Home renovation is a good investment. Not only does transforming your home raise your property value, but it enhances the quality of your life. We all deserve to live in well-decorated homes surrounded by beautiful textures like wood effect floor tiles that help us create an ambience that says home.
Wood-look tiles do that inexpensively, quickly, and with proven longevity.
Ceramic and porcelain tiles have been in use since the 4th century BC, which speaks to their efficiency and decorative value. However, wood effect flooring is a more recent invention, and its popularity is not surprising.
Although societies have always loved tile, nothing promotes elegance and sophistication like wood flooring. Wood flooring is warm and kind on our bones. It can tone down the noise and the echo effect.
The drawbacks are that wood is fragile and wears and scratches. It’s very costly, and it has enemies: cold, damp, water. It doesn’t like fire, and children irritate its back.
Enter a marriage made in heaven: the wood-look mated with the durability of tile. They’re sometimes known as wood look tiles, wood grain tiles, wood plank tiles, and similar terms in construction trades.
The good news is that you don’t have to install this multi-functional product yourself. Hire Professional ceramic tilers who get on their hands and knees, so you don’t have to.
Nine Wonderful Wood Effect Floor Tile Options to Consider
Understanding the challenges and requirements of any space is a key consideration for flooring options. Wood-look tiling can work effortlessly if the product specs meet those requirements. Here’s how they can work for you.
Product Specs:
- Finish: Matte
- Material: Ceramic
- Design: Natural texture and wood-like slats, intricate knot and grain design
- Size: 615mmX205mmX9mm
- Traffic Grade: 4
- Additional Features: Underfloor heat compatible
These Rustic Oak tiles are ideal wood effect tiles to mimic the look of authentic wood. They were featured in Grand Design Magazine and have become a popular flooring choice in many homes.
Installing this tile is an affordable option for floors and decorative walls. These natural honey-coloured wood look tiles appeal to those who want the timeless matte finish that blends well with contemporary homes or those desiring the rustic or vintage appeal.
Rustic Oak can complement any decor, and these lifelike wood grain tiles do not require any extra sealing. If you’re concerned about grout, a professional tiler can make it look like they’re seamlessly joined.
Product Specs:
- Finish: Matte
- Material: Ceramic
- Design: Natural effect wood grain, contemporary colour pallet and design
- Size: 905mmX240mmX9mm
- Traffic Grade: 4
- Additional Features: Underfloor heat compatible
These natural textures and colour tiles are ideal for large spaces and open concept styles. The tiles’ unique size also adapts to look like vintage-sized flooring to customise a bespoke design.
Engineered to an extra-long size, these oak effect tiles look like hardwood at a glance. The natural wood colour makes them suitable as a choice for any room.
Product Specs:
- Finish: Matte
- Material: Porcelain
- Design: Fun reclaimed wood look, smaller contemporary design aspect
- Size: 600mmX150mmX9.8mm
- Traffic Grade: 4
- Additional Features: Underfloor heat compatible, stain and wear forgiving
Reclaimed wood effect is all the rage in home renovation, and this look is a good choice for contemporary design opportunities. These tiles make great partners with shiplap walls and galvanised steel accessories as they accent warehouse and industrial decor and still set a classic vibe.
This slightly smaller tile is very forgiving of spills and footprints, and a hint of blue also renders them a perfect addition to sea-inspired cottages or artsy flats.
Product Specs:
- Finish: Matte
- Material: Porcelain
- Design: Realistic wood effect
- Size: 1215mmX195mmX10.5mm
- Traffic Grade: 4
- Anti-Slip Grade: R9
- Additional Features: Ideal for floors, walls in internal or external spaces, underfloor heat compatible, versatile 30 face pattern for visual effect
Honey Oak is perhaps the classic standard in hardwood flooring. While all home fashion ideas evolve and transition from one trend to another, honey oak remains a popular choice for homeowners.
Manufactured with an anti-slip grade of CAT A/R9 rating, these handsome larger tiles are compatible with residential areas.
Muniellos is available in other tile sizes, making them perfect for blending and achieving that wood replicated floor without the cost and maintenance of wood. Muniellos honey oak tiles are non-porous and very durable and come with available skirting tiles for that polished look.
Product Specs:
- Finish: Matte
- Material: Porcelain
- Design: Vintage parquet effect, fir tree wood pattern
- Size: 478X478X8mm
- Traffic Grade: 5
- Additional Features: Add instant charm, underfloor heat compatible, tight grout joint
Abete wood tiles resonate with that antique quality look without the instalment cost of natural wood floors. This unique parquet effect mimics vintage wood grain while its rectified edges allow for tight grout joints.
This smaller parquet inspired tile instantly adds ambience to any decor. The intricate pattern looks stunning in sun-filled rooms doubling the vintage abete wood look. They’re perfect for internal residential or commercial spaces like boutiques and coffee shops.
Abete wood tiles are ideal for both small and medium-sized rooms and, because of their lighter carrying weight, may also appeal to those tiling upper story flats or studio boutiques.
Product Specs:
- Finish: Matte
- Material: Ceramic
- Design: Modern wood effect look with cool tones
- Size: 500mmX175mmX8mm
- Traffic Grade: 3
- Additional Features: Underfloor heat compatible, smaller tile, affordable
Argent sanded wood effect tiles transform dull spaces into light-filled rooms. As contemporary and versatile wood look tiles, they’re ideal for creating feature walls and tiling showers.
Affordable and attractive, these contemporary grey tiles compliment any room and are suitable for neutral decor and refurbishing utility rooms, small baths and are part of the Abrade Wood Effect Tile Collection available in umber sanded wood.
Product Specs:
- Finish: Matte finish
- Material: Porcelain
- Design: Plank style authentic wood look
- Size: 900mmX150mmX10.5mm
- Traffic Grade: 4
- Anti-Slip Grade: R11
- Additional Features: 30 face pattern, underfloor heat compatible
Wenge wood effect tiles are perfect for those concerned about slipping on any flooring material. Despite this great feature, these Wenge tiles are beautiful. This wider, premium plank tile works wonders on internal and external floor and wall spaces.
Manufactured under the Muniellos brand, creating a durable yet wood-look floor is easy. These durable porcelain tiles will fool perception and add a warm, dark flooring ambience without the high cost of hardwood and labour.
Product Specs:
- Finish: Matte finish
- Material: Porcelain
- Design: Neutral colouring of light brown
- Size: 230mmX1200mmX10mm
- Traffic Grade: 5
- Additional Features: Underfloor heat compatible, modern or vintage illusion
Beautiful and light-toned, this wood grain flooring tile is part of the Madagascan collection and matches both modern contemporary design and classic grade listed homes.
This tile creates the illusion of wood as a floor surface and lends itself perfectly to the Herringbone pattern or feature walls that can transform a room.
Madagascan Ipil Oak tiles complement industrial and warehouse inspired designs and transform barn conversions from relics into showhomes.
Product Specs:
- Finish: Matte finish
- Material: Porcelain
- Design: Clean, light inspired colour tone, ultra-modern look
- Size: 1200mmX233mmX8.5mm
- Traffic Grade: 4
- Anti-Slip Grade: R9
- Additional Features: Underfloor heating compatible, durable for semi-high traffic spaces
Parlor Nordic Maple wood effect tiles are a perfect foundation for those inspired by clean designs for residential floors and wall features.
Nordic maple tiles instantly add an aesthetically pleasing mood and are ideal for double aspect rooms. They are also lightweight, making them suitable for flats or studio spaces.
Inspired by timeless Nordic traditions, Parlor Nordic Maple will transform any space from ordinary to extraordinary in the Herringbone or sequential pattern.
Undisputed Benefits of Wood Effect Floor Tiles
Choosing flooring can be an overwhelming task. This article has done the legwork and selected some of the most popular, organically pleasing, and time tested wood effect floor tiles to incorporate into your design concepts.
Patterns
The most important benefit of wood grain effect tile is the timeless appeal and the style variations available in modern or traditionally themed patterns. Wood effect tiles are adaptable.
For a professional tiler, it becomes easy to lay them in patterns like Herringbone, Chevron, staggered, diagonal, and horizontal, just like hardwood flooring can.
Wearability
One of the most uncompromising benefits of tile lies in its durability.
Wood-look floor tiles allow homeowners to live with the look of wood yet enjoy the hard-wearing benefits. Tile floors survive the hard wear and tear of boisterous children or romping dogs much better than other surfaces.
Furniture skims effortlessly over wood effect tile without marking or scratching. Nor can furniture leave footprint dents so common with wood floors.
Wood-look tile doesn’t fade, while hardwood flooring is prone to fading and sunlight bleaching. How often have you noticed precisely where the last area rug lay on the floor? Or where a piece of furniture created a shadow leaving the floor spotted and unattractive, forcing you to live within the original furniture placement or a hopscotch pattern on the floor.
Or worse, forcing you to hire a wood floor refurbishing company that leaves you in the dust.
Colour Options
Like natural wood flooring, wood-look tiles mimic wood characteristics and look real until further inspection.
Wood effect tile manufacturers have effortlessly created oak, unreclaimed wood, honey oak, vintage-look, sanded oak, Nordic maple, and birch wood effect tiles with technology.
Doesn’t a tree look better in the forest than stripped naked and vulnerable on the floor?
Heating
In-floor heating has changed the way we live and is environmentally a great option to heat homes prone to dampness. Wood flooring may not be as suitable a partner to in-floor heating as faux wood tiles.
Compatible With Other Flooring Materials
Whether matching oak wood flooring or reclaimed vintage flooring, wood effect tiles make great partners on high traffic areas and transition areas like utility rooms, hallways, conservatories, and mudrooms.
However, that doesn’t eliminate wood effect tile from making exceptional partners in modern designs or even grade-listed historic homes. Wood-look tile flooring tiles are incredibly sturdy and versatile.
Cost of Wood Flooring vs Wood Look Floor Tiles
Cost isn’t always about the initial layout of buying building materials. While the price of building materials fluctuates, wood has hit new record pricing highs worldwide.
The longevity of wood-look ceramic or porcelain tiles is a huge consideration when installing any kind of flooring. Popular vinyl floors are easy to lay and serve their purpose, but they’re not as durable and versatile as simulated wood plank tiles.
Wood flooring faces a constant battle against wear and tear from shoes, furniture, spillage, children, sunlight, dampness, and pets. Having to refurbish an entire home’s wood flooring is messy, dirty, and expensive.
Wood effect tile is also less likely to go out of fashion as quickly as other trendy floor tile patterns.
Porcelain or Ceramic?
That’s a good question. Porcelain and ceramic are often interchangeable terms, and only professionals distinguish between the two. Ceramic is perhaps slightly less expensive, very durable and maintenance effective, as is the superior porcelain tile.
Both are highly effective for preventing allergies inside the home and easy to care for and clean.
Ceramic tiles are slightly less expensive, less costly to install, and more susceptible to breakage but likely to crack in highly fluctuating climates.
Ceramic and porcelain are kiln-fired clay. However, porcelain products usually require a more refined clay base and are therefore denser and harder.
Grading
Flooring is graded by the Porcelain Enamel Institute.
- Grade I is ideal for wall decoration
- Grade II very light traffic
- Grade III sufficient for moderate traffic in homes
- Grade IV is commercial tile used in residential houses but limited in colour and finish
- Tile contractors do not use grade V in residential homes
Helpful Hints
Whether you’re hiring a professional tiler or plan on tackling this messy renovation project yourself, study product options and the additional cost of buying the necessary tools. If you choose to do this process yourself, make sure you understand the installation process.
Tiling is an investment. It takes planning, organising and a solid understanding of your secondary school maths. A strong back and hard knees are a must.
Before you jump right in, do you have the tools to do the job? A professional tiler comes equipped with all the tools like a tile cutter, spacers, mortar, grout, chalk line and trowel, among others and the real differential: know-how.
FAQ
Do you still have some questions about wood effect floor tiles? Don’t worry because we have the answers you need.
How Long Does Wood-Look Tile Last?
Tile is incredibly durable and has a life expectancy of up to 20 years and longer with proper care. Quality tile doesn’t fade, shrink, warp, or scratch.
What Is More Expensive - Tile or Hardwood?
Wood and tile are competitively priced, and it’s possible to price match both categories. However, wood is more expensive to install, and the real cost-saving with tile is due to its longevity and durability.
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No. Tile flooring is easy to maintain and doesn’t require polishing or chemical concoctions. It’s as easy as sweeping, a light mopping with mild detergents. Of course, it’s wise to use manufacturers recommendations and avoid abrasive or acid cleaners. (Caution with vinegar cleaning solutions as they may dissolve glazing.)
Can You Lay Wood Look Tile Without Grout?
No, It’s not a recommendation in the trade. Grout acts like a tissue that protects the tile as the floor shifts from cracks, lifting, and unevenness.
How Much Does Wood Tile Cost?
Porcelain and ceramic tiles come in many price points. Some are as inexpensive as £10 per sqm. Many considerations influence price, such as the quality, the design, the manufacturer, and if it’s discontinued. Always buy a few extras and keep them as replacements.
How Much Does It Cost to Install Wood Tiles?
A professional tiler can easily replace damaged ceramic or porcelain tiles one tile at a time. For an average size floor, expect to pay between £400 – £1000 for installation.
What Are the Disadvantages of Wood-Look Tile?
It would be a disservice to say that wood tile flooring is perfect for everyone and every situation.
Tiles without underfloor heating are cold because clay does not keep or transfer heat. (It’s perhaps why tile is a popular option in hot climates). Porcelain or ceramic tiles cause sore and tired legs after prolonged periods of standing, and while heated flooring eases some discomfort, tile is a hard surface.
Installing any type of tile also carries a weight that may have consequences on any structure.
Tile flooring may also be slippery when wet, which is a special consideration for seniors and toddlers. Consider the anti-slip rating usually listed on product spec sheets.
Top Wood Effect Floor Tile Summary
Trends are fun and inspire change. However, traditional styles survive the test of time just like the look of wood has. Muniellos Honey Oak tile answers both the new trend appeal and the timeless factor as the top pick.
Consider hiring a professional tiler. In the end, it may save you more money than attempting the task yourself.