Porcelain Wood-Look Tile vs. Hardwood Flooring
January 31, 2018
It’s a conversation that reminds us of the Energizer Bunny. It keeps going and going and going. That makes it hard for anyone to decide which option is the better of the two: wood look porcelain vs hardwood flooring.
Truth be told, there are valid arguments on both sides of the table. However, to us, there are some differences that could help in the decision-making process.
So, let’s talk about them!
Water resistance
Hardwood flooring is a natural material which also means it is porous and will soak up moisture or liquids, which could lead to long-term water damage. On the other hand, porcelain wood look tile is water resistant and non-porous. The choice is pretty clear on this one, depending on what the space will be used for. If you expect there to be a lot of moisture in the air or direct water exposure, wood look tile would be the best best.
Resale value
After thorough research, we found that there are a number of elements that contribute to which flooring option has a better resale value. Some say that the location of the home would help determine which has a better resale value while others lean towards maintenance and sustainability as the determining factors. The best bet is to contact a real estate agent that you trust to give honest feedback about which flooring option (wood look porcelain vs hardwood flooring) would be the best bang for your buck as far as resale value goes.
Design options
Hardwood flooring comes in a variety of shapes and colors, but since it’s natural it’s still somewhat limited compared to wook look tile. On the flip side, wood look tile options are essentially endless. As this product becomes more popular, designers will continue to push the envelope with new shapes, colors, and textures. For this variable, we’d say it depends on what the space you’re working on looks like and which type of flooring visually suits it best.
Visual appeal
Unless you’re a design junkie or someone who really just can’t get over the look of real hardwood, there isn’t a huge difference when it comes to this point. Nowadays, porcelain wood look tile is crafted to mimic hardwood so well that some experts even have a hard time telling the difference. This element is a total toss-up and really just boils down to personal preference.
Level of maintenance
Although the name is “hardwood,” this material is actually on the softer side. Pet claws, high heels, and other contributors can easily cause damage to real wood floors. Alternatively, porcelain wood look tile is stronger and resistant to scratches or dents. With hardwood floors you would be looking at a full-time care as opposed to wood look tile’s [very] part-time attention.
Wood look porcelain vs hardwood flooring | The real deal
A lot of people who go for hardwood flooring do so because at the end of the day, tile isn’t wood. You know it, visitors will know it. So, what’s that worth to you? If the feel, sound, texture of hardwood flooring outweighs the rest of the variables, then we think you have your answer! It really just comes down to one thing: do you want porcelain tile or hardwood flooring?
Want to dive in deeper about which flooring is a better fit for your project? Talk to a Trinity Surfaces surface ninja now!
Categorised in: Hardwood, Porcelain Tile, Tile
This post was written by Mike Thomas
