Natural wood is considered to be one of the best materials you can use for the flooring of your home. Available in a number of styles and types, wooden floors have been a popular trend since years. They look traditional and beautiful, and help provide any space a warm and comfortable look.
While most people love the look, a lot of them get discouraged because wooden floors can work out to be expensive and are non-durable in the long run. But now there’s a way out. Wood look tiles are an efficient alternative to natural wood floors. Wood floor tiles look just like traditional wooden floors, are durable and easy to maintain as compared to the hardwood option. Apart from tiles, there are other alternatives too. Read on to know more about them, but first let’s look at the disadvantages of natural wood flooring.
Disadvantages of Wooden Flooring
Natural wooden flooring looks elegant and regal, especially compared to other flooring options, but they come with certain disadvantages:
1.Highly Susceptible To Damages:
Wooden flooring easily gets dented, cracked and scratched, and is not a good option if you have children and pets in your home.
2.Impact Of Seasonal Changes:
You would have noticed some wooden doors not closing properly in some seasons. The same is the case with wooden flooring. It expands and contracts with passing seasons. This makes it difficult to maintain the flooring.
3.Requires Regular Maintenance:
Wooden flooring requires regular maintenance, such as regular polishing to maintain its gleam, and careful cleaning. You won’t be able to wash off the dirt using running water as that may lead to dampness and subsequent damage.
4.Can’t Take Moisture:
Since wooden flooring is porous and can be easily damaged due to water, they are more suitable for no-moisture zones.
Alternatives for Wooden Flooring
Wooden flooring has its disadvantages but the market has many alternatives now. So if you like the look, don’t fret. Here are some of the alternatives you can consider, the primary one being wood look tiles:
1.Wood Tile Flooring:
In recent years, wood tile flooring has gained immense popularity. Wooden tiles are highly durable, environmentally sustainable and not as expensive as hardwood flooring, laminate wooden flooring or engineered wood flooring. With thin grout lines, wooden floor tiles mimic the look of natural hardwood flooring. Orientbell Tiles has a huge collection of wooden tiles that look just like natural wood. Besides, there is a huge range of patterns and colours to choose from.
2.Porcelain Or Ceramic Tiles That Mimic Wooden Look:
Available in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and textures, these wooden look tiles are extremely durable and easy to maintain and clean. These non-porous tiles do not absorb moisture and can easily be used in high-moisture environments such as the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room. Orientbell Tiles has a huge collection of wood look tiles that are suitable for all spaces.
3.Vinyl Or Laminate Flooring:
Looking to mimic the elegance of wood floors without paying through your nose? Synthetic materials like laminate and vinyl are your way to go. Extremely resistant to moisture, discoloration, and stains due to constant sunlight or spills, these kinds of flooring are ideal for laundry rooms as well as bathrooms. Vinyl can bubble up during installation and is susceptible to gouges and dents, and unlike hardwood floors, they can’t be refinished. Although vinyl flooring is not guaranteed to last for a lifetime, the ease of maintenance and low installation cost make them a very appealing choice for homeowners.
4.Cork Flooring:
Cork flooring is a fully renewable flooring choice that is slowly gaining popularity. Cork is known to repel mildew, insects and mould and provides your floors with a cushioned coverage that can absorb loud noises. Sadly, this is also the reason cork flooring is not ideal for high traffic areas of your home. Another disadvantage of cork flooring is that it is inclined to get dented due to heavy furniture, needs a mandatory lining below it and has low tolerance to humidity. Cork flooring may also need an annual or bi-yearly application of a protective finish or wax.
5.Engineered Wood Flooring:
Unlike laminate flooring that has a photographic layer on the top, engineered wood flooring has a thin layer of real wood. The layers below it are made using plywood. Engineered wood flooring can also be sanded down once or twice during their lifespan of about 20 years. The process to clean the engineered wood flooring is very similar to regular wooden flooring and it can be difficult to maintain.
Wooden tiles come with a host of advantages and make an excellent alternative to regular wooden floors. Wood style tiles provide your homes with the warmth and sophistication of wood, without having to worry about maintaining natural wood. Made using durable materials, wood look tiles can withstand any kind of climatic conditions and outdoor wood tiles can sustain through most natural elements. While being easy to clean and maintain, wooden tiles are available in a plethora of colours, designs, and patterns; this ensures that you will be able to find a tile that suits your needs easily.
Author Bio:
Isha Tandon works as a Digital Content Strategist for Orientbell Limited, a leading tile manufacturer in India. Isha’s knack for understanding audiences helps her create value-driven content for her readers that not only educates and informs but is engaging and interesting to read as well. She creates lifestyle pieces that focus on interior design products, trends, and processes. She loves to travel to historic places with rich architecture.
