As I am in the process of writing this article, my family is in the process of completely redoing all the flooring in our house. We have tried out many different options, and this is what has worked the best for us.
You can mix tile and wood flooring. Mixing various types of flooring (carpet, wood, etc.) has proved to be a common characteristic in most modern homes due to its trendy style, increased durability, and practicality in a multi-faceted home.
As someone who has had tile and wood flooring built-in together, I will let you know of the advantages and disadvantages of each material so you know what material will be best in each part of your home. Then I will give some common tools and tips to help you get started!
Advantages Of Tile Flooring
- Tile flooring is very environmentally friendly. These materials are usually made from reusable and sustainable resources such as clay.
- Tiles are ideal for wet environments as they are non-porous, mold-resistant, and ideal for when liquids spill.
- Tile is one of the best options for increasing the air quality in your home. They don’t absorb chemicals or other toxins like other laminate floors do.
- The tiles seem to feel a little bit more cooler than other types of flooring, which can decrease the need to crank up the AC more.
- Tile also increases the value of your home. Source
Disadvantages Of Tile Flooring
- The tiles can feel very cold to the touch. You will need to crank up heating more than usual to have the room be at an ideal temperature.
- If you happen to drop something on tile, chances are it will break. You can find a lot of other different tiles that are a lot less sturdy, but they are hard to find. Chances are hard material is all that is available.
- Tile flooring is a lot harder to clean than other types of material due to the individual crevices. You will have to deal with grout lines very frequently, and cleaning the floors will require a lot more willpower than just a mop and broom. Source
Advantages Of Wood Flooring
- Installing solid hardwood flooring is very straightforward for people who have experience within that realm.
- Hardwood floors are a lot easier to clean! Cleaning hardwood floors primarily requires a broom and a mop, and cleaning takes a lot less time than other types of flooring.
- Personally, I have found wood flooring to be more pet-friendly.
- To add to that, I have noticed that wood flooring doesn’t collect as much dirt and extra grime on your tiles. The small crevices make it easy for your tile to collect dirt and for the material to look less bad.
- Many feel that wood flooring “looks more professional.. and (will) enable a look of spaciousness when installed”.
- Choosing hardwood flooring actually increases the value of your property!
- Wood flooring is built to literally last for generations. Many have noted that the flooring doesn’t show signs of age and that it has proven to be a great long-term investment.
- Wood flooring gives great acoustics for the rest of your home.
- Wood flooring increases the air quality of your home. Source
Disadvantages Of Wood Flooring
- The cost of wood flooring is way higher than tile or other types of flooring.
- Wood flooring is prone to termite attacks if you are living in that type of climate.
- Wood flooring and water does not mix well, so be sure to keep it away from spillage or other materials.
- Wood flooring is more prone to scratching.
- Hardwood floor is more prone to mold and other household problems.
- Over time, wood flooring tends to make creaking and other obnoxious noises. Source
What You Will Need
Universal Flooring
- Pay close attention to the color shades that you use as you mix the two types of flooring. Check both of the hue’s sides next to each other and against objects in your home to be sure nothing will clash.
- Do not try to mix different types of flooring. For example, do not mix in another type of hardwood floor or another type of tile. As one home designer put it, “follow the less than three rule”. If there are more than two different types of flooring, it will be a complete eyesore and the material will not last as long. Source
- For example, “one might choose to use a dark natural stone such as brown granite with a light-colored hardwood floor such as pine for a contrasting look. Alternatively, a dark-colored wood such as cherry matched up against a dark-colored natural stone or carpet gives you an overall synergy between the two different floor materials.” Source
Transition Boards
- You will need transition boards to connect the two types of flooring naturally. You will also need to buy other specific kinds of transition boards based on what part of the house you need to connect the flooring from. Source
Here is a list of the transition boards that would be applicable for mixing hardwood and tile flooring:
- 4 In 1 Transition Strip This is one of the best kinds of transition boards. This can be used for any type of wood of any size.
- Tile to Laminate Transition Boards. This is definitely on the top as well.
- T-Strip For Hard Surfaces. Hardwood is slightly denser than tiles, and this strip only connects materials of the same height. You will need to use underlayment to mix the two. Source
Tips:
- Always layout your material first to determine what pattern you want to use. After you’ve laid out the design, you can measure and cut your tile or hardwood as needed.
- Check the thickness of the tile and the hardwood floor. Some are drastically less dense than each other, and your transition will not look as good or you will be spending a lot of money on underlay.
- If you would like a more seamless look, have the wood face in the same direction For a bold aesthetic, have them go on opposite sides. Source
