Timber-Look Ceramic Tiles Versus Wooden Flooring

If you're decorating your home, the choice of flooring material is often a tough decision to make.  Traditional timber looks beautiful, but timber-look ceramic tiles can be just as aesthetically pleasing.  Here's a comparison between the two to help you decide which option would be best suited for your needs.

Timber-look ceramic tiles 

Timber-look ceramic tiles are extremely varied in finish, providing you with plenty of choice.  Choose from distressed vintage looks, different varieties of wood, textured or smooth, matt or gloss, natural or coloured finishes, all of which can be extremely convincing when used to replicate real timber flooring.

Tiles are constructed to be strong and durable, making them ideal in a family home where they will be expected to endure heavy foot traffic.  Tiles are also easy to keep clean, which is an important consideration in a busy home.  Simply mop the tiles with a suitable cleaning agent and water, and then allow the floor to dry naturally.

Ceramic tiles are treated and sealed in order to make them water resistant.  This makes them ideal for use in areas such as kitchens and bathrooms or around indoor pools.

Tiles can feel cold underfoot during the colder months of the year, although this can be a plus point when the weather is hot, and they are suitable for use over underfloor heating. 

A potential problem is that tiles can be easily chipped or cracked if a heavy object is dropped onto them, which could mean the hassle of removing the damaged tile and replacing it with a brand new one that is a perfect match.  

Traditional timber planks

Traditional timber flooring looks gorgeous and naturally gives a warm feeling underfoot.  Timber is pretty hardwearing and durable, and the cost of installation and supply is similar to that of ceramic tiles.  There's a wide choice of hard and soft woods with different natural colours and grains.  You could also choose to stain your floor to alter the shade or paint it to match your décor.

If you have the timber treated and sealed, it can be used in kitchens, as long as the floor stays reasonably dry.  Natural timber is not suitable for use in bathrooms as the high moisture levels can eventually cause the planks to warp and split.

Timber is quite easy to keep clean, although you should not use a vacuum cleaner with roller brushes as this can cause scratching.  Timber flooring can be mopped using a damp mop, but you should not get the floor wet.

Over time, timber planking can become scratched and scarred, especially in busy areas with heavy foot traffic and by your pet dogs' claws.  This is fine if you like the vintage, distressed look, but if not, you'll need to have the floor sanded and re-finished periodically to keep it looking good.

In conclusion

As you can see, there are pros and cons associated with both types of flooring.  The final choice is largely down to your personal preferences, your home environment, and the rooms you are re-flooring.