I have to admit that when the wood style tiles came on to the market my firsts impression was "WHO WOULD USE THAT?" I'm not a big fan of fake. I love real marble, real wood and real Louis Vuitton handbags. Over time the colors, textures and variations have made wood tile a viable alternative to wood. So when it came time to redo the floors in my own home I had some serious decisions to make.
I love the rich texture and warm color tones of real wood. What I don't love is the lack of durability of real wood. I wanted the first floor of my home to be seamless so every room has the same flooring (that includes the kitchen, 2 bathrooms and the laundry room). My first instinct was REAL WOOD and then my practical-minded husband talked me off the ledge. So I made a list of pros and cons. Here is what I came up with.
REAL WOOD
Pros
-Natural
Cons
-Durability
-Maintenance
-Cost
-Dog Nail Scratches
WOOD TILE
Pros
-Low Maintenance
-Durable
-Waterproof
-Lower Cost
-Pet Proof
Cons
-Grout Joints
-Artificial
After weeks of agonizing I decided because we have a pool with dripping swimsuits going in and out of the house, 2 dogs, teenage son, 3 grandkids and multiple wet locations it would be smarter if I went with wood tile. I was able to find a gray/brown tile with high variation so no two tiles looked the same. To give it character I had it installed in a herringbone pattern. After living with the wood tile for a couple of years now I can honestly say I love it. I'm so happy with selection and my floors are one less thing I have to worry about!
