which would be better for resale in a living room 18" tile or wood floors? (Sarasota: house, maintenance)

[FLSnowbirds]

We need a new floor in our living room/kitchen/dining area. Any opinions or thought as to which would be better for resale, 18" tile or wood floors?

Thank you very much !

[bbronston]

I'd suggest the tile. Some people like wood (real wood, not laminate) but many don't so you should try to appeal to as many people as possible. Plus, people with dogs aren't very fond of wood if the dog's nails can scratch or gouge the wood. Just my two cents...

[blueherons]

Originally Posted by bbronston

I'd suggest the tile. Some people like wood (real wood, not laminate) but many don't so you should try to appeal to as many people as possible. Plus, people with dogs aren't very fond of wood if the dog's nails can scratch or gouge the wood. Just my two cents...

Actually, unless you get a really soft wood, dogs nails shouldn't gouge the wood. My girlfriend put reclaimed 150 year old heart of pine floors in her beach house and they are beautiful and she has FOUR dogs!

However, I think most people in Florida prefer tile because it is cooler. I'd love to have a house with the old Saltillo tile with the chicken and dog tracks on it!

[gypsychic]

I agree that most people in Florida prefer tile, for the coolness and easier maintenance.

[TamRE]

I would go for the 18' tile on a diagonal. Some people do like wood but most floor places will not recommend hardwood for this climate. I have the engineered hardwood in my home, but would prefer tile. Tile is easier to take care of and will not really go out of style. Wood floors come and go. For resale - go with the tile.

[FLSnowbirds]

Do people do 18" ceramic or 18" porcelain tile for floors in Florida?

Any recommendations for someone who does good work at a reasonable price in Sarasota ?

Thanks for all of the great replies.

[davery5872]

Originally Posted by FLSnowbirds

Do people do 18" ceramic or 18" porcelain tile for floors in Florida?

Any recommendations for someone who does good work at a reasonable price in Sarasota ?

Thanks for all of the great replies.

Porcelain is ceramic, it's just harder. As for recommendations, I don't have any - I lay my own tile.

[joeyddog]

I stayed in a villa that was completely tiled and the sound echoed like crazy. It would drive me nuts to live with. We put porcelain tile in our lanai instead of ceramic because the ceramic only has the color in the upper layer so if it chips the red underneath would be very obvious. I don't know whether porcelain is more durable than ceramic tho.

[debvic]

I like both types of flooring and have seen both frequently here in Fl. The only thing about tile, is keeping the grout lines clean, even when sealed they seem to trap the dirt. I like the fact you can run a dust mop over wood floors very quickly and it keeps them like new. I have found with tile some dirt olways settles in the groutlines. --Sorry I'm a clean freak.lol

[FLCanuck]

Personally I would not want tile in the living area. Kitchen fine. But living and dining? I would want wood all the way. Personally, I would want the wood throughout. Not sure that tile is cooler either. I mean, what, on your feet if you are walking around with no socks? If I went into a house and saw tile in the living and dining room I would think WTH. UNLESS it was a higher end house, and the tile was marble or travertine. And don't go with ceramic ever, at that level go porcelain.