Wood vs. Wood, comparing natural wood to porcelain imitations.

Are you debating between installing natural wood or porcelain tile? How about a compromise of wood-look tiles. They have all the benefits of tile but the appearance of wood. I agree, sometimes it is nice to have the real thing. However, lets compare...

Cleaning
To clean wood tiles you dry mop or vacuum the loose dirt off the floor, you never wet mop wood floors. This is because wood will absorb moisture and expand, resulting in an uneven floor surface or a spotty appearance. Standing water can dull the finish or damage the wood. On the other hand, you can scrub tiles with any neutral cleaner, water, or use a steam cleaner on your tiled surfaces. If you spill liquid on tile, it will not harm the surface, even if you forget to clean it up right away. Yes, grout can absorb moisture and stains but there are products available to seal grout to prevent it from doing so such as Grout Boost from TEC.

Maintenance
Wood floors should be re-waxed in order to maintain its shine. If a floor dulls, you can buff it. On the other hand, the glaze on a porcelain tile will not dull over time. Porcelain tiles are durable, abrasion resistant, and do not absorb moisture making them extremely popular for commercial or high traffic areas.

Tips to caring for your wood floor:

• Use throw rugs both inside and outside doorways
• Prevents grit, dirt, and debris from being track onto the wood floor to help prevent scratching
• Place soft plastic or fabric-faced glides under the legs of furniture
• Never slide heavy furniture across the floor

  

  Wood Floor

• Place a rug in front of your kitchen sink
• Prevents moisture from reaching the wood
• Use a humidifier throughout the winter months
• Minimizes gaps or cracks and maintain proper relative humidity
• Do not walk on wood floors with high heels, cleats, or sports shoes
• This can cause scratches or indentations
• Use protective window coverings
• Blocks fade causing UV rays and excessive heat from direct sunlight
• Rearrange rugs and furniture periodically
• Helps your floor age evenly
• Trim pet's nails
• Prevents from scratching

Tips for caring for your porcelain tile floor:

• Clean regularly with neutral tile cleaners
• Rinse well with clear water after cleaning to remove soap residue
• Always save extra tiles so you can easily replace damaged or broken tiles
• Use protective pads on furniture legs, including outdoor metal furniture that rests on tile floors or patios to prevent staining from rust
• Visit hwintertile.com for more information on how to care for you tile floor

Porcelain Wood-Look Floor - Berkshire