A Detailed Comparison Between Tile Flooring And Hardwood Flooring

Decorating your home interiors is one of the most challenging situations a person faces with. Because home is the place where you will live for the rest of your life.
 

It is not a place that you visit, but a place where you will relax, be comfortable, and be yourself! So, the surroundings have to be optimal so that you can have that serenity once you enter the place.
 

One of the most vital parts of interior decor is your floors. Therefore, you should be choosing a floor type that suits your needs and also makes the entire place look aesthetically pleasing.
 

However, there exists several factors that determine the general flooring type that would suit you the best.
 

In this blog, you will be learning about those factors and would also look at a comparative study on tile floors vs wood floors to know which of the variants would suit you.
 

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Tile Flooring

Let us begin with tile flooring. Tiles are usually small square or rectangular-shaped abrasion-resistant materials that are used to cover up floor surfaces. Tile flooring has been the favorite amongst households for centuries, and even now, contemporary tile flooring is catching quite the attention.
 

Following are some of the types of tile flooring that are available currently-
 

❖ Ceramic tiles
It is made from kiln-firing clay which is baked at very high temperatures. The resultant product that is manufactured gives us ceramic tile, which is very tough and durable when it comes to flooring.
 

❖ Porcelain tiles
It is a type of clay that is more refined. It is baked at temperatures that are notches higher than what it takes to bale ceramic tiles. The entire ingredients and manufacturing process makes the product even more enduring and resistant to scratches.
 

❖ Stone tiles
These are made from materials or stones that occur naturally. Therefore, it already has a lot of diversity in a design language, which is because no two pieces of a particular material look similar. Some of the varieties of stone tiles available in the market are- granite, marble, sandstone, slate, etc.
 

❖ Wooden tiles
Although the name has the word ‘wood’ in it, such types of tiles only replicate the look of wood. Hence, it gives you all the benefits of tile flooring, along with the aesthetics of wooden floors.
 

❖ Cement tiles
This particular material happens to be more porous than clay tile. It is poured and hardened at normal room temperature instead of baking in a firing kiln. Cement tiles are one of the very few tile flooring options that can be refinished.
 

Wood Flooring

Now let us come to one of the most popular flooring options that we think of while deciding to install new flooring at our place. And that is wood flooring.
 

Without wasting any more time, let us look at some of the common types of wood flooring options available in the market-
 

➢ Solid hardwood flooring
Whenever people think of wood flooring, solid hardwood is one of the first options to show up. It is one of the most popular flooring options in the world and is well-known for its durability and sturdiness.
 

➢ Laminated flooring
If you were looking for flooring options on a budget range, laminated flooring is your thing! It replicates the look of a hardwood floorboard and comes in a variety of options.
 

➢ Engineered wood flooring
Such types of flooring are at times sturdier than solid hardwood and are best for places with high moisture levels.
 

Tile vs Wood Flooring- A Comparative Study

Now that you know the various types of tile and wood flooring options available in the market, let us look at a comparative study to know about the various benefits and drawbacks of both of the flooring options.
 

Also, wood flooring installation requires expertise that only professionals have. So, it is better to hire professional wood floor contractors to get such jobs done optimally.
 

★ Durability and maintenance
The first basis of comparison is durability and maintenance.
 

When it comes to wood flooring, the material is prone to scratches and dents. But, wood flooring can also be refinished for extending its lifespan.
 

When it comes to tile flooring, it is not prone to scratches but can break or chip. But, you have the option to replace individually affected tiles as well. Other than that, tiles are easier to clean.

One thing with such flooring is that very few variants of tile flooring give you the option of refinishing, amongst which cement tiles are a variant.
 

★ Slip resistance
Comparison based on slip resistance is very less relevant when it comes to wood flooring. Because wood has a higher coefficient of friction, and therefore is not at all slippery.

When it comes to tiles, this is a massive factor. Tiles that are glazy are more prone to being slippery than unglazed ones, which usually offer a better grip.
 

★ Cost of the material
When it comes to the average per-square-foot cost of flooring options, both of the materials differ significantly.

The average per-square-foot cost of solid hardwood floors is about $15 or more for some exotic species. The same when applied to engineered wood flooring ranges from about $3 to $10.
 

When it comes to tile flooring, ceramic and porcelain variants range from about $1.50 to $5 per square foot, while the prices increase significantly if the material is any variant of stone.
 

★ Value addition
The resale value of an entire place is one of the most essential factors that you have to keep in mind.

So, wood flooring will any day add more value to your place, and also will offer a better resale value than tile flooring.

Tile flooring might not be able to add the value that a wood floor does to a place. But again, there is a major factor underneath. And that is temperature.

If you are living in a hot and humid climatic region, wood flooring will not be of any use. In such regions, tile flooring adds more value to your place.

Hence, these are some of the differences between tile and wood flooring that you should be aware of. Now, it entirely depends upon your taste, preference, and the type of climatic conditions you live in, which would determine your flooring preference.
 

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