There are many very good imitations both in porcelain and conventional glazed ceramic tile both of which would mean a minimum of upkeep.
Terra cotta vs hardwood floors.
Terracotta tiles date back to the before christ era when the tiles were sun dried instead of being fired.
I definitely want hardwood floors in the upstairs bedrooms.
Buy only from a seller whose reputation you trust though even then you may encounter problems.
Terracotta tiles are highly durable rough and crude in texture.
Hardwood flooring is usually less expensive than tile flooring.
Tile draws heat away so tile flooring feels colder especially in the winter.
Of course with tile flooring you can also install radiant heat underneath but this definitely adds to the cost.
I agree with jeannie in that terra cotta makes for a beautiful floor with a very dramatic effect on the room.
Oct 21 2017 i looked at some wood flooring this past weekend.
I am debating whether or not to install either traditional mexican saltillo or french terra cotta tiles in the living room and dining room or just stick with hardwood throughout flooring is such a big commi.
Made from a mixture of red and brown clay these baked earth tiles are oven fired on elevated temperatures to produce raw and rugged floor tiles.
Hardwood floors are warmer on your feet.
While high quality terra cotta will last forever it s difficult to assess the quality even for pros.
If possible i suggest having a little carpentry done in the opening to the kitchen to allow you to square up the line of the terra cotta and get rid of the distracting angle of the tile before laying hardwood.