Flooring is a huge element to the design of your interior, an architectural feature that needs to be durable and timeless. Ceramic wood-effect tiles remain a firm favourite in design trends and with clients, read on to find out why.
WHY CHOOSE WOOD-EFFECT TILE OR HARDWOOD FLOORING
Although it's fine from a technical point of view to have engineered hardwood flooring in the bathroom, wood can buckle and lift when exposed to an extreme amount of water and moisture.
Porcelain and ceramic tiles on the other hand are extremely moisture-resistant, therefore making them the more hard-wearing option.
PORCELAIN WOOD-EFFECT TILE FLOORING
When it comes to choosing the type of tile for your wood-effect tiles, porcelain is the most popular option.
When it comes to porcelain vs ceramic, porcelain is harder, more stain resistant and easier to clean than a ceramic wood-effect tile floor.
These durable tiles are a favourite in family homes as they last longer and keep their look and feel especially in high traffic areas.
CHOOSE A RECTIFIED WOOD TILE
In order to create a seamless join between the tiled planks, opt for a rectified tile profile.
Rectified tiles are machined to create a straight profiled edge allowing for grout lines to be tight, precise and neat.
This is far more appealing for a wood tile floor as the finished look is modern and slick.
PATTERN REPEATS ON WOOD TILE FLOORS
When it comes to wood tile vs wood floor, as convincing as the grain is on a wood-effect tile, you will have pattern repeats which you won't have with natural hardwood flooring.
Wood-effect tiles are actually printed images of a real wood grain right onto the tile.
Naturally, the higher the resolution will result in a better quality which normally means a higher price tag.
Rotate the orientation of the tiles to help break up the pattern and put the most noticeable tiles behind doors or under large pieces of furniture.
GROUT FOR WOOD-EFFECT TILE FLOORING
Always use one shade darker than your wood look tile when it comes to grout.
Wood-effect tile with dark grout will blend in with the floor and be less noticeable, making the space feel spacious.
POSTS RELATED TO BUYING WOOD-EFFECT TILE FLOORING:
SIZE AND SCALE FOR WOOD TILES
Similar to choosing the right width of hardwood floor, opt for anything between 180-240mm for a modern wood-effect tile idea.
For a seamless and spacious effect choose the longest length available, this usually in the region of 1.5 - 2.2meters.
If possible try to find a wood-effect tile with a small bevel profile on the edges to avoid drawing attention to these areas.
Personally, I love natural hardwood floors and the warmth and character that it adds to a design. However I can see why clients would choose a wood-effect tile over a hardwood floor, especially in wet areas.
You could always match your wood-effect tile to your hardwood floor for a cohesive feel to your home.
