Over the last several years, wood-look tile quality has evolved and improved considerably. That, in addition to tile’s many positive characteristics, makes it a great flooring choice – no matter what the pattern. If you’ve decided that it’s high time to install a new floor in your old home – or if you are laying flooring in a brand-new home – wood-look tile is an ideal option.
Using both porcelain and ceramic, wood-look tiles are manufactured – and this should come as no surprise – to have the appearance of natural wood. Of the two materials used, the most scratch resistant, tougher material is porcelain. But how can a porcelain tile have the look of natural wood? More or less, you can think of it as inkjet printing. The image of a real wood grain is printed onto the tile, right into the ceramic or porcelain. Higher-quality tile will have a higher resolution and also be more expensive.
Now let’s look at choosing your wood-look tile.
Ceramic or Porcelain? Porcelain!
As just mentioned, there is a higher hardness rating to porcelain and, if you can, go with one that is full-bodied. You’ll stand less of a chance of chipping that woodgrain porcelain title when you drop something on it.
Buying by the Box
If you’re having a hard time deciding on exactly which woodgrain you want to go with, it’s okay to buy a couple or even a few boxes to consider. Lay down a bunch of tiles rather than just one to get a better look at how a particular choice will fit with the room. In most cases, as long as the box is undamaged and the tiles aren’t used, you can return it.
Longer Is Better
We are, of course, referring to the length of your tile planks. Decades ago, wood-look tiles were shorter and thinner because there was less advanced printing technology used. Today, however, limitations are few and far between. Various sizes are available.
Rectified Tile – A Good Choice
Compared to non-rectified versions, rectified tiles have a more precise edge. Compared to their rectified counterpart, non-rectified tiles will have a rougher edge. Rectified tiles have exact dimensions and near perfect edges. Why is this important? It allows for more precise, thinner grout lines and an extremely symmetrical, clean installation. Feel free to go with non-rectified, however, if you’re looking for a less sophisticated, more rustic look.
Simpler Patterns May Be Better
Remember that printed images are being referred to when discussing wood-look tile. In any pattern, there’s going to be a limit as to how many unique, separate planks there can be. This means that throughout any space, used over and over again, there will be a set of repeated images. People will be more likely to pick up on that if you have busier images incorporated into your flooring. The simpler the pattern, the harder the repetition is to detect.
Looking for Tile That Doesn’t Look Like Tile? Shop Materials Inc.
One of the greatest things about tile is that it can look like anything but tile! Today, there are so many textures, shapes, colors, and materials it can be hard for others to tell exactly what your floor is made of.
If you’re looking for quality tile flooring, look no further than Materials Inc.