Floor tiles in a Singapore home

Porcelain, homogeneous and ceramic tiles, and marble-look porcelain: water and wear, hard underfoot.

Ben & Belle are AI · their notes are written by our team from the sources on this page

Ben Tap the old tiles before anyone quotes an overlay. A hollow one under a new tile is trouble.

Belle Big tiles, few joints, a calmer floor. Ask for the shade number on the box.

3D render

A typical warm grey homogeneous tile, not a specific product

Same room, same light, same camera. Only the floor changes, rendered from a generic texture at the size shown.

In one minute

Porcelain absorbs 0.5% or less; the grout is the weak point.
Replacing tiles means hacking and an HDB permit; a thin adhesive overlay may need none.
In bathrooms, pick a slip rating for wet floors and a membrane underneath.

What it is

TCNA defines porcelain tile as impervious, with water absorption of 0.5% or less under the ASTM C373 test.1
BCA says porcelain tiles are hardier, less porous and more resistant to moisture and stains than ceramic tiles.2
Homogeneous tiles carry their colour and texture through the whole tile, so chips and scratches show less.3
Ragno says its marble-effect porcelain doesn't need regular polishing, unlike natural marble.4
The Natural Stone Institute says lemon, vinegar and other acids may dull or etch marble-type stones.5

Where it works

Living areas, kitchens and bathrooms, with the right slip rating.
BCA says the slip resistance class should be set by how a space is used, referring to SS 485:2011.2
Qanvast suggests anti-slip tiles rated R10 to R12 for bathroom floors, especially in the shower.3
TCNA says DCOF figures help compare surfaces but don't predict whether a person will slip.6

HDB's rules for it

Replacing floor finishes (ceramic, homogeneous, terrazzo, marble, parquet or timber, other tiles) needs an HDB permit.7
Laying floor finishes over existing finishes using adhesive only needs no HDB permit if there is only 1 layer of existing floor finishes including cement screed, the thickness including adhesive is 13mm or less, the floor trap isn't tampered with, and nothing seeps into the bedroom.7
Removing floor finishes is restricted renovation: 9am to 5pm on weekdays only, not on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays or the eves of New Year's Day, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Hari Raya Puasa and Christmas Day.8
Renovation contractors cannot take more than 3 consecutive days to remove floor finishes.8
Pre-packed waterproofing screed and a waterproofing membrane must be used in bathrooms before laying new floor finishes.8
Toilet floor and wall finishes provided by HDB or the developer must not be replaced for 3 years from the completion date of the block.8
In a newly built BTO flat, where toilet finishes can't be removed for 3 years, you can overlay the original toilet tiles with tiles of your choice instead of hacking them away.9
HDB gives new flat owners a 5-year warranty on ceiling leakages and external seepage, which ceases if floor tiles are changed or the waterproofing system is tampered with.10
In a household shelter, vinyl or linoleum is allowed; floor tiles must be bonded to wet cement mortar, and tiles laid with adhesive or a second layer of tiles are not permitted.11

Living with it

Homogeneous tiles

Warm grey · 600 × 600 mm

Water: Porcelain absorbs 0.5% or less. The grout is the weak point, and wet areas need a membrane underneath.
TCNA defines porcelain tile as impervious, with water absorption of 0.5% or less under the ASTM C373 test.1
Qanvast says cement-based grouts are not waterproof, so they stain, fade and erode over time.3
BCA says a waterproofing membrane should always be installed in wet areas to stop water reaching neighbouring areas and the floor below.2
Sun: Florim says sunlight doesn't change its porcelain's colour. Heat movement is one cause of popping tiles.
Florim says constant exposure to sunlight does not alter its porcelain tile's colour.12
HDB says tiles can come loose when they expand and contract with thermal movement and water absorption.13
Scratches: Hard, and colour runs through a homogeneous tile, so chips show less.
Marazzi USA says tiles rated 5 to 7 on the Mohs scratch scale suit most home floors.14
Homogeneous tiles carry their colour and texture through the whole tile, so chips and scratches show less.3
Quiet: Hard underfoot, and tiles can amplify footsteps for the flat below. Sound-reducing underlayments exist; ask.
Home & Decor lists grout that stains easily and hardness underfoot as the downsides of porcelain and ceramic tiles.15
Qanvast says tiles or vinyl can amplify footsteps, and rugs, carpet tiles or underlay can help insulate sound.16
Mapei sells underlayments it says reduce impact sound transmission under ceramic and porcelain tile.17
Easy care: Warm water and a neutral cleaner. Cement grout stains; epoxy grout needs no sealing.
BCA recommends warm water and a neutral pH cleaner for cleaning and regular maintenance.2
Qanvast says cement-based grouts are not waterproof, so they stain, fade and erode over time.3
Laticrete says epoxy grout, unlike cement grout, needs no periodic sealing.18
Marazzi USA recommends neither sealing nor acid cleaning for its porcelain and ceramic tiles.19

Marble-look porcelain

Polished · 1200 × 600 mm

Water: Porcelain absorbs 0.5% or less. The grout is the weak point, and wet areas need a membrane underneath.
TCNA defines porcelain tile as impervious, with water absorption of 0.5% or less under the ASTM C373 test.1
Qanvast says cement-based grouts are not waterproof, so they stain, fade and erode over time.3
BCA says a waterproofing membrane should always be installed in wet areas to stop water reaching neighbouring areas and the floor below.2
Sun: Florim says sunlight doesn't change its porcelain's colour.
Florim says constant exposure to sunlight does not alter its porcelain tile's colour.12
Scratches: Hard. Tiles rated 5 to 7 on the Mohs scale suit most home floors; ask for this one's rating.
Marazzi USA says tiles rated 5 to 7 on the Mohs scratch scale suit most home floors.14
Quiet: Hard underfoot, and it can amplify footsteps for the flat below.
Home & Decor lists grout that stains easily and hardness underfoot as the downsides of porcelain and ceramic tiles.15
Qanvast says tiles or vinyl can amplify footsteps, and rugs, carpet tiles or underlay can help insulate sound.16
Easy care: Ragno says its marble-look porcelain needs no regular polishing, unlike marble. A neutral cleaner.
Ragno says its marble-effect porcelain doesn't need regular polishing, unlike natural marble.4
BCA recommends warm water and a neutral pH cleaner for cleaning and regular maintenance.2

How it ages

TCNA says tile is intended to last as long as the building it's installed in.20
HDB says tiles can come loose when they expand and contract with thermal movement and water absorption.13
BCA puts hollow-sounding floors down to air or voids trapped in the setting bed or slab.2

Laying it

A tile supplier quoted by Home & Decor warned that overlaid tiles might pop up over time if they cover too large an area.21
BCA's acceptance check: no hollow sound when tiles are tapped with a tapping rod.2
BCA says the step between two tiles (lippage) should be no more than 0.5 mm.2
BCA says a waterproofing membrane should always be installed in wet areas to stop water reaching neighbouring areas and the floor below.2

What it costs

Our price band · supplied and laid

S$85–190 a sqm · S$7.90–17.65 a sq ft

HDB 3-room · 60 sqm	S$5,100 to S$11,400
HDB 4-room · 85 sqm	S$7,225 to S$16,150
HDB 5-room · 100 sqm	S$8,500 to S$19,000
HDB Executive · 120 sqm	S$10,200 to S$22,800
Condo · 90 sqm	S$7,650 to S$17,100
Landed · 180 sqm	S$15,300 to S$34,200

Set Sep 2026.

Supplied and laid, with standard installation. Major levelling or screeding, removing and disposing of the old floor, new skirting, special transition profiles, door trimming and other remedial work are normally extra, priced after a site inspection. Some products cost more. GST is added or included as the final quotation states.

Our price bands are set with Monli, our affiliate partner, and checked against published Singapore guides.

Monli is our affiliate partner, and we earn a commission when you buy there.

Ask before you pay

What's its water absorption, and its slip rating for the room it's going in?
Are the edges rectified?
Is every box from the same shade and caliber?
Cement or epoxy grout?
How many spare tiles should I keep?

BCA describes rectified tiles as having all edges machine-finished for a more precise size.2
Marazzi USA says to buy tile of the same shade (dye lot) and caliber where possible.19
Laticrete says epoxy grout, unlike cement grout, needs no periodic sealing.18