The look of wood is always good, right? It’s warm, it’s natural, and there’s a quality to it that’s emotionally enduring—think log cabin. But is wood always the best choice? In almost any home scenario, there’s a place where wood could be replaced to be more functional, with less upkeep, and more physically enduring.
Here are three ways wood can be replaced without a trace.
The Market Disruptor
The concept of wood imposters was most notably recognized in the late 1990s when the mainstay of residential deck building—pressure treated lumber—was challenged by a clever market disruptor—composite decking. At that time, this material became a game-changer for those who could afford the initial extra outlay (composite decking is about the twice the price of wood) to employ the material and deck-lovers everywhere were impressed with its durability—no splintering and no maintenance-staining every other season. As exciting as this new material was, it didn’t look quite as good as genuine, freshly stained wood. Soon thereafter, however, improvements were made and now this material offers depth, more flexibility in design, and realistic color choices.
This material was not without its Achilles Heel, however, as the chemical compounds used to create the material were later discovered to have an “off-gassing” effect and that did not sit right with environmentally-conscious consumers.
Thankfully, the next generation of these composites offer healthier alternatives that address environmental concerns. Eco-friendly manufacturers were not only able to develop similar products using recycled materials, free of harmful chemicals, they also developed sustainable processes to produce the materials. So now homeowners not only have the convenience of having the best of both worlds, they can help do their part environmentally from their own backyard.
Practicality in Porcelain
It was probably one of those “a-ha” moments when homeowners were introduced to those first iterations of porcelain tile that, once installed, seemed indistinguishable from hardwood. This is another category of materials that is improving with age. Porcelain tile is part of the larger class of ceramic tiles that are made even more resilient through the firing process, making it a more dense, finer grained, smoother tile that is more moisture resistant than classic ceramic. Price-wise, porcelain tile is somewhat comparable to wood when considering the cost of materials, however, it tends to run a bit higher when it comes to installation costs.
This material, which is also improving with age, offers more options for pet owners who would like to stress less about the wear and tear on their floors, but still want a luxe look throughout the home. Unlike traditional hardwood which is susceptible to scratches and water damage, it can even stand up to pets with long nails and their humans in high traffic areas.
This material has become increasingly popular in mudrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens, but the best news is that it doesn’t have to stop there. Interior experts agree that with today’s variety of styles, colors, and patterns, you can have it take center stage in a living or family room, without losing any of the sophisticated vibe you’re going for.
Tops in Durability
The homey feel of a butcher block countertop is certainly a great way to bring warmth to your kitchen. While woods like maple make beautiful countertops, they are among the least practical when it comes to maintenance. There’s a delicate balancing act that must be maintained when you employ wood as a countertop that has to do with water. You must protect any new water from getting in, which occurs quite often during food prep, and you have to keep the good moisture inherent in the wood from getting out. So these countertops require a specific cleaning process and treating technique using mineral oil. Wood is also susceptible to dents and scratches and stains easily with common use.
Granite is known, however, for its toughness and durability and as a natural stone that is stain resistant, heat resistant and scratch resistant. Fortunately there are some woodsy looking granite variations that deliver durability and warmth in the same material. There are four varieties of this type of granite that homeowners may wish to consider. They are Sequoia Brown, Tempest, White Thunder, and Peregrine C. They vary in tone and temperature with Sequoia Brown, a Brazilian granite, mimicking the natural wood look the best with its innate brown and grey tones. Tempest granite combines tones of dark brown, gold, yellow, and burgundy to create its luxe look.
Grey hues combined with white, black, and brown tones are characteristic of White Thunder granite, and Peregrine C features a light cream base with ivory and brown veining throughout.
So whatever color cabinets you have there’s a shade and type of granite that can work beautifully and reliably for you for years to come.
