Wooden Finish Tiles in Bengaluru: The Wood Look Without the Worry

Wooden finish tiles give you the look of a timber floor without the problems timber has in Bengaluru: swelling during the monsoon, termites, scratches and constant polishing. They are printed glazed vitrified or ceramic tiles, usually in long plank shapes, with wood grain designs and textures. Mop them like any other tile.

What wooden finish tiles are

Most wood-look tiles are GVT, meaning a vitrified body with a digitally printed glaze. Good ranges have many different face designs and a light surface texture that follows the grain, so the floor does not look like the same plank repeated. Water absorption is usually under 0.5% for vitrified versions.

Some wooden designs come in square formats too, like 600x600 mm or 600x1200 mm, for a more modern, wide board effect.

Where they work, and where they don't

Good fit:

• Bedrooms, where wood adds warmth
• Living rooms and study rooms
• Covered balconies and sit-outs, in matt or textured finish
• Cafes, boutiques and offices
• Bathroom floors and walls, in a textured anti-skid version

Think twice:

• Very small, dark rooms with dark wood tones can feel cramped. Choose lighter oak or ash shades there
• Open, rain-exposed areas need a proper anti-skid outdoor finish, not an indoor matt plank
• If you want a softer, warmer feel underfoot, tile will always feel harder and cooler than real wood or laminate

Sizes and finishes commonly available

The classic plank size is 200x1200 mm. Other sizes you may see include 150x600 mm, 150x900 mm and 200x1000 mm, plus wood designs in 600x1200 mm. Finishes are usually matt or lightly textured, with some satin and glossy options.

Colours range from pale oak and ash to honey teak, walnut and grey washed wood.

How to choose and lay them

• Pick a tone for the light in the room. Light woods brighten smaller apartment bedrooms. Warm mid browns suit larger, well-lit rooms.
• Check face variation. Lay out several planks. If the same knot pattern shows up every few tiles, look for a range with more faces.
• Use a short stagger. Long planks can have a slight natural bow. Offsetting each row by no more than about one third of the plank length helps avoid uneven edges (lippage).
• Use narrow joints and matching grout. A thin joint in a wood-brown grout makes the floor read as boards, not tiles.
• Consider herringbone or chevron for a feature area. It needs more cutting and wastage, so buy extra.
• Run planks the long way. Laying along the length of the room, or towards the main light source, usually looks best.

Our wooden tiles vs laminate guide covers the trade-offs in more detail.

See the grain in person

Wood designs are best judged with several planks laid together. Call the shop to check current wooden designs, or visit us and we will lay a few out on the floor for you.