Wood-look tiles are porcelain or vitrified tiles printed and textured to look like timber. They give the appearance of a wooden floor with the water resistance and hardness of porcelain.
Most are made as long planks, though some factories also print wood looks on square tiles. The common plank widths are narrow, and lengths run up to 1,200 mm or more.
How they are made
A wood-look tile is usually a glazed vitrified tile (GVT) with a digital print of real timber. A textured mould or a digital glaze adds the feel of grain, so the surface is not flat.
The look depends on three things: the quality of the original wood image, the number of faces, and how well the texture lines up with the print. When the grain in the surface does not follow the printed grain, the tile looks artificial up close.
Wood looks show repeats easily, because knots and grain lines are distinctive. Read how many faces a tile design should have before you approve one.
Common sizes
Sizes vary by factory and line, because each press and kiln is set up for a range. Plank sizes commonly offered from Morbi include these:
- 150x600 and 150x900 mm, small planks often used for herringbone patterns or smaller rooms.
- 200x1000 and 200x1200 mm, the most common long plank formats.
- 195x1200 or similar work sizes, where the factory cuts planks from a larger tile.
- Larger planks such as 300x1200 mm, and some factories make longer planks on large-format lines.
- Square formats such as 600x600 mm with a wood print, used where planks are not needed.
Ask each factory which plank sizes it presses whole and which it cuts from bigger tiles. Cut planks can have sharper edges and slightly different calibre, so confirm the size tolerance in writing.
What to check
- Flatness: long, narrow planks are prone to bowing, which causes lippage between planks. Ask for warpage values to ISO 10545-2.
- Rectified edges: most wood planks are rectified so they can be laid with thin joints.
- Slip resistance: textured wood looks are often used in bathrooms and outdoors, so ask for an R rating or DCOF value.
- Faces and texture: check that no knot lines up across a row in a laid sample.
- Thickness: planks are commonly 8 to 10 mm thick; outdoor wood-look pavers are thicker.
Flatness matters more on planks than on squares. The standard limits are explained in how flat a floor tile should be. Installers usually lay long planks with an offset of no more than a third of the plank length to limit lippage, so tell your customers this as well.
Packing and loading
Planks are packed in long boxes, so check the box strength and edge protection. Long boxes are more likely to break at the corners when pallets are handled. Ask for the factory's box dimensions, weight and pallet plan for each plank size.
Wood looks also sell well in mixed containers with marble and concrete looks. See what Morbi factories make for the wider range.
Next step
We check warpage, calibre and face mixing on wood-look planks before they leave the factory. To review the plank sizes and factories that suit your market, book a free sourcing review.