Vinyl flooring in a Singapore home

SPC and LVT: what's inside a plank, where it works, how it handles water and sun, and what to ask before you pay.

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

Ben Water-resistant, not waterproof. Say it twice before the bathroom comes up.

Belle Matte, deep grain, and look at it at 9pm before you commit.

3D render

A typical oak-look SPC vinyl, 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

A printed layer under a clear wear layer, on a rigid core. It lays over sound tiles with no HDB permit.
Water-resistant, not waterproof: wipe spills, and keep it out of showers and rooms with drains.
Ask for the wear layer in mm, the backing's sound figure and the expansion gap at sunny doors.

What it is

Mannington describes the layers, bottom to top, as a backing or underlayment foam, a rigid core, a print layer, a clear wear layer and a top coat.1
Karndean's luxury vinyl is made in layers, mainly from calcium carbonate (limestone), polyvinyl chloride and pigments.2
MSI says the wear layer ranges from 6 mil up to 30 mil, and commercial use needs at least 20 mil (about 0.5 mm).3

Where it works

Living rooms, bedrooms and studies, and kitchens with care. Our view: not inside the shower.
Quick-Step says its water-resistant vinyl is not suitable for damp spaces like pool areas, saunas and rooms with built-in drains like showers.4
Karndean says its Korlok rigid core is not suitable outdoors or in rooms that will be continually wet.5

HDB's rules for it

Laying vinyl finishes, carpet or linoleum needs no HDB permit.6
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.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

Living with it

SPC vinyl

Light oak look · 1220 × 180 mm planks

Water: Water-resistant, not waterproof: water can seep through the joints and get trapped underneath.
Home & Decor says vinyl is water-resistant, not waterproof; a flooring contractor it quotes says water can seep through the joints if the locking system allows it, and get trapped beneath over time.9
Quick-Step says its water-resistant vinyl is not suitable for damp spaces like pool areas, saunas and rooms with built-in drains like showers.4
Sun: Prolonged heat by sunny doors can make planks expand, with slight warps or gaps and some fading. Blinds help, and so does a wider gap.
A flooring contractor quoted by Home & Decor says prolonged heat near sunny doors and windows can make planks expand, with slight warps or gaps and some fading.9
Tarkett says repeated direct sunlight may cause fading or discoloration, and advises closing drapes or blinds.10
Karndean says rooms with large temperature swings, such as direct sun through glass doors, need an expansion gap of at least 10 mm.11
Scratches: A clear wear layer protects the print. Felt pads and castors stop scratches and dents.
Mannington says the clear wear layer protects the design and adds durability.1
Quick-Step advises lifting furniture, using felt pads and choosing office chairs with soft wheels to avoid scratches.12
Karndean recommends load-bearing castors under heavy furniture or appliances to prevent dents.13
Quiet: On its own, about 4 dB less impact sound. With an acoustic backing or underlay, makers quote 16 to 21 dB. Ask which you're getting.
Quick-Step says its vinyl alone cuts impact sound by about 4 dB, and its basic underlay raises that to 16 dB.14
Karndean says Korlok's attached acoustic backing cuts noise from upstairs to downstairs by 21 dB, with no extra underlay.15
Qanvast says tiles or vinyl can amplify footsteps, and rugs, carpet tiles or underlay can help insulate sound.16
Easy care: Sweep up grit. No wax, harsh cleaners or rubber-backed mats, and no steam: Quick-Step's warranty forbids it on all but one of its vinyl ranges.
Karndean says to clean loose dirt and grit regularly, because it can cause fine scratches.17
Quick-Step's vinyl warranty forbids steam cleaners on all its vinyl floors except one range.18
Abrasive cleaners, waxes and solvents like acetone and bleach can damage vinyl's wear layer and discolour it.19
COREtec says to avoid cleaners containing detergent, vinegar, wax, citrus or floor polish.20
Karndean suggests mats with non-rubber backing at doorways to stop dirt being tracked in.17

How it ages

Home & Decor says vinyl can last 10 to 20 years with proper care.19
Quick-Step says a badly damaged click plank can be replaced without laying an entirely new floor.21
Karndean in Australia backs its luxury vinyl with a lifetime residential warranty, as a warranty term, not a promise of lifespan.22
Quick-Step's vinyl warranty offers nothing for appearance claims once the floor is installed.18

Laying it

Before laying rigid core vinyl over tiles, Karndean says to fix any loose tiles.23
Karndean says to level any grout lines wider or deeper than 5 mm before laying over tiles.11
Quick-Step says any unevenness over 1 mm across 20 cm, or over 4 mm across 2 m, must be levelled first.24
Karndean asks for an expansion gap of at least 5 mm around the room and every fixed object, including pipes.11
Quick-Step asks for an expansion gap of 8 mm on all sides of its rigid vinyl floor.25
Karndean says rooms with large temperature swings, such as direct sun through glass doors, need an expansion gap of at least 10 mm.11
Quick-Step says its rigid vinyl must sit in the room at 18 to 30°C for at least 48 hours before laying.24

What it costs

Our price band · supplied and laid

S$45–100 a sqm · S$4.18–9.29 a sq ft

HDB 3-room · 60 sqm	S$2,700 to S$6,000
HDB 4-room · 85 sqm	S$3,825 to S$8,500
HDB 5-room · 100 sqm	S$4,500 to S$10,000
HDB Executive · 120 sqm	S$5,400 to S$12,000
Condo · 90 sqm	S$4,050 to S$9,000
Landed · 180 sqm	S$8,100 to S$18,000

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 the wear layer, in mm?
Is the backing attached, and what's its sound figure in dB?
What expansion gap will you leave at the balcony door, and how will the skirting cover it?
Will you fix loose tiles and fill wide grout lines first? Is that in the price?
What does the warranty exclude?

MSI says the wear layer ranges from 6 mil up to 30 mil, and commercial use needs at least 20 mil (about 0.5 mm).3
Quick-Step's vinyl warranty offers nothing for appearance claims once the floor is installed.18