Tile planks mimic weathered wood

I called my friend and tile contractor Jimmy Tiganella the other day to ask a few questions about setting marble tile. We got to talking and he happened to mention that he was tiling a room with porcelain tiles that resemble weathered hardwood planks. "You're doing what?," I asked. The next morning I drove out to the jobsite to see these "wood" tiles for myself. It was well worth the trip.

The tiles, called Vintage Wood Plank Tiles, are 4 3/4 inches wide x 23 5/8 inches long and they look just like sun-bleached, weather-beaten wooden planks. The surface even has a wood-grain texture. Jimmy set the planks very close together to minimize the grout joints, which further fools the eye.

When you walk across the floor, you know it's not wood. The surface is too hard and flat, and the tiles are all perfectly formed. Real wood is full of irregularities and natural characteristics, such as knots, sapwood streaks and open-grain patterns.

However, porcelain-tile planks won't ever splinter, warp, or need sanding and refinishing. Plus, you can scrub them with hot, soapy water without consequence.

The tiles are made in Italy by Fabbrica del Vignola, and cost about $10 per square foot. The style plank shown here, called Scandinavian Mesh, comes in a variety of subtle colors ranging from bleached white to soft brown-red. 

Besides the 4 3/4-inch-wide planks, Vintage Wood is also available in 5 7/8-inch-square, and 11 13/16-inches-square tiles.