Best Of Both Worlds With Wooden Floor Tiles

By Author: Wilber Whitfield
Total Articles: 72
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An increasing number of discerning consumers are opting for wooden floor tiles. It's easy to understand the appeal, since it has the best qualities of both hardwood flooring and ceramic tiles. Apart from the environmental advantages and classy look of hardwoods, it also inherits the style, durability and customization possibilities of traditional tiled floors.

The art of creating parquet floors using hardwood blocks is believed to have originated in France in the 17th century. Technically speaking, the process of creation geometric wooden shapes is known as parquetry. These days, it mostly refers to patterned wooden floors and anything else that can be made to look like a wood pattern.

The history lesson above is relevant here because it is possible to use both hardwood blocks and ceramic tiles to create the perception of hardwood flooring which additionally has patterns and a better finish. This is going to be an investment that will last for decades, so it is advisable to choose the materials and flooring type wisely. Everything from the kind of wood to the thickness of the wear layer and the number of substrate ...
... layers has to be built to last.

The aesthetic aspects and shape (square, rectangular, medallion, etc.) are more about personal preferences and won't make much of a difference one way or the other. The important choices begin with the type of wood. It can be engineered or solid, oak, birch, red oak, prefinished engineered red oak, and so on.

The number of layers will make a huge difference in terms of the flooring lifespan. Starting with the finished wood as the wear layer, there can be up to 10 layers of plywood and unfinished wood below. The budget is the only thing that limits adding more strength to the wear layer and substrate. In any case, the top layer's thickness and quality must be good enough to weather heavy use and support refinishing in places which get scratched or chipped.

Back in old France, they used to nail the blocks of wood together. Now it's just a question of using the right glue. The tiles come with self-stick adhesive at the bottom, and just need to be placed on the plywood substrate below. There's a lot more about the finish and layouts, but these are subjective issues dependent on the property design. The architect and contractor can mull it over and provide good suggestions.

There's something to be said for using ceramic tiles made to look like wood flooring. They won't chip and cannot be scratched or otherwise damaged as easily as real wood. They're easier to clean, and won't expand or crack due to heat or water exposure.

However, wooden floor tiles should be the preferred choice for people who are capable of maintaining the property and keeping it good as new. The environmental benefits are unbeatable since trees are considered to be a renewable source. It can be easily recycled or discarded, given that wood is completely non-toxic and biodegradable. Given the right kind of hardwood blocks and proper installation, the floor Vitrified Tiles can easily last for many generations.

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