Both stone tiles and hardwood flooring offer numerous benefits to a home. However, there are some key differences between tile vs wood flooring that you might want to consider when building or renovating a home.
To assist you with your decision, we’ve put together this handy guide and if you need any more help, make sure to reach out to the team here at Euro Marble!
Choosing Between Hardwood vs Tile
The key point to note is that there is not one solution that fits all. Every home, design and set of personal preferences is different. Consider what your priorities are and what sort of space you’re applying the floor material to ensure you make the right choice for you.
Where in your house is the flooring being applied?
Different areas of the house may affect which type of material is right for you.
Bedrooms, for example, are likely to be more conducive to hardwood whereas when it comes to choosing between hardwood vs tile in a kitchen or bathroom, tiles are often the more practical solution considering exposure to moisture and liquid.
Do they need to be element-resistant?
Building on from the question above: You may want to start considering whether wood vs tile floors are right for you based on any specific needs you might have.
As mentioned, moisture-resistant flooring is especially important when it comes to kitchens and bathrooms, but even laundries can be susceptible to element exposure that makes tiling the right option. Exposure to UV rays and sunshines–such as an outside deck–can also be a factor to take into account.
Hardwood, properly treated, can be highly resistant to ongoing exposure to the sun without losing much in the way of its aesthetic appeal.
Always consider the daily activity that will take place in, on and around the flooring of your choice.
What is your budget?
Many renovation-related decisions need to be made with one’s budget in mind. Stone tiles in particular, while durable over the long term, are more expensive in general.
Both the material needs to be sourced and the labour is more intensive, adding to the overall cost. Hardwood, in general, offers greater value for money–especially in the short term.
However, both tiles and hardwood are durable and offer long-lasting utility, as well as increase the value of your home. So you can think of either option as more investment than expenditure.
What sort of maintenance are you willing to do?
Fortunately, if your two options for flooring are tiles vs hardwood, you’re not setting yourself up for complex, difficult cleaning routines.
Both stone tiles (or ceramic for that matter) and hardwood floors are smooth surfaces and easy to keep clean.
For stone tiles, however, you may need to consider the costs of regular resealing (once every few years) to ensure its ongoing protection.
Tiles vs wood - warm vs cold?
Of the more stark differences between tiles and hardwood is the physical sensation by touch. Wood brings a warm feeling, both aesthetically and tangibly, to the space and is often preferred in climates more prone to cold snaps.
Tiles, especially during the winter months, can be cold to the touch. In warmer climates this can be appealing, of course, but if you’re a fan of walking around the house barefoot it is something to take into consideration.
What sort of durability are you after?
As with many of the factors in this list, both hardwood floors and tiles offer utility in the way of durability.
Tiles, especially made from natural stone, are highly durable even when exposed to high levels of foot traffic and home activity. But, thin stone slabs can be subject to chipping or cracking when exposed to trauma, such as a heavy object being dropped on them.
Hardwood flooring, on the other hand, is also highly durable and offers long-lasting value for money, but it can get scratched by activities like dragging furniture across a room.
What are you matching your floors with?
Stone tiling can be used throughout the home, not just with your flooring. This offers renovators the opportunity to match their choice of flooring with other features, such as a splashback or fireplace.
Hardwood, on the other hand, may not be amenable for use around fire and kitchen sinks, but can certainly perfectly complement a rustic design or country vibe, such as with exposed roof beams.
Take a moment to consider the other aesthetic choices you are making in your home to see how each of these flooring materials can best be utilised in a harmonious way.
What is your aesthetic preference?
There’s definitely no ‘right’ answer here. Your preference for visual style is completely up to you.
On the one hand, tiles offer a near unlimited level of versatility in aesthetic. From colours of stone to pattern of tiles, there’s a wide range of styles for all sorts of home designs. Even amongst the natural stone commonly used for tiling, there is a ton of variety: Such as granite, marble, limestone and travertine.
Hardwood flooring is generally made from long planks of wood–rectangular for easy tessellations–and while there are certainly different shades and colours amongst the browns of wood, there is less versatility than with tiles.
Of course, there are still many different sources of hardwood planks, such as oak, maple or hickory, which each bring with it a unique aesthetic and feel.
Need more help choosing between tile vs wood flooring?
As you can see, there’s a lot more to consider when it comes to wood vs tile floors than you might immediately realise.
The team at Euro Marble may live and breathe all things natural stone, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t also specialists in general interior design, renovation and construction. Why not give us a call today or come in and visit our showroom to discuss wherever hardwood vs tile is right for you?
