I love wood look porcelain but DH thinks its silly to get the "look" instead of the real thing. But people's tastes vary. You might be happy with it and the prospective future buyer absolutely hate it. IMO, thinks wood look tile is relatively new, I don't know if enough time has gone by to determine whether a good investment or not. Also need to consider quality of tile. I recently saw a wood look at a restaurant where the design has worn off in areas, maybe from high traffic or too much/harsh cleaning? Don't know that such heavy traffic would be an issue in a residence, but bringing it up 'cause I saw the wear and it was unattractive,. then again, wood gets pock marks, carpet gets stains so.....

Thanks! I've read to check the tile to see what color it 'chips' to just in case. In our situation my husband is all about the tile, and I'm more inclined to hardwood throughout, but with a stone type tile in kitchen and baths. I guess with wood if it is trashed from the dogs if/when we move we can refinish it. With either product I would select a hand scraped or antiqued look because we are in an older farm house and I want the renovation to feel like it's always been here.

This is a hard call.

The porcelain tile that looks like wood has the benefit of durability. You have dogs, and it will hold up for that. Grout is often an issue with tiles, but they can make grout lines smaller, or do no grout, and it seems more colors are available. However, to ME, the tile that looks like wood feels trendy to me and not something that will withstand time. Who knows what will be popular in 10-15 years.

On the other hand, I see so many house reductions to account for wood floors that need to be refinished. If your dogs destroy the wood floor, you are not further ahead, even if this is the preferred floor 10-15 years from now.

Frankly, I think color preferences are going to change and wood and tile will be equally bad in 10-15 years.

"Frankly, I think color preferences are going to change and wood and tile will be equally bad in 10-15 years."

This might be true but ugly wood could probably be refinished where ugly tile would have to be hammered up.

I think the wood is better for resale but it sounds like the tile might suit you better now. That makes for a real dilemma.

Once everyone is using something like the wood look tile floors it's already on the down trend. I personally think it's trendy. Wood never goes out of style. And you can patch where you're ripping up and then resand and refinish instead of putting down a completely new floor.

The more I let it sit, the more I feel like hardwood in family and bedrooms and tile in kitchens and baths will be the way I go. Worn wood doesn't bother me, I plan to start with an aged looking wood anyway. If the dogs or kids make a few marks, oh well. I want the renovation to show the house to be a well loved family farmhouse. I think the wood floors will be timeless and more comfortable in the long run. The tile would be a better choice for utility, but being trendy isn't important to me and the point made of having to hammer up the whole flooring system if the tile isn't liked (by us or a future buyer) has weighed into my process. Thanks for the thoughts shared!

Personally, I feel the faux wood porcelain floors look 'fake' and are a trend that is going to scream 2015 in just a few years.

I also find tile VERY hard on my feet/joints, so I can't stand on it for long periods of time. Wood has a bit of give and feels warmer, too.

The porcelain tile that looks like wood has the advantage of sturdiness.

They keep improving the look of the faux wood porcelain floors. Some are gorgeous while others do look fake. I found a beautiful one, Life by Caesar, and am building my kitchen plan around it. That's the way to go, especially with dogs.

We moved into a house with the porcelain faux wood tiles that the previous owner put down as an upgrade right before putting it on the market to replace warn, BLUE carpet. . .I would have preferred the carpet! The tile is going to be a nightmare to take up and replace and I absolutely hate her color choice so it has to go. I vote real WOOD!!

tile might be a better choice for flooring with dogs; dog pee (I'm thinking of elderly dogs -- and cats) on any porous surface like wood would ruin it, right?

• We just put porcelain wood look tile in our entire house. It's gorgeous. Looks like real wood. Ripped out old tile, carpet and 20 year old dated wood floors. I've been around long enough to see everything becomes dated after a while, even wood floors. Look at the dark wood that was so popular about 10 years ago. Now considered out. Do what makes you happy.

I'm not a fan of anything that "looks like wood", be it laminate or tile. If you want the durability of tile, get tile that looks like tile. I agree with those who feel that the wood-look tile is a fad that will run its course, and could be a turnoff in 10-15 years. That said, as look as you aren't putting real wood anywhere in the house, I have less problem with it. If you love it, go for it. You can't live your life based on the desired of some mythical potential buyer.

I have hardwood in my house, along with dogs and kids. The wood floors are scratched, but more from MIL's walker than the dogs. Eventually we'll get them refinished, and they'll look like new again. While wood and water don't mix, the pool shouldn't be a big deal, and long as there isn't a constant pile of wet swimsuits on the living room floor.

Look at the dark wood that was so popular about 10 years ago. Now considered out. Do what makes you happy.

Yes but it's a heck of a lot easier and cheaper to resand and restain a wood floor than to completely rip out porcelain tiles and then put down a completely new floor.

Otherwise I agree completely with AnnKH.

Oh and I wouldn't be concerned with what may or may not be in style in 15 years from now. Do what you prefer and love. Yes even wood look tile, if that's what you prefer. :)

I prefer real hardwood over wood-look tile any day, unless the application doesn't allow for solid hardwood (basements, slabs, etc.) In those cases, I definitely prefer the tile over laminate or engineered hardwood.

The hardwood will need more maintenance, especially with kids and pets. The odds are high that you'll need to refinish it within the next 15 years.

Dark wood isn't out.. Just look at pics on Houzz, lots of fancy homes have dark wood.. I don't think you can go wrong with real wood (just about any shade, as long as it fits within your home). Tile is very hard and cold. Unless you have heated floors, I wouldn't want all that grout, let alone the coldness from the tile.

I love wood look porcelain but DH thinks its silly to get the "look" instead of the real thing.

Not silly if you want the durability of tile and the look of wood? Food for thought.

If it is the "1950s" flooring that means it is solid plank. Solid is very easy to repair when you move walls and such. After the repairs are done you have the whole floor re sanded and finished to what ever color you would like. This will be a lot more cost effective and solid hardwood hold up to life better then the newer engineered type hardwood

Actually, from what I've seen on the home improvement shows, dark wood is very much "in" right now. I don't think you can go wrong with a wood floor, dark or light. Everyone seems to like wood floors, they are a classic look.

<<I definitely prefer the tile over laminate or engineered hardwood>>

I see this again and again on this forum, and I don't get it. What don't you like about engineered hardwood? It IS real wood on the surface. How can you tell the difference?

I wonder if you can piece in hardwood floors where you remove walls. If you can't match, you can have them refinished. If you have hardwood, I would try to work with it instead of putting in a cheap alternative.

Because in most cases (despite manufacturer claims), you can't refinish engineered hardwood. So you could easily have to rip it all up in 10 years and start over, especially if your floors take a beating from kids / pets.

Porcelin tile is more durable, and real hardwood can be sanded and refinished.

Because in most cases (despite manufacturer claims), you can't refinish engineered hardwood. So you could easily have to rip it all up in 10 years and start over, especially if your floors take a beating from kids / pets.

And I assume you're making this comment as an expert?

Yes if you get an engineered floor with a very thin wear layer, you are correct. However better quality engineered floors with a thicker wear layer can be refinished anywhere from 1-3x.

Considering the fact that most floors are only refinished every 15 years or so, I don't see that as a major problem.

By the tone of your reply, I assume you're a flooring contractor?

I'm not interested in a debate, but I'm happy to clarify my point.

I did say "most cases," because many do have thin wear layers. Floors with thicker wear layers can sometimes be sanded, but not always. Many engineered floors are floated, and if the connections aren't strong, then sanding may wreak havoc. Also, if you want to change color, then you may need to take off more than 1mm, so it may not always be possible. And the new aluminum oxide finishes are difficult to remove (but not impossible). And make sure you use a good refinisher with experience and a delicate touch. I've heard stories of guys who sand right through all the wear layers in one shot.

So, I maintain that solid gives you a ton more flexibility, and porcelain tile gives you the durability.

That said, there are millions of people with Engineered Floors, and I'm sure some are happy, so don't listen to me.

But, of the people in my circle, I know more that have ripped them out.

Wood tile looks great, UNTIL there is a dog...UNTIL there is a flood, UNTIL there is water intrusion, UNTIL there are marks from skateboards, chairs, tables or anything else that moves or drools.

Are you thinking that I prefer porcelain "wood look" tiles? Uh...yeah...

No I am not a flooring contractor. I'm an artist.

Avanti, of course you prefer wood look tile over real wood. That's what you sell. And they are fine as long as you don't have any knee or back issues.

And I have a dog and there are no issues with my dog, my chairs, my tables and anything else that moves with my engineered wood floors.

Of course the tile floors in my rental look like garbage. They are scratched and the grout between the tiles are multi colored grays now.

Given the responses on this thread, it seems obvious that there is no one flooring material that is perfect for everyone. They all have their plusses and minuses. Personally, I don't see refinishing wood floors as a "plus" ... anything that requires me to move all furnishings out every 15 years and bring in workers and equipment is a "minus" to me! And I've seen enough threads on the forum started by people who are unhappy with their refinished wood floors to know that even solid wood flooring is not foolproof when it comes to refinishing. IMO, if you choose the flooring that works for you and your own lifestyle you will likely be happy with it.

Cpartist~ I don't sell anything. I'm a contractor and I install whatever the customer likes. A good quality porcelain is quite hard to scratch and, until you get on hands and knees, is virtually indistinguishable from wood.

Is it harder than wood? Sure, but wood is hard, too, and doesn't compress to any meaningful degree, and, IMHO, the issue of knees and back is overrated...and most homes have some area rugs, regardless of the flooring.

There is still the water and scratch issue. Not everyone has a pet such as yours. Not taking issue with your experiences...just pointing out that I've replaced scores of wood flooring with tile, but never the other way around.

I know this thread is a bit old but I wanted to chime in as people are continuing to debate and google-search the decision between wood floor and wood-look tile. I am a Realtor and I don't think this is necessarily "just a trend." Wood-look tile is continuing to change dramatically and can be quite impressive! I often see investor-flipped, new-construction, or standard pre-owned homes/condo's with updates, etc. In the past year, I have seen a big increase in wood-look tile. Sometimes it looks good, other times, just okay. When it is of lower quality, you may as well just do a cheaper tile. I absolutely think laminate is on the out, unless you are getting a higher quality. If you go cheap, it looks cheap and feels cheap. Families today often want updates, nice finishes/fixtures, and the idea of also having something that looks great, but also durable, is a big plus! So, I would say, go ahead and do wood-look tile, BUT, do it right! Invest in the higher quality product and be sure to take in consideration the grout color. A lighter color looks more obvious AND you have to seal it to help keep it clean. A medium-darker color is less obvious and easier to keep looking good year around. I am in the Fort Worth, TX area.

All good points, Sharon.

When I first put in this type of tile, it sold for $8-10 per sq, ft. Now, you can find some really nice examples for well under three bucks. Check them for "bowing." put two tiles face-to-face and see if they rock or spin. Sight down the edge. The cheaper tiles will show a "bow" as you look.

On the back design, note if the border goes all the way around, or if there is one side without it. That tile was cut from a much larger tile and, while this is not necessarily a curse...you DO tend to get a bigger warp in them.