Advantages of Ceramic and Natural Stone Tile

Dear Rob:

I’ve read all about different ways to use tile and hardwood on your site, and I’m still stuck trying to decide whether tile or wood is best for me.  I know you’ve already written about the advantages of hardwood, so could you share some advantages of tile as well?

-Jen in New Mexico

Dear Jen:

There is no other flooring type that has the design flexibility of ceramic tile or natural stone. There are multiple shapes, sizes, installation patterns and colorways that give ceramic tile and natural stone endless design choices. This is just one of the many benefits of ceramic tile and natural stone.

In addition to tile’s design flexibility, ceramic tile is an extremely durable product. A good quality tile that is taken care of and installed properly can last a lifetime. Choosing a tile floor can be a decision that you don’t have to worry about ever again – unless of course, you decorating tastes change.

Ceramic tile and natural stone are both very easy to maintain. Walk off mats should be used at every entrance and the floors should be swept regularly. If you have a spill or stain, a manufacture approved cleaner can be used to remove the stain. That’s it for the tile itself! Areas around tile should be caulked on an annual basis.

Design Flexibility. Ceramic tile comes in sizes varying from 1″x1″ to 24″x24″ and many sizes in between including non square sizes and shapes such as octagons, rectangles and circles. These sizes can be used alone or can be mixed together for countless design choices. All you need is a little math to create custom installation patterns with the geometric size options of tile. These options in conjunction with all of the color choices available make tile the most versatile and designer friendly flooring product available!

Tile can be installed in nearly any application. Tile can be installed on floors, walls, in showers, tubs, backsplashes, ceilings, inside or outside. It can also be installed on countertops, table tops, fireplaces, hearths, columns and more. Unlike wood flooring, you don’t have to worry about installing tile in a wet environment.  It can be installed over most subfloors with the proper underlayment.

Cost effectiveness. Tile is still one of the most cost effective surfaces on the market. Once you absorb the initial cost of tile you don’t have to spend money on it again for the life of the product if it is installed properly. It doesn’t need refinishing, resurfacing, reglazing, or recoating.

Repairs are simple. Should there be a need for repair, the process is not as complicated as other flooring surfaces. In most cases it should be performed by a professional. A professional can usually repair a broken tile without damaging other tiles around it causing a larger problem.

Increase your home’s value. Ceramic tile and natural stone can increase the value of your home helping you recoup the initial cost invested in the product.

Good for allergy and asthma sufferers. Unlike carpet, which can harbor dust, mites, dander and other allergens, tile and other hard surface flooring are easier to keep clean and allergen free.

When considering purchasing new flooring, ceramic tile is a good choice if your budget permits and you are looking for a product that is easy to maintain and will not have to be replaced quickly. It can give you long lasting beauty and a focal point for your decorating scheme in your home.

-Rob

Hardwood Flooring Patterns Create a One of a Kind Look

Dear Rob:

While browsing through flooring showrooms, we’ve seen a lot of unique tile patterns that we really like.  We’d prefer hardwood though, so I’m wondering if some of these patterns can be achieved with wood instead.

-Joan in Indiana

Dear Joan:

Hardwood flooring is a more versatile product than it’s given credit for. It doesn’t have to be laid in one direction only. In fact, it has many design options that can create a truly one of a kind look.

Design Options:

• Borders – borders are typically used to outline a room or the entire area that receives hardwood. Decorative borders are available for purchase or can be custom designed.
• Feature Strips – can be used to outline a room or to outline an area. For example, you can have an oak floor and create the look of a permanent area rug by outlining an area in a different, contrasting wood like mahogany or an exotic species. This allows you to use an exotic species without the cost associated with using it for the entire floor.
• Medallions – are often used to highlight a focal point of a room or an area. A medallion in the foyer or in the center of a room can be breathtaking. The good news is, there are plenty of patterns out there already created so all you have to do is choose one that inspires you rather than starting from scratch trying to design your own. A note of caution: keep furniture placement in mind when planning to use decorative medallions. You don’t want the medallion to end up being covered up with furniture or covered with an area rug where you can’t enjoy it.
• Diagonal – a simple hardwood pattern is to install the wood on the diagonal. A professional installer should be consulted first when considering this pattern to make sure that the pattern will not be “choppy” in any angled areas of the room.
• Inlays – hardwood inlays are a place to really get creative. Inlays can be murals, panorama or scenes of beautiful landscapes. If you do not grow tired of looking at a piece of art for years, a hardwood inlay may be for you.
• Herringbone – A herringbone pattern is an elegant, classic hardwood pattern this is a little more complicated than a diagonal pattern. It can be subtle or it can become the focal point of a room.
• Parquet –parquet flooring is a wood floor laid in a geometric pattern. Most people thing of gym floors when they think of a parquet floor, but there are some beautiful, updated designs available in parquet flooring.
• Custom Designs – if you have an artistic eye or want something unique that no one else has, you can create a custom designed border, feature strip pattern, installation pattern or medallion. With today’s technology, you can have almost any image you want integrated into your hardwood flooring.

Hardwood patterns are not for everyone, but if you are looking for a little something different, ask your retailer or installer about options for your space. There is a higher cost associated with patterns, but it can be well worth it in the end when you have a floor that stops traffic!

-Rob

Benefits of Hardwood Flooring

Dear Rob:

I’m considering hardwood floors, but considering how they will cost, I’m worried that I’m going to have “buyer’s remorse” when everything is said and done. Can you please tell me more about the benefits of using hardwood flooring?

-Suzan in Colorado

Dear Suzan:

There are many benefits of hardwood flooring, and to many, its advantages far out weigh the few disadvantages. Hardwood is a financially a significant investment, but one that is often well worth it.

Hardwood is a long lasting and durable floor covering. You know when you purchase a hardwood floor that it will last as long as you live in the home and probably as last as long as the home does! Because they are so long lasting, hardwood floors can set the stage for the whole design scheme. It can be a great place to start the decorating process because it is a piece of the puzzle that will probably not change, unlike furniture and paint colors.

Despite their longevity, hardwood floors remain fairly versatile. When hardwood floors are sanded and refinished, you can take the opportunity to change the look of the floor by using a stain or changing your stain color to suite new decorating tastes. This option can change the whole look of your home. It is not an easy or inexpensive process, but it can give your floor a whole new look.

It doesn’t seem to matter what type of wood species you choose or what stain you choose to use, a hardwood floor always seems to make an area warm, rich and inviting. Even a light maple with a clear stain can make a contemporary setting warm and inviting.

Hardwood floors are one of the easiest floor coverings to maintain. As long as there are mats at each entrance to trap dirt before it reaches your floors, the floors are swept regularly and the right cleaners are used for stains and spills, maintaining a hardwood floor is a breeze.

There are many, many design choices when choosing hardwood flooring. You can get hardwood in a plank or a strip (narrow or wide), handscraped or traditional, pre-finished or site finished, beveled edges or non beveled, dark stains or light stains, warm stains or clear stains, species with a lot of grain or species with very little grain, character marks or smooth floors without character marks, etc. There is a hardwood floor choice for any design scheme.

Best of all, hardwood floors can also increase your homes value. Now that’s a real benefit!

If you are considering hardwood floors, keep these benefits in mind when comparing other types of floor covering. While these benefits may not suit your budget or your lifestyle and you may want to choose something else, those that do choose hardwood floors, are almost can guaranteed a long lasting, beautiful investment in their home.

-Rob