Is it an uncanny simulation? No. Does it look convincing from a distance? Yes (more on that later). Is it attractive? That’s all in the eye of the beholding homeowner. Why would someone do this when the world is overrun with solid hardwood flooring stores, online retailers, and installers anxious to put real wood in your home? There are many good reasons:
How Much Does It Look Like Wood?
If you want it to look like wood, you can probably convince yourself of this. After all, the brain is a powerful organ. Bottom line: Wood-look ceramic tile looks like wood from a distance—i.e., before entering the room. Upon entering, the illusion begins to break up. Upon close examination, you may be unconvinced. That’s because wood-look ceramics will always have a bit of a sheen, or gloss, to the surface. Here are some of the most beautiful wood-look tiles for your home. This tile comes in widths ranging from 3.81" to 5.77", and lengths ranging from 23.43" to 35.20". Why is this significant? Because these are roughly the same sizes—long and narrow—that wood flooring comes in. From Florim USA’s Urban Collection, this is a color body porcelain tile with high definition graphics. Florim USA’s tiles are certified by Italy’s standards department, Bureau Veritas Italia, to have a minimum of 40 percent pre-consumer recycled content by weight. Marazzi Ash is, along with other wood-looking tiles, rectified. This means that the tiles are exactly the same size, allowing the installer to lay them with very tight grout lines. It is also interesting to note that rectified tile is kiln-baked in a large sheet, then cut down to ensure perfect sizing. Conventional tiles are individually dried, which may lead to slight size variations. What is interesting is how this tile is laid. All of their ebony porcelain tiles are 24" long. But they vary in width: 4", 6", and 12". This installation includes all three widths. It’s a fantastic way to break up the monotony of conventional tile patterns and gain visual interest. As a porcelain tile, it comes with an ASTM C-373 water absorption rate of less than 0.5 percent, meaning it can be installed in water-heavy places like bathrooms. From Vitromex’s Heritage Wood series, these short tile boards, only 24 inches long and 6 inches wide, more closely duplicate the appearance of shortboard oak flooring. Unlike many other wood-look tiles, which are mainly designed for large-scale commercial use, this one is simple, warm, and homey. Vitromex is one of a small number of companies certified to produce porcelain flooring. This photo shows their Tzalam line, which has the shape of wood planks in 6" x 36" pieces.
