Pros, cons of wood-look tile

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With a wide variety of colors and finishes, wood tiles are giving real wood floors a run for their money.

"The high definition that the manufacturers have been printing on these tiles give the grain a natural look. And then, like I said, the feel. You can feel the grain in it so it seems real," explained flooring expert Cory Steenbergen.

So real, even savvy homeowners are usually fooled.

"When they look at them, they actually don't believe that they're actual tiles," Steenbergen said.

In addition to their realistic look, you don't have to worry about the wear and tear that frustrates many homeowners with solid hardwood flooring.

"This is way more durable. You will never have fading, scratches, chips, nicks, the fading of the finish, doesn't need to be sealed. It's super easy to clean. There's no warpage, so you don't have to worry about water being on it," said Steenbergen.

"Wood-look tile is one of the latest trends these days for anywhere you might have a chance in getting water in your home. So, your kitchen, your bathroom, laundry room, even your basement," added Angie Hicks, founder of Angie's List.

While these tile planks are slightly more expensive than your typical tiles, flooring experts say they're a smart investment.

"They can range from $2 to $5 more than your 12x12 porcelain, but the quality that you get from them and the longevity of the tile, you can't beat it and it's going to give a nice warm, modern look to a remodel," Steenbergen explained.

The downside? Tiles may help ke

ep your home cooler in the summer, but they may not be so comfortable in the winter if you live in a cold climate. Installation also needs to be perfect. Angie's List says flaws will show.

"The key to installation of wood-look tile is that you want it to end up in the end looking like a hardwood floor," said Hicks. "So, it comes down to the grout. The color of the grout and the width of the grout is going to be very important to getting that finished look you want."

If you do choose wood-look tile flooring, Angie's List suggests you keep a few extra tiles just in case you need to replace one and the line you purchased is discontinued.

Angie's List: Pros of Wood-Look Tile

• Durability. Tile allows you to avoid dreaded chips, nicks and scratches that plague homeowners with wood. 
  
• Water resistance. While wood can expand or crack in wet environments, tile resists moisture, allowing a wood look in basements, bathrooms, laundry areas or kitchens.
  
• No fading. The color of tile does not fade in sunlight like the dyes used in other floor finishes.
• Endless options. With a variety of colors, finishes and sizes, there's a wood-look option for nearly every style.

Angie's List: Cons of Wood-Look Tile

• It's cold. If you come downstairs to the kitchen barefoot on a winter morning that tile floor may be uncomfortably cold compared to vinyl, wood or other bare floor options.
• It's hard. If you drop a glass, even relatively close to the floor, it's going to shatter.  Floor hardness can also be an issue if you spend a lot of time on your feet cooking.  You may need a small mat to place where you most frequently stand.
  
• If a ceramic tile is later damage and needs to be replaced, you may find it impossible to get an exact match.  That's why installers will advise you to hold onto any extra pieces left over in the initial installation.
• Installation is tricky. You need to be super careful about your grout width and color. If either is off, you'll be able to tell right away that it's tile. 

Angie's List Guide to Tile Flooring: http://www.angieslist.com/flooring/tile-flooring.htm

Flooring Comparison Costs

• Carpet                                                 $2-$15 per square foot installed
• Stone                                                   $8-$50 per square foot installed
• Ceramic/Porcelain Tile                  $4-$12 per square foot installed
  
• Laminate                                            $3-$7 per square foot installed
• Wood                                                   $6-$15 per square foot installed
• Engineered Wood                          $4-$18 per square foot installed
• Bamboo                                              $4-$8 per square foot installed
  
• Vinyl                                                     $1-$7 per square foot installed
• Linoleum                                            $2-$9 per square foot installed
  
• Cork                                                      $4-$9 per square foot installed

 *Source: World Floor Covering Association: http://www.wfca.org/Pages/flooring-comparison.aspx