Most of the time we are in a soup while choosing the kind of flooring for our homes. Hardwood flooring is good for places with less moisture. This is because wood expands during moist and rainy seasons. Tile flooring is good for places with hot and dry weather. Tiles can get too cold to walk on pretty fast. And so, hotter temperatures are preferred. Each has its pros and cons.
Hardwood Flooring or Tiles Flooring?
Let us look at some of the factors to take into account while choosing between hardwood and tiles flooring.
Durability
Depending on the kind of household, this becomes important to factor in. An all-adult household would have less wear and tear. Hardwood flooring or wooden floor tiles would be great for such homes. Families with pets and kids would mean lots of floor stains and scratches. Tile flooring would be a good option here.
Engineered wood flooring tends to be less resilient in moist weather. It expands and wears out easily. It is also, very easy to dent and scratch laminate wood flooring. Hardwood flooring expands and contracts during hot and cold weather. This can damage and warp the floors over time.
Tile flooring is comparatively more durable. It takes strength to break or even crack them. Porcelain or glazed tiles are resistant to scratches and stains. Tiles remain unaffected by moisture. They are a smart choice to use in bathrooms and kitchens.
Related Articles
- What to Look for When Buying Good Bed Sheets?
- How to Arrange Bedroom Furniture to Maximize Space?
- Choosing Between Area Rug over Wall-to-Wall Carpet
- How to Restore Old Wood Furniture to Give a New Life
Cost and Installation: Hardwood Flooring vs Tiles
Based on the kind of wood used, solid hardwood flooring can range from $ 5 to 10 per square foot. Specialty woods cost can go up as much as $ 20 per square foot. Engineered wood flooring with veneer from common choices like oak, also comes in the same range. Exotic species typically cost more. On the other hand, tiles are cheaper. Ceramic and porcelain tiles go from Rs. 100 to 400 per square foot. Stones tiles cost more.
On cement floorings, tiles can be glued on using a strong adhesive. Else, on bare surfaces, a base layer of cement mortar has to be laid before sticking the tiles on. For, hardwood floor installation, you need even surfaces. As the wood expands with heat, gaps must be kept between the planks while placing wooden flooring. Placing laminate wood flooring is easier. Laminate planks have groove and tongue joints that are easily fixable.
Barefoot Feeling: Hardwood Floor Vs Tiles Floor
We spend most of our time at home barefoot. So, it becomes important to choose between tiles and wooden floors based on weather conditions. In cold weather, hardwood floors or laminate wood flooring is preferred as they stay warmer. Tile flooring becomes cold fast and is used in places with hot climates. In tropical or dry hot places, the cool touch of the tiles feels relaxing after a warm day in the sun.
Easy Maintenance of Hardwood flooring
While deciding between tile and wood flooring, we must think of how much time are we willing to spend taking care of it. Tile flooring requires a certain amount of daily upkeep compared to wooden floor tiles.
They need to be mopped regularly. The in-between grout lines will have to be scrubbed and re-sealed if they get infested with grime and dirt. If the tile cracks, it may take time and effort to find a matching piece. A contractor may be called to reseal the crack or replace the tile.
Hardwood flooring is easier to maintain and clean. It needs to be vacuumed and cleaned regularly. From time to time, a hardwood floor cleaner can be used to maintain its natural shine. When it comes to long-term maintenance, engineered wooden flooring is the best. It can last for years without damage. Its imperfections can also be sanded out once every few years to give it a refined look.
Noise Resistance
Wood floor tiles may not be a good choice for those sensitive to noise. Hardwood flooring can be very noisy, even more so in quiet surroundings. The sound echoes a lot. Wooden flooring in older houses is prone to squeaking and creaking more than average.
Tile flooring on the other hand is less noisy. Because of their density, they can absorb more noise compared to hardwood floors. However, if you still want to go for wood flooring, you can think about adding area rugs in your living space. Peel-and-stick carpet tiles are also a good option to absorb the sound of hardwood.
Aesthetics and Style
While building a home, we want to create a comfortable, cozy, and stylish place that is also pleasing to the eye. So, aesthetics also plays an important role when choosing between tile v/s wooden floors. It is seen that wooden flooring adds a lot of warmth to the room. Its rich finish gives a comfortable and homely vibe. Most bedrooms and study rooms have wooden flooring for this very reason. Hardwood flooring is a very classy choice that will never go out of style.
Some of us need a more colorful, funky, and lively look at our surroundings. Tile flooring can be the best for this. There are a variety of colors and patterns to choose from in both ceramic and porcelain tiles. You can even get custom-made designs. You can choose your flooring from a multicolored bold look to a single-colored sleek look. Patterns and borders can also be created on the floor with colored tiles. Although tiles have a modern look, we can also create classic styles using traditional patterns and colors.
Final Thoughts
All in all, there are many factors to think of when choosing tiles vs hardwood flooring. Depending on the country and surrounding weather conditions you can go for wooden floor tiles or porcelain ones. Before choosing other factors, a proper budget must be made and the maintenance aspect must be considered. The rest of the points can be formed around these two basic things.
Also, if you have a family do remember to take into account the advice and opinion of other members too. There are always friends and family we can consult with having a previous experience while building their homes. After all, building a home is a forever dream for many of us.