When you’re undertaking a home renovation, you have to think about every detail from the ground up. One of the most important decisions to make is what type of flooring to use. Tile and wood are two of the most reliable choices. Both offer beauty and durability that will enhance your home’s style. Comparing the qualities of tile vs wood flooring can help you decide which to use in your next home project.
Tile vs Wood Style Debate
Your home is a reflection of your tastes and personality, so you’ll want to choose a flooring material that matches your style.
Wood is a natural material that’s often thought of as creating a sense of warmth in a room. If you want your home to feel cozy and welcoming, wood floors may be an excellent choice for your design.
Tile, on the other hand, offers the advantage of nearly endless variety, including many shapes, sizes and colors. Some tiles offer intricate or bold patterns. No matter what your decor scheme is like, you can probably find complementary tiles.
Cost of Tile or Wood Flooring
Like it or not, budget is probably a major factor in your renovation project. If you’re debating between tile vs wood flooring, you’ll need to consider their prices.
As a general rule, tile prices start lower than hardwood prices. Some may cost as little as $1 to $2 per square foot. If you’re watching every penny of your remodeling project, choosing tile may allow you to stretch your budget further.
On the other hand, high-end tiles made of marble or other natural stones can be much more expensive than some types of wood floors.
If you’re comfortable with a middle-of-the-line pricetag, you should be able to find decent options in both wood and tile.
Don’t forget to factor in installation costs! Although you may be able to make either material a DIY project, most people will benefit from the professional installation of both tile and hardwood.
Maintenance Needs for Tile and Wood Floors
You’d probably prefer a floor that isn’t a constant source of work or worry. Both tile and hardwood should be swept regularly. You can use hardwood cleaner on wood floors and a wet mop on tile ones.
Consider long-term maintenance too. You’ll want to scrub tile grout about once a year and may occasionally need to repair some of the grout. Hardwood floors will sometimes need to be refinished, which can be a big job.
In general, tile is more durable than wood. Hardwood floors are easier to scratch than tile. Plus, you must be extra careful with hardwood in damp areas like kitchens since wood is susceptible to water damage. While there’s the potential for an impact to crack a tile, you may be able to swap out the broken one without redoing the entire floor.
Tile and Wood for Property Value
If you’re investing money in a remodelling project, you’ll want it to pay off when you sell your house down the road. Choosing the right flooring materials may help you recoup more of the cost in the long run.
According to realtor.com, hardwood floors often boast a return on investment (ROI) of 70%–80%. The ROI for ceramic and granite tiles may be nearly that high as well. On the other hand, more expensive tile materials, such as porcelain and marble, don’t always pay off as well in the long run; their average ROI is 55% or less.
Other Tile vs Wood Flooring Considerations
If you’re still having a hard time making the tile vs wood decision, the factors below may help influence your decision.
Temperature
Tile can be cold underfoot, and wood is typically warmer. With either material, though, you may be able to install a radiant heating system underneath. That can make any type of floor toasty warm all winter long!
Noise
Both hardwood and tile can be rather loud to walk on. Tile is often the louder of the two, though, since it doesn’t absorb quite as many sound waves as wood does. With either type of flooring, adding a few well-placed rugs can make your flooring quieter.
Safety
Tile can be slippery, but wood sometimes offers a bit more traction for your feet. That can be an important consideration if you have kids or seniors in your home.
Choosing the Right Flooring for Your Home
Which material wins for you in the tile vs wood flooring debate? If you aren’t sure, make a list of the pros and cons that stand out to you the most. Once you settle on the material to use, you can start shopping for the style that best fits your home and tastes.
