Back in 2012, I wrote an article about tiles that look like hardwood. This was a bit after this type of flooring started to grow in popularity. Back then, there were only a few options that I could easily get my hands on, but I loved them.
Since then, they have become so popular and ubitquitous. In fact, Consumer Reports finally wrote an article about them in 2016. Of course, they're not really experts when it comes to flooring and most of their info on flooring just scratches the surface (no pun intended).
Of course, wood look tile is durable, just as other tiles are durable. And, clearly these tile planks solve many issues that real hardwood flooring doesn't. In particular, they hold up to water and they can be installed directly on top of concrete. (Solid hardwood needs to be installed on topy of plywood, and only engineered wood can be installed directly on top of concrete...and engineered hardwood has some drawbacks).
But, this question about durability (which many consumers ask about) really depends on what you mean by "durable." So, if you mean is it scratch resistant, the answer is a clear yes. It's much more resilient to scratches than hardwood is (as well as other surfaces). Of course nothing is scratch proof because with enough weight and pressure even tile can be scratched. But for normal wear and tear from foot traffic and dog nails, yes, it's very durable.
If you mean is it resistant to water, yes, it is extremely water resilient, and clearly hardwood flooring is not. Perhaps wood looking tiles are as close to waterproof that you can get, but note that it's not necessarily 100% waterproof (and probably nothing truly is) because water can still get into your subfloor (either via the grout or from underneath your subfloor or even the sides of the room...pending on where the water comes from. But, for normal water, accidents, minor floods (e.g. bathtub or toilet overflows, minor leaks from roof, etc.) it will be fine with water. (Of course, if you get 4 feet of water in your home, that's a different story as the water is likely to find it's way down and to your subfloor...and if you have a plywood or wood subfloor, chances are, it will give way. (If you're tile is installed directly on top of concrete, you are less likely to have issues).
Is it chip proof? No. If you drop heavy things on the floor, it can chip (note: porcelain planks will hold up much better than ceramic planks). Also realize that if you drop breakable items on the tile, those items can break or chip, too.
Is it pet accident proof? Well, not exactly. The tile, especially if it's porcelain, will probably be impervious to the urine, but the grout will not be. Yes, the grout lines are thin, but grout is basically sand, so it will absorb the urine. If you seal the grout, and remember to seal it annually, that will help prevent water, dirt and other stuff penetrating. But do realize if it absorbs the urine, the urine is pretty much going to stay there (unless you somehow scrape it out and replace it.
Is it easy to clean? Yes, it is generally easy to clean these floors. Most cleaning products work well on these floors.
Do they break or crack? Well, yes, they can. This is usually due to poor installation and subfloor prep. So, be sure to choose a good installer and ask them about how to minimize this. The same thing happens with other tiles due. It's all in the prep work.
One of the key questions I get here is New York is what are the pros and cons of tile planks that look like wood vs real hardwood floors, so this article goes in depth on the advantages and disadvantages of each surface.
Truthfully, different people have different preferences and it may depend on the room you're considering (e.g. kitchen) as well as where you live (warmer vs cooler climate) as well as your subfloor (concrete or plywood).
So, if you're contemplating wood look tiles vs real hardwood check out these 2 articles:
is still in good shape. And sometimes I see similar flooring in very bad condition. I have to attribute that to installation and care.
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