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What is it?
Wood look or wood grain tile is ceramic or porcelain tile that has been printed to replicate the look and often texture of wood flooring. Although this type of tile has been around for awhile, I’m calling it an industry innovation because it wasn’t until recently that printing technology has been capable of truly replicating the look and surface feel of wood. Because of this new inkjet printing method, wood look tile has been steadily gaining in popularity and has become very on-trend, not just domestically, but internationally.
Wood Look Tile Design
Advantages of wood look tile over “the real thing.”
There is no doubt that quality hardwood flooring gives a gorgeous, high-end look to any space. For many people, the idea of a substitute in place of the real thing is unappealing. However, once you become acquainted to wood look tile, its hard to ignore its distinct advantages. Aesthetically, the tiles really do look like the real thing, they are cost effective, wood look tiles are durable and easier to maintain and they are eco-friendly.
The wood look or wood grain tile that is being produced today can truly replicate the look and texture of wood. Of course, as with any product, there are varying degrees of quality, and therefore variations in price. On the whole, however, because of the innovations in printing technology, the quality and authenticity of the newer wood look tiles is quite high and ever increasing. The high quality, coupled with the relatively low cost (in some cases nearly half the cost of real wood) makes wood grain tile a smart choice.
Wood look or wood grain tile is also exceptionally durable. Instead of literally tiptoeing on your floors, wood look tile isn’t susceptible to the nicks and dings that plague hardwood floors. Not only that, but they allow you to have the look of hardwood floors nearly anywhere, especially in places where wood is traditionally cautioned against. Now you are no longer constrained and can have the look of hardwood floors in high moisture areas like bathrooms or laundry rooms. Besides its durability, porcelain and ceramic wood look tile is easy to maintain, especially relative to wood flooring and is a huge bonus for the homeowner.
The experts at HGTV had this to say:
“We all love the look of hardwood flooring, but most contractors say it has no place in a moist bathroom. The next best thing may be faux hardwood porcelain tile. It looks fabulous…is much easier to care for than real wood. And porcelain’s natural resistance to moisture makes it an appropriate material for kitchen and bath applications.”
This also makes it ideal for commercial spaces that want a high end look that will last and stand up to high volume foot traffic.
Speaking of looks, the desire for a high end aesthetic, especially the reclaimed wood trend is easily satisfied by choosing ceramic or porcelain wood look tile. Not only can the cost of wood be prohibitive, finding the perfect wood may, in fact, be nearly impossible. As the Houzz blog tells us:
“”With reclaimed wood so on trend, buying wood tile is an alternative to searching for the perfect hundred-year-old barn wood, and tiles are available in dimensions that wood is typically not.”
Even if cost were not an issue, choosing porcelain or ceramic tile means fewer trees harvested and less pressure on the industry, making it an eco-friendly choice to boot.
Things to look keep in mind.
While we really wood look tile, there are a few things to consider if you choose to use it.
- Although it has been around awhile, wood look tile’s popularity has exploded recently. Because of this, its extremely important, in my opinion, to find someone who has worked with it before. You wouldn’t want your wood look tile to be laid out the same way standard tile would be laid out, because this would simply ruin the “illusion.” A reliable professional that understands this will go a long way in ensuring your satisfaction.
- The climate you live in is also a factor in whether you choose wood look tile or actual wood. Here in Savannah and the low country, with our hot muggy summer, mild winters, and proximity to the coast, wood look tile is generally a no-brainer. However, if you happen to be in a part of the country that experiences colder winters (like the midwest where I’m from), waking up to a freezing tile floor, no matter how beautiful, maybe be less than ideal.
- Temperatures aside, the environment you live in may be very hostile to real wood floors, once again making wood look tile a good prospect. For instance, real wood tends to be prone to insects and termites in drier environments and prone to warping in moist environments.
Warped Hardwood Floor
The possibilities are endless
As you can see, porcelain and ceramic wood look tile open up a whole host of possibilities. They free you from budgetary, space, and design constraints. The industry, particularly printing technology, is still improving rapidly and if you can conceive, there is probably a wood look tile out there for you. We don’t see this trend going anywhere anytime soon and we’re excited for what’s to come!
oldsouthflooring.com
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