When wanting to decorate with a natural wood style,
you've definitely agonized over this question: "Should I choose
wood-effect tiles or hardwood floors?"
This is indeed a question worth pondering. Renovations are a major undertaking; one misstep could lead to an expensive lesson, not only time-consuming and laborious but also affecting your mood!
Let's analyze the pros and cons of both through
several key factors to help you make the most suitable renovation choice.
1.
Texture
Hardwood Floors:
· Each
hardwood floor plank has a unique natural grain pattern
· Hardwood
floors have rich and varied natural textures
Wood-effect Tiles:
· The
patterns on wood-effect tiles are machine-pressed, unable to form unique
patterns for each tile. However, with modern advanced techniques, high-quality
wood-effect tiles can recreate realistic wood grain patterns and a smooth
texture.
2.
Durability
Hardwood Floors:
· Natural
hardwood floors are relatively delicate, easily scratched by hard objects and
degraded by UV light, lacking durability.
· Even
engineered or laminated hardwood floors, though treated with special processes,
still have slightly lower durability than tiles.
Wood-effect Tiles:
· Made
of ceramic, wood-effect tiles boast outstanding wear resistance, moisture
resistance, and acid/alkali corrosion resistance.
· Wood-effect
tiles can withstand rough daily treatment without losing their luster.
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3.
Underfoot Comfort
Hardwood Floors:
· Walking
barefoot on hardwood floors provides a soft, slightly yielding and warm
experience
Wood-effect Tiles:
· Wood-effect
tiles offer a relatively cold and hard underfoot experience. Walking on tiles in the morning can give a jolting,
chilly sensation, lacking a warm feel.
4.
Ease of Maintenance
Hardwood Floors:
· Require
more maintenance, needing periodic waxing, protection from sunlight and
moisture.
· Cleaning
cannot be too vigorous, and ventilation is needed after mopping to prevent
warping.
· Prone
to scratches
Wood-effect Tiles:
· Wood-effect
tiles only need simple mopping for cleaning, requiring low maintenance
5.
Price
Hardwood Floors:
· Hardwood
floors are generally more expensive, with mid-to-high-end products costing up
to $10-50 per square foot.
· Even
including installation costs, the overall cost of hardwood floors is higher
than wood-look tiles.
Wood-effect Tiles:
· Wood-effect
tiles are more affordable than hardwood floors, starting as low as $3 per
square foot. However, if choosing high-end branded wood-look tiles, the price
may not be cheaper than mid-to-low-end hardwood floors.
To put it in a nutshell, both hardwood floors and
wood-look tiles have their unique applications and target audiences, depending
on individual needs and aesthetic preferences.
For those of you pursuing an exquisite, closer
connection to nature and not minding the hassle, hardwood floors are a good
choice.
If you value easy cleaning and maintenance while
still wanting an attractive appearance, then wood-look tiles are the way to go!
At Soon Bee Huat, we offer Singapore's broadest tile
variety, complemented by cutting-edge technology to cater to every design
preference. Visit our showrooms or explore our full range of tiles online for a
unique design experience.