We're building a new house and the hardwood (patagonian rosewood 3/4" solid) will mate up to porcelain tiles in the kitchen. The long side of the wood will meet the tiles so we don't have worry about cutting all the ends even. Hubby wants to use some kind of molding in between the two (like t-molding). I would prefer to just caulk in between them with a flexible caulk.

Does anyone have pictures of hardwood and tile mated without a reducer or t-molding? I know I've seen it before but can't find any pics now.

Here are some showing it both ways. http://www.custom-surfaces.com/38.html

I like to use a marble saddle or a Schluter metal trim if I am doing the tile too.

Your husband is correct. A "T" molding is required, to maintain the required expansion gap.

Wood being hydroscopic, absorbs moisture, and loses moisture. With a gain in moisture the vessels/cells the wood is made up from, swell. When they swell the milled board gains dimensional gain across the width. It can be a big gain, if enough moisture is introduced. Humidity, is moisture vapor. 2" gained in 10' is not that uncommon.

Butting and caulking a solid wood flooring board, along the width, next to a fixed object, like tile, is not a very good idea. It can cause the wood floor to buckle, or it can crack the tiles and grout, from the pressure.

You can't butt and caulk all at the same time, caulk goes in the gap.....cause you did not butt it.

Jerry, in your pics it appears that the hardwood is tight against the tile or very close to it. Would you not be concerned about expansion? Around the fireplace for example. It looks as if there is no expansion gap between the header and the tile. If there is a gap there, how big is it? Should it not be 3/4" like it would be against walls?

Your website is great by the way.

Thank you. I never butt wood to tile. It's hard to tell by the pictures but there is an expansion joint about the same size as the grout joints and that later gets filled with a color matched grout caulk. One can't tell the difference from a standing position.