

We are installing new kitchen and bathroom countertops in a rental unit. I would prefer a light colored slab, mostly white. I love the look of a marble, but I am not considering that because of staining and wear. The white granite slabs I have seen have a lot of other colors, so not ideal, and it requires yearly sealing. I like quartz but I understand that it is not heat resistant. Recently I have read about porcelain slabs which look great, but I have read about problems with chipping, which concerns me since this is a vacation rental and likely to get some abuse. Does anyone have an opinion about what kind of material would be best for a rental (that is across the country)?

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Comments (3)

dani_m08
last year
First - it depends on where the rental is located (certain materials are more popular in different areas of the country).

Second - it is highly dependent upon what class apartment/vacation rental you will be leasing (A/B/C??).

While laminate ,or a level 1 granite, may make the most sense for some rentals, other rentals may need to have quartz (or a nicer granite) in order to receive the rent that you are seeking on a nightly/weekly/monthly basis.
trescool
Original Author
last year
The unit is located in a beachfront complex on a very popular island in FL. Not luxury, more of a family-friendly place. It was built in the 60s and the kitchen and bathrooms had been renovated in 2009, mid-level renovation (granite countertops). It's an individual villa, not attached to others, but all the villas are identical from the outside and can't be modified externally.

The island was flooded in hurricanes this past year, so all of the properties are being renovated. We are looking to update the place with a slightly better level of renovation, but not high end. We are replacing everything, down to the studs.

Laminate would not be appropriate there, I don't think. I think people would expect at least granite. Since families rent I want something that will hold up, but still look fresh and new.
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beesneeds
last year
It does depend a lot on where you are and what the rental is. Around here, a little weekender cottage for cheap might have laminate or corian. At the other end of the scale, some of the more expensive rentals on the water will have real nice stone counters that might cost more than the whole little weekender cottage selling price.

It can depend on who you are renting to. The air rental on one side of me is a more modest family place that's nice- but rents out to large groups, often lots of kids. So their kitchen is more kid friendly and bullet proof. The one on the other side of me is a more upscale place with outbuildings and wedding venue ready- their kitchen has nicer stone counters. Almost the same location, but fitted out and rented out to different groups of people.

I know folks that got a place out in ski-land, for them how much they can rent out for is directly dependent on how plush their decor is. Like if they have nice stuff, they can rent out for X, but really nice stuff, and they get to rent out for XX. Pretty sure they are in a group something, like a HOA rental thing.