Remodeling the Kitchen? Start With a New Wood-look Tile Floor.

When it’s time to remodel the kitchen or bathroom, a hardwood floor is an attractive (but perhaps impractical) option. Hardwood floors are particularly sensitive to humidity, and can present problems when installed in damp parts of the house, such as a kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room. To get the look of wood flooring in every room of the house without the hassle, install plank-shaped, moisture-resistant tile planks instead. The porcelain, wood-look tile has the color, style, and texture of real wood floors, with the added durability of tile to stand up to the surprises from any room of the house.

What Is Wood-look Tile?

Wood-look tile is porcelain tile that has been shaped into long planks, with the colors and patterns of various wood grain types baked into the tile for decoration. They can be found smooth and glossy, like a traditional tile finish, or with a patterned wood grain texture like a hardwood floor. They can be installed in the same offset or herringbone layout as hardwood floors because of their larger, rectangular shape, and used as either floor tiles or wall tiles.

Scratch and water-resistant, tile floors are sturdier, heavier, with less give and softness than a wood floor. They are better able to stand up to the daily wear and tear of pets and other frequent household or business traffic. Grout is required for all tile floors, and with faux-wood tile floors, the grout lines can be very narrow. The grout is available in wood grain colors to match the tiles, making the design visually indistinguishable from a traditional hardwood floor. Wood-look tile flooring looks and feels like the real thing, with the added bonus of being easy to clean and maintain.

Tile Wood-plank Floors Vs. Hardwood

With hardwood flooring, the beautiful warmth of wooden planks requires regular upkeep, with waxes, polishing, and even refinishing every few years. With age, heavy traffic areas can show signs of damage, like fading, splotches, and scuff marks that won’t wipe away. The grain can be soft, providing a comfy bounce with every step, but that also makes it more susceptible to scratches from furniture legs or pet claws.

Using the wrong cleaner on a hardwood or wood laminate floor can bleach out the color or weaken the planks. The wood planks settle and expand with the humidity and the weather, and should be protected from wet boots and water puddles. Even wood laminate can be badly damaged by standing water.

In contrast, a wood-like tile floor is water resistant and virtually weather-proof, as well as easy to maintain. The nonporous tiles doesn’t absorb moisture, so while it will stay cold, it will not contract or expand with the weather. Radiant, underfloor heating systems can be installed to keep the tile warm and comfortable to walk on year-round. With a solid, level subfloor, such as concrete, a plank-tile floor can stand up to heavy furniture, messy pets, and busy household life without scratches, dents, or breaks. A textured surface adds a non-slip advantage over washed and waxed hardwood.

What to Look For

When it comes to shopping for wood-look tile, there are a few key features to ensure match up with your project. Perhaps the most important is the tile shape, because if you want a floor that looks like a wood floor, you need to be sure it is a rectangular, plank-shaped tile. Other shapes are also available, such as squares or hexagons, to break away from the traditional or to add unique design. Keep in mind these other important factors:

Installation location - The intended installation location will have a big impact on the tile selection, so it’s helpful to narrow it down. Backsplash tiles are often different sizes than countertop tiles, and exterior patio tiles will include more stone-like options than a faux-wood flooring. Shower walls often have more decorative, smaller tiles than shower floors, and shower floor tiles are often more non-slip textured.

Plank Width - The smaller the tile width, the more decorative the look will be. A narrower plank will likely be best as a backsplash or countertop trim, while the wider tile planks look more like the traditional wood flooring.

Color - When it comes to tile selection, there are an endless number of color combinations available. From bright finishes like blue and green, to smooth, natural colors like beige, white, or tan, there’s sure to be a pattern color to complement your project.

Surface texture - The texture has an impact on the feel of the tile, and its stability when wet or otherwise slippery. A decorative floor covering as polished and slick as a sheet of glass will be harder to navigate around spills or outdoors, but a matte, textured, or unpolished surface will add a little extra traction. Textured wood planks often have grooves baked into the porcelain that look and feel like real wood grain to better blend with the flooring in other rooms.

Update With an Upgrade to Wood-plank Tile

Whether updating an aging floor or starting from the blank canvas of a sturdy subfloor, wood-like plank tile is a long-lasting, water-resistant alternative to wood floors without sacrificing the look of hardwood. If you have any questions regarding our selection of wood-like planks, we’re glad to help! Just give us a call or chat online with one of our knowledgeable project experts, 7 days a week.

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