8 comparative points between wooden flooring and tiles
Photographs: iStock
Tiles enjoy immense popularity in interiors. Wooden flooring also enjoys a considerable following. So when you are faced with choosing one over the other, keep this comparison in mind and make the selection, says architect and designer Vijay Sharma...
1. Materials
Tiles: These are popularly made from ceramic, stone, metal, or even glass. In some cases, they are also manufactured out of light-weight materials such as perlite and mineral wool.
Wooden flooring: This, but naturally, uses wood or wood products.
2. Types
Tiles: These are available as chequered tiles, glazed tiles and vitrified tiles, among others.
Wooden flooring: This takes form of hardwood, engineered wood and laminate.
3. Variety
Tiles: This material sees an immense range in terms of colours, textures, sizes and finishes.
Wooden flooring: It is generally available as planks, but the options available in terms of colours and finishes are many.
4. Affordability
Tiles: The price range is quite varied, and spans the very affordable to the luxury end of the scale.
Wooden flooring: Though laminates tend to be quite affordable, this material is more expensive than tiles.
5. Maintenance
Tiles: The tiles are easily maintainable as they can be easily wiped, mopped and cleaned. Tiles do not require polishing.
Wooden Flooring: Wooden flooring has tendency to collect dust which can cause unhealthy environment if it is not cleared regularly. Hardwood flooring needs regular polishing.
6. Use in wet zones
Tiles: Anti-skid tiles can be safely used in wet areas.
Wooden flooring: Wooden flooring tends to warp when used in wet areas.
(Left) Ceramic tiles are laid in a bed of mortar on a subfloor. The process can get quite messy. (Right) A wooden floor is installed by covering the existing floor with a cushioning material, and then the planks are then simply clicked into place.
7. Installation
Tiles: The biggest disadvantage of tile flooring is that tiles can break easily if the base is not level or has air pockets. The installation itself depends on the skill of the worker and can get a little messy.
Wooden flooring: The base floor needs to be level for the planks to be laid down properly. The installation follows a tongue-and-groove method, and tends to be quick and clean.
8. Reuse
Tiles: They cannot be easily reused.
Wooden flooring: This is not difficult to dismantle and can be used.
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Vijay Sharma
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