Which is Better: Tiles or Wooden Flooring?

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Flooring can make or break your project.

For most of us, the choice of flooring comes down to tiles vs timber. These types of floors are stunning, durable and readily available, and they look right at home in any setting.

But tiles and timber perform very differently when they’re installed around the home. Each comes with its own pros and cons, and it’s important to choose the option that matches your personal style.

In this article we’ll compare the two surfaces and help you figure out whether tiles or wooden flooring is better for your project.

Tiles vs Wooden Flooring

There are lots of things to look at when deciding between tiles and hardwood flooring. We’ve put together a table comparing the major factors:

Wooden Flooring

Tile Flooring

Cost

  • High cost per square metre for quality, natural hardwood flooring.
  • Moderate cost per square metre for quality porcelain or ceramic tiles.

Application

  • Suitable for indoor use in dry areas. Not recommended for bathrooms or laundries.
  • Suitable for indoor or outdoor use, depending on the tile’s rating. Can be used in wet areas such as bathrooms, laundries and kitchen splashbacks.

Maintenance

  • Low maintenance. Benefits from regular cleaning and needs to be sanded and refinished every 10 years.
  • Low maintenance. Benefits from regular cleaning.

Installation

  • It’s recommended that timber flooring be professionally installed.
  • Tile flooring should be professionally installed, but DIY installation is possible for small areas with simple layouts.

Moisture-resistance

  • Timber may become warped or stained if it gets wet or if spills aren’t cleaned up quickly.
  • Highly resistant to moisture. Ideal for use in wet areas such as bathrooms.

Sound absorption

  • Excellent sound absorption that reduces echoing and noise from footsteps.
  • Poor sound absorption. Usually needs to be paired with rugs or furniture to minimise echoing.

Pet friendliness

  • Prone to scratching from claws.
  • Highly resistant to scratches from claws and is easy to clean.

Tile vs Wooden Flooring Maintenance Requirements

You walk on your floors every day. You spill drinks, drag furniture, drop heavy items and your pets and kids run amok. That rough and tumble can take its toll on the surface.

If you opt for hardwood floors, they’ll need to be sanded and refinished every 5-10 years. The scratches and dents your floor accumulates over that time will leave it looking dull. Refinishing is a simple process, but you can expect to pay about $25-$30 per square metre for professional sanding and polishing.

Meanwhile, tile floors require little or no maintenance over their lifespan. Most kitchen tiles or living room tiles come glazed or sealed from the factory and won’t need to be resealed. All your tile floors need is regular cleaning to prevent the surface from becoming stained.

The Cost of Hardwood Flooring vs Tile

Cost is a major concern in any project, and it’s often the deciding factor when choosing between hardwood flooring and tile.

On average, you can expect to pay about $80-$100 per square metre for hardwood flooring. The average cost for tiles is about $40-$80 per square metre.

We also need to think about the installation cost. A skilled tradesman installing hardwood flooring will charge approximately $100 per square metre to install, sand and treat new timber flooring. On the other hand, a tiler will charge about $80 per square metre to install new tiles, although this price varies widely depending on the complexity of the tiles.

Hardwood Flooring Alternatives

Tiles are affordable, stylish and incredibly durable. They’re widely used in new construction and renovation projects, but many people still prefer the look of timber flooring.

Timber floors are hard to go past. The warmth and detail they add to a space is difficult to match, especially if you’re looking to introduce natural elements into your design. But the price can be prohibitive.

 

So Which is Better, Tiles or Wooden Flooring?

There’s no easy answer to this question. Choosing between tiles and wooden flooring comes down to your budget, style and personal taste.

Timber flooring is a classic material that brings warmth to any space. It’s durable, long-lasting, and its appearance will improve over time as the timber ages. Wooden flooring is also an excellent way to bring a hint of nature into your home. The natural grain plays nicely with other design elements and colour palettes, so it’s suitable for most design aesthetics.

Tile flooring is more affordable than hardwood timber, it’s more durable, and it still looks incredible. These days, buyers are spoiled for choice, with tiles available in thousands of different colourways, formats, styles, materials and shapes. Tiles offer greater design flexibility than timber, they’re suitable for wet areas such as bathrooms, and they require almost no maintenance.

So, the choice is up to you. The best thing you can do is visit a tile shop and get your hands on some samples!