Easy to clean, durable, cost-effective, and beautiful. That’s a great floor worth including in your remodel or new build. 

All of the above accurately describes both engineered wood and ceramic tile. They’re often the last two standing when choosing new flooring. Today, we’re comparing them side by side as well as against other flooring options. Keep reading to get the pros, cons, and considerations of choosing engineered hardwood vs. ceramic tile.

Why engineered hardwood vs. ceramic tile?

Engineered hardwood and ceramic tile stand out as more user-friendly versions of the highest-end flooring. Their durability and cost efficiency are a better fit for busy lifestyles and high traffic. 

Why homeowners choose engineered hardwood

Solid hardwood is timeless and luxurious. However, it is expensive and prone to certain types of damage if one has pets or children. 

Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) is a common alternative, as it’s affordable and low-maintenance. It’s also easy to install across a great deal of square footage. 

Engineered hardwood is a level up. It’s preferred by those who want to include more natural materials and may like to refinish their existing floor in the future. Ultimately, it offers the beauty and prestige of natural hardwoods with the versatility and durability of LVP.

Why homeowners choose ceramic tile

Marble tile flooring is high-maintenance and scratches relatively easily. It requires regular re-sealing and is quite expensive. 

Porcelain tiles are much easier to maintain and aren’t incredibly porous, so they’re quite stain-resistant. The two main concerns are cost and installation. Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) is the most affordable tiling option, but it’s more suited to mildew-prone areas like basements and laundry rooms. 

Ceramic tile is much more forgiving budget-wise, with better scalability. Tiling large, open-concept floor plans with ceramic can check every box a homeowner is looking for.

What is engineered hardwood?

Engineered hardwood flooring is the product of fixing a layer of natural wood on top of fiberboard or plywood. It offers the look and feel of natural wood because of that top layer. Being fixed onto a manufactured wood product underneath can make it more durable and less prone to warping. 

It’s also easier to budget, maintain, and install than many solid hardwoods. It can even be installed on top of below-grade concrete subfloors.

 

What is ceramic tile?

Ceramic tile flooring is made from natural clay, sand, and minerals exposed to high heat and treated with a glaze. The resulting tile is strong, moisture-resistant, and easy to clean. They’re set with a particular amount of space between each for grout. The cement and epoxy further fix each tile in place for an even surface that’s comfortable underfoot.

These tile floors have an incredible range of design options and are considered more sanitary than any of their wood counterparts.

Engineered hardwood vs. solid hardwood

It’s time to unearth the true benefits and considerations of our best flooring options. We’ll start with a side-by-side of engineered vs. solid hardwoods.

Engineered hardwood flooring

Solid hardwood flooring

Great for high-traffic areas

Best for medium-traffic areas

Can be installed practically anywhere, including bathrooms and basements

Should not be installed in moisture-prone areas or over concrete subfloors

Can be refinished once or twice in its 20-50 year lifespan

Can be refinished approximately six times over its 50-100 year lifespan

Beautiful, budget-friendly solid wood alternative that can be installed in larger open-concept floor plans

Unmatched beauty is a worthy investment for historic homes and upscale living spaces

 

Ceramic tile vs. porcelain tile

For moisture resistance and clean surfaces, you can’t go wrong with tile floors. But all tiles aren't created equal. Here are some key differences between ceramic and porcelain.

Ceramic tile flooring

Porcelain tile flooring

Made from clay, minerals, and sand fired at very high temps

Same natural materials as ceramic, with a higher percentage of clay

Good moisture resistance with a water absorption rate of 0.5% to 5%

Denser and less porous, with a water absorption rate of 0.5% or less

Cost, installation, and durability make it suitable for large areas and open floor plans

Excellent for high traffic areas, but significantly more expensive than ceramic, and  also more difficult to install 

Huge variety of colors, sizes, and finishes for every design

Similar expansive design range, but be aware of slicker surfaces

 

Tile vs. hardwood flooring

Sometimes, choosing between any tile or wood is a challenge. Here’s how they stack up when we look at plain facts. 

Tile flooring

Hardwood flooring

Works in almost any room, even high traffic, good with pets and kids

Best kept to living areas, bedrooms, closets, and some kitchens

Heavy objects can cause cracks or chips

Moisture exposure can warp or stain, depending on composition

Generally very forgiving with cleaning

Requires careful maintenance unless choosing engineered

Replacing broken tiles can be challenging due to long-term design availability, but it is possible

Can be refinished or restored every decade or more

 

And the winner is...

The battle between engineered hardwood vs. ceramic tile comes down to the room, its function, and most importantly, the results you want. Both are more cost-effective alternatives that still use natural materials. Each is great for high square footage and offers low maintenance requirements. 

See both in person and discuss their qualities with a professional designer. It’s easy at your local Designery showroom. We give you access to an expansive range of the best flooring–tile, vinyl, hardwood, and engineered hardwood. 

“Their team of designers are amazing and passionate about finding the best solution for homeowners for their kitchen and bath remodels.”

Amber, The Designery client

Book a free consultation and find the perfect flooring for your kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, basement, and more.