The recent rise in wood costs have driven up the cost of wood flooring. Natural wood flooring was once the most popular choice for floor covering outside of carpet. Today, more homeowners are turning to tile to cover large areas of their homes. Tile is not only most cost effective; tile is more durable than wood especially in high traffic areas. Sources like Merola Tile are ideal for viewing a wide variety of colors, styles and shapes in ceramic and porcelain tiles.
- Cost – Hard wood flooring averages from $6 to $12 per square foot. Installation varies from $8 to $15 per square foot. A one thousand square foot area would cost $14,000 at the very minimum to install. Ceramic tile is less costly than porcelain and you can find some popular color choices at as little as $2 per square foot. The cost per square foot varies by brand and design, but installation will run between $5 to $10 per square foot.
- Durability – High traffic areas such as the kitchen, especially the cooking space, and the home entrance can wear down in as little as one year when faced with a lot of wear and tear. Within a few short years, you will find that you need to pay someone several thousand dollars to sand and refinish your floors. And, while you are living with worn down floors, they tend to make a home look old and dirty.
- Wider Variety of Colors – You can actually attain the look of wood in tile at a much lower cost. All types of finishes and effects are now cleverly replicated by 3D printers to create very realistic-looking wood floor finish replicas in tile. Moreover, tile comes in every color of the rainbow, which gives you more flexibility of design in any room to match the color of your décor.
- Easy to Clean and Maintain – If someone spills red wine on your tile floor, it’s easy to wipe up and wash and you won’t think twice about whether the tile will stain. Tile can be cleaned with any type of cleaner and still retain its original finish. Wood, on the other hand, can get dings and scratches when objects are dropped on it. You cannot clean wood with harsh chemicals, or you run the risk of removing the finish or discoloring the wood.
- Tile Retains Its Shape – If installed on a level surface, tile will always be flat. Wood, on the other hand, can warp over time, especially if you have a leak or flood in your home. A warped floor can cause problems such as tripping or making furniture unsteady. Oftentimes, homeowners resort to shims to level furniture that is teetering back and forth.
Whether you choose tile or wood really boils down to a matter of taste and budget. There are so many sensible reasons to opt for tile and its generally kinder on the pocketbook across the board. As we continue to see prices rise, the choice becomes easier. But, tile gives you so many design options, it really isn’t a sacrifice to choose to go with it instead.