- Traditional, solid hardwood floors are often out of the question. Installation requires nailing the tongue and groove strips to the subfloor, but nails won’t fasten to tile. If you glue a layer of plywood over the tile as a substrate for the wood floor, their combined weight and rigidity can cause broken tiles underneath over time. Broken tiles will create an unpleasant cracking or grinding noise when you walk over them, and the only way to repair it is to remove the hardwood and the substrate. Also, the finished floor would be nearly 2 inches higher than the tile and adjoining rooms. If tile covers an entire floor of your home, a 2-inch increase might be workable; however, it could require raising exterior and interior doorways or installing shorter doors.
- Engineered wood and laminates are your best bet. They interlock with tongues and grooves like solid wood, but without the nails. There is no need for a thick, wood substrate. Engineered wood flooring strips are composed of a plywood base with a thin layer of real, finished hardwood on top. It is practically impossible to see or feel the difference between solid and engineered wood flooring if it is installed properly. Laminates have no wood on the surface at all, but some high-quality brands are almost indistinguishable from real wood. They are made of compressed wood fibers with a photographic image of wood on top, and the image is sealed with plastic or another long-wearing coating. Some laminates have a thinner profile than engineered wood, making the transition from room to room less dramatic. Both options are available in a wide range of wood grains, finishes and widths.
- Wood over tile works best when it is installed as either a glued-down or floating floor. A glued-down floor will not move, so it can feel stronger than a floating floor; however, the tiles underneath must be flat, smooth and secure. Remove damaged or loose tiles, and fill the space with floor-leveling compound. Tiles with a wavy texture must be filed or ground down until they are flat. Floating floors require less substrate preparation. They are softer underfoot because they are installed over a layer of padding; however, they can feel less stable than a glued-down floor. Some floating floors are glued along the interlocking seams, which adds more durability. Both engineered and laminate floors are available for either installation choice.
- Engineered wood can be resurfaced perhaps once in its lifetime. The top layer is quite thin. Screening, which is very light scuffing with ultra-fine sandpaper, and applying new finish should only be undertaken by a professional. Sanding too deep will remove the wood and ruin the floor. Laminates can never be sanded because they are not real wood. With either flooring, routine care should preserve the appearance for many years. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning, and cover high-traffic areas with rugs to extend the life of your floor.
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