Ceramic wood look tile: what it is, and when to choose it

Walk into any tile showroom and almost everything in the wood look aisle gets called porcelain. Some of it is. Some of it is ceramic, sold under a word that tests better. The two are not the same thing, and the difference comes down to a single measured number.

We make glazed ceramic wood look tile, so read this knowing which side we are on. The number is published below anyway.

Ceramic or porcelain: the difference is one number

In the United States, porcelain is not a style or a quality grade. It is a threshold. Under ANSI A137.1, a tile qualifies as porcelain when its water absorption is 0.5% or less, measured by the boil test in ASTM C373. The Tile Council of North America, which publishes that standard, sets out how C373 decides the classification.

Our tile absorbs 6 to 8%. That puts it in group BIIb under EN 14411, the European standard our factory certifies to, which is the normal range for glazed ceramic.

That is a real gap and we are not going to dress it up as a small one. What matters is understanding what the figure measures. It describes the bisque, the fired clay body underneath. It does not describe the glaze, and the glaze is the only part your floor, your mop and your dog ever touch.

One practical note: our figure is tested to EN 14411, not ASTM C373. The methods are close but not identical, so if a specification names C373, ask for the report rather than assuming the numbers convert.

What the absorption number tells you, and what it does not

It predicts how the raw body behaves. That matters at a cut edge or a drilled hole. On a glazed plank, those edges sit under grout or against a baseboard.

It does not predict surface performance. Cleanability, stain resistance and how the floor looks in year ten come from the glaze and the print, not from the bisque.

It is not a waterproofing rating. Tile and grout are water resistant, not waterproof. No tile waterproofs a room, at any absorption figure. In a wet area the waterproofing sits under the tile, and that is as true of 0.5% porcelain as of our ceramic. Our wood look tile shower guide covers that build-up.

Why the wood look holds up better in ceramic than you would expect

The edge is formed, not cut

A rectified plank is pressed large and sawn down, which leaves a sharp square edge. Ours are pressed to size in their own mold, so each plank comes out with a softly rounded edge. Run a finger across a sample and you can feel which one you have. The joint then reads as a shadow line between two boards, not a grid.

The print carries real relief

The grain is applied by 3D high definition printing, with texture you can feel across the face. Each design has its own number of randomized faces, between 1 and 18 across the plank range, so neighboring planks are not copies. Ask for that count for the specific design, not the series.

The body is 3/8 inch thick

Each plank is 9 to 9.5 mm thick, about 3/8 inch, with a breaking strength of 280 to 300 kg/cm². The tile you install in July is dimensionally the same tile in January, which is the part hardwood cannot match.

The surface is chosen by room

Matt Texture is the matte, low sheen surface with grain relief. Use it on a bathroom floor, a laundry or an outdoor floor, where grip matters. 71 designs carry it, 41 of them in 200x1200mm. Satin Texture suits living rooms and bedrooms, and Satin Plain is smooth and belongs on walls or in dry interiors.

Where ceramic is the wrong call

Telling you this up front costs us some orders, and it saves everyone a return.

A spec that names porcelain. If a project specification requires porcelain, or a stated DCOF or slip rating, our tile does not meet it. We publish no slip ratings and will not invent one.

A narrow grout joint. Every tile we make has a formed curve edge, and that edge needs a 3 to 5 mm joint to sit right. If your design calls for rectified tile with a 1/16 inch joint, we are the wrong supplier and we will say so.

Warmth underfoot. Ceramic is colder than wood on a bare foot. Radiant heat solves that; in a bedroom without it, this is a fair reason to choose something else. If you are weighing the two materials, our comparison of wood look tile against real hardwood runs through cost, durability and maintenance.

Choosing a size

• 150x900mm (6 x 36 in): the narrowest plank and the closest to a sawn board. 8 tiles per box, 11.62 sq ft, 48.5 lb.
• 200x1000mm (8 x 40 in): a middle format for ordinary rooms. 5 tiles per box, 10.76 sq ft, 44 lb.
• 200x1200mm (8 x 48 in): the widest choice of matte designs. 5 tiles per box, 12.91 sq ft, 55 lb.
• 200x1400mm (8 x 56 in): the longest plank, for open-plan rooms. 4 tiles per box, 12.05 sq ft, 53 lb.

A longer plank reads well across an open floor and works against you in a small room, where more planks get cut at the walls. Each size page has a coverage calculator.

What to ask before you order

• The tested absorption figure, and which standard it was tested to. Any supplier who will not give you a number is worth a second look.
• The edge type. Formed curve edge or rectified. We make only the former.
• The randomized face count for the exact design you are buying.
• Thickness, and the breaking strength that goes with it.
• Certification. We hold CE, ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001, and certify to EN 14411. A certificate can be checked; a marketing line cannot.

Full specifications for every format are in the downloadable catalogs.

Installation notes

• Waterproof first in any wet area. The membrane goes under the tile, not on it.
• Use a thinset rated for the job. ANSI A118.4 modified thinset is the usual call for plank tile.
• Joints of 3 to 5 mm, with spacers of at least 3 mm. The formed edge needs it.
• Offset each row by a quarter of a plank: 225 mm on 150x900mm, 250 mm on 200x1000mm, 300 mm on 200x1200mm, 350 mm on 200x1400mm. Our laying catalog rules out the 50:50 half offset.
• Keep the back arrows pointing one way, and lay one room from a single calibre code.
• Order 10% extra and store it. Cheap insurance against a cracked plank in year four.

The short version

If your project specifies porcelain by name, buy porcelain. If it does not, the absorption figure matters far less than the glaze, the edge and the surface you pick for the room. That is where a formed curve edge earns its place. Metro is India's No. 1 brand specialised in wooden tiles, and we make only curve-edge wood look tile.

Tell us about the space, its size and how it gets used, and we'll help you pick the size and finish. Talk to our team.

Frequently asked questions

Is ceramic wood look tile as good as porcelain?

For most residential floors, yes, though they are not identical. Porcelain absorbs 0.5% or less and ceramic more, which matters for the raw body rather than the glazed face you walk on. Where a specification names porcelain, buy porcelain.

What is the water absorption of ceramic wood look tile?

Ours is 6 to 8%, group BIIb under EN 14411. That figure describes the fired body under the glaze. Ask any supplier for the tested number and the standard it was tested to.

Can ceramic wood look tile go in a bathroom?

Yes, with the waterproofing done properly underneath and the Matt Texture surface on the floor for grip. Tile and grout are water resistant, not waterproof, whatever the absorption figure says.

Can ceramic wood look tile be used outdoors?

Yes. Every design we make is approved for outdoor floors, including covered porches, patios and pool surrounds. Use Matt Texture outside, for grip.

Is ceramic wood look tile good with radiant heating?

Yes. Tile conducts heat well and is a standard choice over radiant systems. Follow the heating manufacturer's start-up schedule and keep the perimeter movement joints open.

What size should I use in a small room?

Usually 150x900mm (6 x 36 in). A long plank in a small room means more cuts at the walls and a busier floor. Save the longer planks for open spaces.