Timber flooring questions.

Hi, having being bitten before by a slacker rent slob in the past I would be very reluctant to put down floor boards in a rental. Cant beat rental grade carpet. Down in no time, hides everything and looks great. I'm sure there is  better depreciation with carpet as well.

Carpet! Head down to carpet choice or whatever and ask to see the builders range. 14-16 bucks per meter. Done and dusted. There is cheaper but don't go too cheap (no carpet squares!)

D

I put bamboo flooring in my PPOR less than one year ago.
It looks fantastic and I love the fact that it is as hard wearing if not more so than hardwood, but because bamboo is a grass is quick to grow and sustainable.

However, I WOULD NOT recommend you use this for an IP as it would be hard to maintain.
Already we are noticing scratches (little ones) on the surface and we are more careful than renters would be.

hmmm..it's your choice overule..

Look up timber flooring and you will find a link for products in WA and you will be able to get advise based of products suitable to your needs. Be aware not all timber flooring is the same and just to get the cheapest (not saying that's your intention) may not be the most cost efficient approach as the saying goes "you get what you pay for" 

Some things to consider= Climate, air conditioning, installation, moisture content of say concrete if laying direct), product selection, maintenance, hardness of flooring, future sanding (how many before problems appear).    
 
I would prefer to talk to a specialist who deal only in timber flooring not a carpet salesman (no offence meant to carpet salesman) as I feel I want a product to last for many many years even in a rental. 

Just my 2 cents worth. Would like to see photos of your renovations, good luck.
 
Brian  

Do NOT install "Clip Boards"
These are known as a "Floating Floor" and although they initially look great and are cheap, your tenants will wreck hem within the first 6 months- Guaranteed.
The issue with these boards is that they don't accept water at all. None. Nada. Zip
we lay 1000's of sqm of flooring every year, and floating floors are great for commercial areas, shops offices etc, but not for residential.

Solid timber and my favourite Bamboo, look great and wear considerably well, however, they will be expensive to lay, especially if they are going down on a slab (Assuming you have a slab).

As much as i hate carpet, this is he cheapest option, or ceramic tiling.
Carpet can be laid in a day and is very cost effective, whereas the tiles will take up to a week for a full house.

Hope this helps you make an informed decision

Just my 2 cents worth on "wood" flooring.

We had the floors in our own home covered with the vinyl strips that look like wood but are less noisy than laminate or floorboards. They are warm and soft under foot and very hard wearing, also water proof, and look great. Cost less than a similarly durable carpet and damage is easily replaced by the strip (buy an extra pack in case your colour is discontinued). Would have been easy to DIY but we had a guy come in and do it in half a day after we prepared the concrete floors for him. Forget the trade name but we got them at Carpet Choice.

$342K PP, Rent $370pw, negative cashflow!!!!
I would NEVER, NEVER put wooden floors in a rental. As Lesia pointed out, tenants won't fix damage as they consider it normal wear & tear.  If you were to flip the property then wood floors look great. I put cheap carpet in my rentals. If and when I decide to sell then I will put wooden floors in.
 

Not sure why you paid large deposit for investment property. you should have saved your deposit and let the property be negatively geared. I am new to all this but this is what I learned so far. To have 100% loan to make it negatively geared for claiming. What do you say guys?