Tag: wood-look tile

January 25, 2022

Wood Look Tiles for the Long Haul: Porcelain’s Advantage for Commercial Spaces

Who doesn’t love the look of a beautiful hardwood floor? Whether it’s rugged, reclaimed wood, or a showstopping, exquisite rare hardwood, wood floors are undeniably attractive and desirable in many applications. But is real wood flooring what you really want for a demanding commercial environment that must stand up to hundreds, if not thousands, of footsteps daily, wear from rolling carts and dollies, excessive dirt, spills, and worse?

Authentic wood floors are lovely, but they’re difficult to maintain, especially in commercial settings. Real wood is easily damaged by foot and rolling traffic and requires careful maintenance to keep up the ‘wow’ factor. These floors need specialist know-how, products, and equipment to keep looking their best – all of which come at a price, not to mention the inconvenience.

Enter porcelain wood-look tiles — they are a boon to commercial environments where the look of wood flooring is desired. Wood-look porcelain is sustainable, incredibly durable, and extremely easy to maintain. Then there are the health and wellness benefits: because porcelain tile is non-porous and impermeable, it is sanitary, resisting germs and mold like no other.

Add to all those winning characteristics the stunning looks now available (thanks to the leaps and bounds made in print technology in recent years, the increase in plank sizes, and the wood-like textures that were added along the way), and the choice of wood-look over real wood for a commercial environment is practically a no-brainer. With all the fabulous options available, you definitely do not have to trade high style for practical flooring that can take a beating. You can have both thanks to the versatility of porcelain.

When it comes to authentic, artistic, and unique wood-look tiles, GIO’s got you covered. Our selections capture wood’s appearance in a range of interpretations that will meet your demanding specification requirements as well as complement any design style. All of these tiles will continue looking great for the long haul and hold their own against countless assaults from foot traffic, sunlight, moisture, and even bleach. Click here to see all the wood-look porcelain tile styles we offer.

GIO is your gateway to beautifully designed, strategically selected collections of floor and wall tile sure to fit your demanding specification requirements and unique style. We look forward to working with you!

October 31, 2016

GIO Looks at Common Myths About Wood-Look Tile

DISTRESSED by GIO

Faux wood tile – it’s gorgeous, natural-looking, and it combines all the beauty of wood with the durability of porcelain tile. What’s not to love about wood-look tile? While we’ve already rounded up all the wonderful benefits of wood tile in a previous post (that you can read here), we’re now taking a look at common myths that could be preventing you from specifying this versatile product for your commercial design projects.

The Grain on Wood Tile Looks Fake

The wood look effect is more realistic than ever, thanks to vastly improved digital printing technologies. The images don’t just repeat the same grains and knots over and over again; a number of images (some have as many as ten different pattern variations) are used to create tiles with diversity for an authentic looking surface. And high-tech manufacturing now produces such realistic textures that you can actually feel the grain in these tiles. Add in longer and wider plank sizes and these tiles can be so realistic that it can be difficult to differentiate them from real wood.

Barnwood by GIO

Grout Joints Compromise the Authentic Look

Today’s tile allows you to achieve more narrow grout joints (rectified tiles can have grout joints as thin as 3/16″) that don’t draw attention to the grout. Also, when you’re choosing a grout color, find the darkest color in your tile and chose one shade deeper for your grout color. This tricks the eye into thinking that the grout lines are shadows around the wood planks. When properly installed, the grout joint isn’t a big deal and won’t make your floor look fake.

PETRIFIED by GIO – Rectified Field Tile

Long Wood Tile Planks Warp & Move

Long tiles (over 15″) were once a risky business because they tended to move a bit after installation. Current technology and proper installation eliminate that worry. A well-prepared subfloor and skilled installation will help you sidestep any problems with warping or uneven edges. Be sure to use an NTCA or CTEF certified installer for best results.

PAINTWOOD by GIO

Wood Tile is Cold

Although it may seem like porcelain tiles themselves are cold, the fact is they actually take on the temperature of the ambient surroundings. Since the moderate temperature may seem cold to some, tile is fortunately well suited to radiant heat. There are several types of subfloor heating, and tile can be placed directly on top of it for a warm and inviting floor. Problem solved!

GIO offers authentic wood looks in a versatile range of tile products (including rectified) that are sure to meet your demanding specification requirements. Take at look at our wood look collections here, then connect with us for the latest solutions in architectural surfacing for your projects. We’re here to work with you!

October 22, 2015

GIO Looks at Tile Trends: Is Wood Look Tile Here to Stay?

One of the biggest trends in residential and commercial flooring the past few years is porcelain tile that looks like wood. While some trends have tremendous staying power, it’s a given that many “must-have” designs soon become dated decor you’d like to forget. Will wood tile go the way of shag carpet, wood paneling, and avocado-colored appliances, or is it here to stay? How can you be sure that wood-look tile is a trend you can trust? Let’s take a look.

Looks
Thanks to vastly improved technologies, the wood look effect is more realistic than ever. There’s an almost limitless variety of colors and finishes available, and the high-definition that manufacturers can print on the tiles gives the grain a natural look. You can even feel the grain in these tiles. Add in longer and wider plank sizes and, they’re often so realistic that it can be difficult to differentiate them from real wood.

Durability
Wood flooring is notoriously difficult to maintain. Real wood scratches, dents, warps, cracks, and chips under stress from traffic and messes, and it needs to be cleaned regularly and resealed, or even refinished, every few years. Tile allows you to avoid dreaded chips, nicks and scratches that plague wood floors

Water Resistance
Wood can expand, crack and warp in wet environments. Tile actually repels liquid, eliminating problems with staining, mold, and warping, making it an excellent solution for restaurants, hotels and hospitals, or any areas that may be subjected to water or other liquids.

Fading
Color deterioration in hardwood floors is the result of overexposure from three things: ultra violet light, visible light, and infrared light (which causes solar heat). And it’s not only the wood itself that is subject to discoloration – the type of finish and stains used on the floor can also play a big part in how the wood will react. Tile, on the other hand does not fade. The color of tiles are oven-heated at temperatures exceeding 2000 degrees, making them resistant to fading.

Sustainability
We currently have around 3 trillion trees on earth, and we’re cutting down a monster 15 billion of them every year. Specifying wood-look tiles can help cut down that staggering number. Tile offers the warmth and welcoming look of wood without destroying a single tree.

Versatility
Wood tile offers limitless design possibilities. Designing a unique pattern on a wood floor can be expensive and time-consuming. With tile, designers can easily mix-and-match colors, grains, and sizes for a distinctive look. And with reclaimed wood so on trend, wood tile is a great alternative to the often daunting (and expensive) task of searching for the perfect pieces.

Wood floors have been around for centuries and they are more popular than ever, so you can rest assured that the look of wood is not going out of style. Faux wood tile is a perfect combination of wood and tile, offering not only good looks, but functional benefits that will last long into the future. We’re confident that wood look tile here to stay!

Distressed Floor and Wall Tile – A ruggedly chic quartet of reclaimed timber hues, bringing authenticity and eccentricity to modern, urban settings

Petrified Floor & Wall Tile – The appearance of time-worn, stained timber in versatile, porcelain planks

Farmhouse Floor & Wall Tile – Weathered wood’s timeless appeal interpreted in durable, versatile porcelain tile planks

Barnwood Floor & Wall Tile – All of wood’s appeal, all of porcelain tile’s advantages in a trio of weathered timber colors–rich details, ready for your latest designs

Ikon Floor & Wall Tile – The iconic style of petrified wood, distinct with striking striations and sumptuous sizes ideal for commercial interiors

Loft Floor & Wall Tile – A collection of plank-sized porcelain in dapper wood tones punctuated with subtle striations for added character

Paintwood Floor & Wall Tile – Weather-washed colors on wood-look porcelain tile planks—worn, textured, yet rich with character and natural nuances

Click on the images for more information on each collection.