One of the most common questions from property managers starting a renovation program in Northeast Ohio is whether to use LVT throughout each unit or mix in ceramic tile for kitchens and bathrooms. The answer is not one-size-fits-all, and getting it right has a measurable impact on per-unit renovation cost, maintenance frequency, and how your units photograph for listing.

Where LVT Wins: Living Areas, Bedrooms, and Most Kitchen Floors

Waterproof luxury vinyl tile is the right product for most floor surfaces in a multifamily unit. It installs quickly over most existing substrates, it handles moisture from spills without the grout-line maintenance issues you get with ceramic, and modern LVT styles photograph well and hold up under normal residential foot traffic over a two-to-four year replacement cycle.

For property managers across Greater Cleveland running standard unit turns, 12mm LVT from Emcore or Emser at $1.49 per square foot through Prime Source Supply covers the floor of an entire unit consistently and cost-effectively. For communities where resident retention and rent premiums matter, stepping up to Fortika Europine 22mm at $1.99 per square foot delivers a noticeably higher-quality product that photographs better and lasts longer between replacements.

The case for running LVT throughout a unit — including the kitchen floor — is that it eliminates transition strips between rooms, creates a visual continuity that looks intentional in listing photos, and reduces the number of SKUs your maintenance team has to stock for repairs.

Where Tile Wins: Backsplashes and Bathroom Walls

Ceramic tile has a clear and defensible role in multifamily renovation that LVT cannot replace: vertical surfaces. Kitchen backsplashes and bathroom wall tile are the primary applications where ceramic tile remains the standard for good reason. LVT is not designed for vertical installation, and no current LVT product replicates the look of a tiled kitchen backsplash in a way that reads as intentional at mid-market or above-market rent tiers.

We supply 4×10 ceramic backsplash tile from Emcore and Emser starting at $2.25 per square foot. At a typical apartment kitchen scale — roughly 8 to 12 square feet of backsplash — the material cost is under $30 per unit, and the visual impact relative to a painted backsplash is significant in listing photos. This is one of the highest-ROI line items in an apartment renovation program.

The Practical Combination Most Northeast Ohio Property Managers Use

The approach that most property management companies across Cuyahoga, Summit, and Stark Counties land on after their first few programs: LVT throughout all floor surfaces (living area, bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom floor), ceramic tile for the kitchen backsplash and bath surround where applicable.

Prime Source Supply coordinates both under a single order and single delivery to your job site. You do not need to source your LVT and your backsplash tile separately or manage two delivery schedules. Your maintenance crew or contractor receives everything they need to complete the flooring and tile scope in a single shipment.

Where Ceramic Tile Does Not Belong in a Multifamily Renovation

Ceramic tile on living room, bedroom, and hallway floors is increasingly rare in multifamily renovation programs across Northeast Ohio, and for good reason. Installation labor is significantly higher than LVT. It is cold underfoot in Ohio’s climate. Grout lines require ongoing maintenance that drives up your cost-per-occupied-unit over time. And in communities where residents move frequently, the tile-to-carpet-to-hardwood look that worked ten years ago is now consistently beaten in resident surveys by the clean, continuous LVT floor that modern renovation programs deliver.

Related Resources

• Best Flooring for Apartment Renovations (2026 Guide)
• Cost to Renovate an Apartment Unit: Materials Breakdown
• Emcore and Emser LVT — Product Details
• All Renovation Guides