Step into the room. Then change the floor.

You Warm and golden

Ben Light oak vinyl: S$3,825 to S$8,500 for the whole 85 sqm. Took HDB's optional package? Your living room may already have tiles and your bedrooms vinyl. Check the brochure first.

Belle Then run the planks toward the window. The light runs along them, not across the joins.

Ben & Belle Light oak, planks to the window, brochure checked first. Both of us agree, rare moment.

You Harsh and hot

Ben Still vinyl, not the palest: pale floors bounce glare. Honey oak, S$3,825 to S$8,500 for the whole 85 sqm. Ask about expansion gaps by the window.

Belle Honey oak and a sheer curtain. The sun turns it amber instead of white.

Ben & Belle Honey oak, expansion gaps asked about, curtain on the list. Done.

You Solid everywhere

Ben Then lay over them. Vinyl needs no HDB permit, so no hacking. S$4,500 to S$10,000 for the whole 100 sqm.

Belle No hacking means no dust week and no neighbours knocking. Spend what you save on the lighting.

Ben & Belle Overlay, one flat floor through the house, and a lighting budget. Done.

You A few sound hollow

Ben Fix those first. Removing tiles needs an HDB permit and is noisy work: weekdays 9am to 5pm, 3 days in a row at most. Vinyl after: S$4,500 to S$10,000 for the whole 100 sqm.

Belle Tell the installer which rooms rang hollow. Mark them with tape before they come.

Ben & Belle Tap test, repairs first, then vinyl. Next question.

You Airy

Ben Pale ash vinyl, same floor in every dry room, no thresholds. The whole 60 sqm is S$2,700 to S$6,000.

Belle Planks along the longest wall. The eye runs to the end of the room and keeps going.

Ben & Belle One pale floor, long planks, nothing breaking it up. Small flat, big feeling.

You Cosy

Ben Honey oak vinyl, S$2,700 to S$6,000 for the whole 60 sqm. Cosy costs the same as airy. Only the tone changes.

Belle Warm floor, warm lamps, one big rug in the living room. The room hugs you.

Ben & Belle Honey oak and lamps. Same price, different mood.

You Floors only

Ben Laminate, S$7,800 to S$14,400 for 120 sqm. Stairs stay as they are, so ask for a clean edge where the floor meets the first step.

Belle Pick a floor tone that sits happily next to the staircase you're keeping. Don't try to match it exactly.

Ben & Belle Laminate on both floors, a neat stair edge, a tone that gets along with the stairs.

You Stairs too

Ben Then the stairs are their own line on the quote. I have no price band for stairs, so I won't guess. Floors in vinyl: S$5,400 to S$12,000 for 120 sqm.

Belle Same tone on the treads and the floors, and the two storeys read as one home.

Ben & Belle Vinyl on floors and stairs, stairs priced separately, in writing. Done.

You Not yet

Ben Ask management for the rules and read your Sale and Purchase Agreement. Some want underlay under hard floors. Carpet tile, S$40 to S$80 per sqm (S$3.72 to S$7.43 per sq ft).

Belle Carpet tiles in the bedrooms are soft underfoot and quiet for the flat below. Keep the living room hard and easy to mop.

Ben & Belle Read the by-laws first, soft bedrooms, hard living room.

You Read them

Ben Good. Then do what they say about underlay and hours. Engineered oak through the flat is S$11,700 to S$25,200 for 90 sqm.

Belle Wide oak planks in a condo bedroom, with a good underlay under them. Quiet and warm.

Ben & Belle Engineered oak with the underlay the MCST asks for. Quieter for downstairs.

You Open all day

Ben Porcelain tiles by the garden. Wet feet, sand and rain don't bother tile. Ask for the slip rating. Tiles for the whole house, 180 sqm: S$15,300 to S$34,200.

Belle Large grey porcelain inside, and the same tile's grippier outdoor version on the patio. The garden walks straight in.

Ben & Belle Tiles through the house, a grippier tile on the patio. Practical and pretty.

You Mostly closed

Ben Then engineered oak works. S$23,400 to S$50,400 for 180 sqm. Put a proper mat at the door.

Belle Wide oak, the doors framing the green. It looks like a resort you live in.

Ben & Belle Engineered oak inside, a mat at the door, garden in the view.

You Soft and warm

Ben Carpet tile. 14 sqm is S$560 to S$1,120. Stain one, swap one. No need to redo the room.

Belle Oatmeal carpet tiles and linen curtains. It feels like a hotel you don't check out of.

Ben & Belle Carpet tiles in the bedroom. Soft, quiet, fixable.

You Cool and easy to mop

Ben Vinyl, light oak. S$630 to S$1,400 for 14 sqm. A small rug by the bed for the mornings.

Belle Light oak and a wool rug. Cool floor, warm first step.

Ben & Belle Vinyl and one good rug. Done.

You On the floor

Ben Vinyl for the room, S$450 to S$1,000 for 10 sqm, with a washable play mat on top. Spills wipe off.

Belle A honey floor and one bright rug that you can change when they grow up.

Ben & Belle Wipeable floor, changeable rug. It grows with them.

You At a table

Ben Not wipeable, but fixable: carpet tiles, S$400 to S$800 for 10 sqm. Juice on one tile, swap one tile.

Belle Charcoal hides a lot of life. Put the colour on the walls instead.

Ben & Belle Carpet tiles, colourful walls, calm floor.

You Rolling chair

Ben Laminate, S$585 to S$1,080 for 9 sqm, plus a clear chair mat. The mat takes the wear, not the floor. Ask the installer what the wear rating is.

Belle Face the desk to the window, not the wall. Afternoon calls look better with daylight on your face.

Ben & Belle Laminate, chair mat, desk to the window.

You Standing desk

Ben Carpet tile, S$360 to S$720 for 9 sqm. Easier on the feet for hours of standing.

Belle Charcoal carpet, a pale desk. Your video background looks calm and serious.

Ben & Belle Carpet tiles, standing desk, good background.

You New flat

Ben Then keep them. They're made for wet floors. Spend the money elsewhere.

Belle Match the living room floor's warmth with your cabinet wood instead. The kitchen joins the flat without a new floor.

Ben & Belle Keep the kitchen tiles. Save it for the living room.

You Resale, tiles are tired

Ben Tiles again, matte, and ask for the slip rating on the box. S$680 to S$1,520 for 8 sqm, plus an HDB permit to remove the old ones. Vinyl by the sink lets water in at the joints.

Belle Warm grey textured tile. Calm, and it won't show every footprint.

Ben & Belle Matte tiles in the kitchen, vinyl stops at the door.

You When did the block complete?

Ben Count 3 years from the block's completion date, not your key date. Until then, new floor tiles can go over the old ones with adhesive, 13mm or less. The wall tiles stay.

Belle Then overlay the floor in a warmer tile, and change what else you can: towels, a mirror, warmer light.

Ben & Belle Overlay the floor now, walls after 3 years. Dress the room meanwhile.

You It's older than 3 years

Ben Then it's allowed with an HDB permit, and waterproofing screed and a membrane go down before the new tiles. Use a contractor from HDB's renovation directory.

Belle Matte warm grey, and a wall tile that isn't the same grey. Bathrooms look better with two tones.

Ben & Belle Permit, waterproofing, then new tiles. In that order.

You Just vinyl, then

Ben Vinyl or linoleum is fine. Same floor as the flat, S$135 to S$300 for 3 sqm. Stop it clean at the shelter door frame: the door and frame can't be altered.

Belle Same floor right up to the shelter door, and the storeroom stops feeling like a cupboard.

Ben & Belle Vinyl in the shelter too. One floor, no odd room out.

You What about tiles?

Ben Tiles must be bonded with wet cement mortar there. No tiles laid with adhesive, and no second layer of tiles over the old ones.

Belle If you love the tile look, choose a vinyl tile instead. Same look, no rules broken.

Ben & Belle Vinyl, or tiles laid the SCDF way. Nothing glued, nothing doubled.

You On the floor

Ben Matte finish, mid tone. Shiny floors throw the sun back at you. Honey oak vinyl, S$3,825 to S$8,500 for the whole 85 sqm.

Belle A matte honey floor soaks the light up. The room glows instead of glares.

Ben & Belle Matte mid tone, and blinds on the shopping list.

You In my eyes

Ben That's a blinds problem, not a floor problem. Keep it light, just not the palest: light oak, S$3,825 to S$8,500 for the whole 85 sqm.

Belle Blinds that filter, not block. You still want the gold.

Ben & Belle Light floor, good blinds. Floor keeps its job, blinds do theirs.

You Honey

Ben Honey oak vinyl. S$3,825 to S$8,500 for the whole 85 sqm. Stay away from grey planks in a grey light.

Belle A 2026 trend report says honey oak is taking over from grey. It warms a north room up by itself.

Ben & Belle Honey oak. Warm floor for a cool room.

You Creamy

Ben Pale ash, S$3,825 to S$8,500 for the whole 85 sqm. Pair it with warm white bulbs, not daylight white.

Belle Cream floor, warm lamps, one wooden piece of furniture. Soft, not cold.

Ben & Belle Pale ash and warm bulbs. Done.

You Lean in

Ben Natural oak laminate, S$5,525 to S$10,200 for the whole 85 sqm. Ask for a sample and hold it up in that green light.

Belle Natural oak and plants inside too. The window stops being a window and becomes a wall of garden.

Ben & Belle Natural oak and plants. The trees come in.

You Balance it

Ben Warmer floor. Honey oak vinyl, S$3,825 to S$8,500 for the whole 85 sqm.

Belle Green light plus a warm floor feels like late afternoon all day.

Ben & Belle Honey oak against the green. Warm and calm.

You Stone-look

Ben Large matte porcelain. S$7,650 to S$17,100 for 90 sqm. Matte, not polished.

Belle Big pale tiles and the city fills the room. Fewer grout lines, calmer floor.

Ben & Belle Large matte porcelain. The view does the decorating.

You Wood-look

Ben Engineered oak, matte lacquer. S$11,700 to S$25,200 for 90 sqm.

Belle Wide oak planks under a sky that big. Warm, even at noon.

Ben & Belle Wide matte oak. Warm under a big sky.

You Warm and moody

Ben Walnut vinyl, S$3,825 to S$8,500 for the whole 85 sqm. With a pet that sheds, dark shows every hair. You'll sweep more.

Belle Walnut under warm lamps. It's the hotel bar you come home to.

Ben & Belle Walnut and a robot vacuum. Moody, managed.

You Bright and clean

Ben Light oak vinyl, S$3,825 to S$8,500 for the whole 85 sqm. Light floors show long hair, so keep a vacuum handy.

Belle Light oak and warm white bulbs. Clean, but never clinical.

Ben & Belle Light oak, warm bulbs. Easy nights.

You Keep it simple

Ben Light oak vinyl through the flat, S$3,825 to S$8,500 for the whole 85 sqm.

Belle One floor running through ties the flat together. Fix the dim bedrooms with lamps, not planks.

Ben & Belle One floor, better bedroom lamps.

You I want the bedrooms warmer

Ben Then honey oak everywhere, not two floors. Same band: S$3,825 to S$8,500 for the whole 85 sqm.

Belle Honey oak reads warm in the dark rooms and golden in the bright one. One floor, two moods.

Ben & Belle Honey oak through the flat. One decision, two moods.

You Light

Ben Light floor, it hides light hair. Textured vinyl, and ask for its slip rating and wear layer. S$3,825 to S$8,500 for the whole 85 sqm.

Belle Light oak with real texture. The dog's hair disappears into it.

Ben & Belle Textured light oak, slip rating asked about. Less vacuuming guilt.

You Dark

Ben Match the floor to the fur. A darker floor hides dark hair. Walnut vinyl, textured, S$3,825 to S$8,500 for the whole 85 sqm.

Belle Walnut and a washable runner where the dog does its zoomies.

Ben & Belle Textured walnut and a runner. Dog approved.

You One soft corner

Ben Vinyl through the flat, S$3,825 to S$8,500 for the whole 85 sqm. Spills wipe off. A foam play mat for the corner.

Belle A warm floor and a big play mat by the window. Morning light for tummy time.

Ben & Belle Wipeable floor, soft corner. Ready for March.

You Soft everywhere

Ben Soft everywhere is hard to keep clean. Carpet tiles in the bedrooms, S$40 to S$80 per sqm (S$3.72 to S$7.43 per sq ft), and the living room stays wipeable.

Belle Soft bedrooms for crawling, a mop-friendly living room for everything else.

Ben & Belle Soft bedrooms, wipeable living. Both kinds of mess covered.

You The bathroom

Ben HDB's EASE can add slip-resistant treatment and grab bars to bathrooms, with a co-payment. Citizen households with a member aged 65 or over are among those who can apply.

Belle Then a light by the bathroom door. The room should be easy at 3am.

Ben & Belle Check EASE first, then a night light.

You The steps between rooms

Ben One floor through the flat, and low, tapered strips where it meets tiles. Vinyl, S$3,825 to S$8,500 for the whole 85 sqm. If you qualify, EASE can add a ramp at a step.

Belle Fewer steps and no loose rugs anywhere she walks.

Ben & Belle Low, tapered edges, no loose rugs. Fewer things to trip on.

You Every room

Ben One hard floor and low, tapered edges at every doorway. Laminate, S$6,500 to S$12,000 for 100 sqm, or vinyl, S$4,500 to S$10,000. Ask about ramps for the bathroom step.

Belle Wide clear paths between furniture. The floor should feel like a smooth road.

Ben & Belle One hard floor, tapered edges, clear paths.

You Living and bedroom

Ben Vinyl in those rooms, with low, tapered edges where they meet the tiles. S$4,500 to S$10,000 for 100 sqm if you did the whole flat.

Belle No carpet, no thick rugs. A light floor also makes the room feel wider.

Ben & Belle Smooth vinyl, tapered edges, nothing thick underfoot.

You Hard floor

Ben Laminate, S$780 to S$1,440 for 12 sqm. Tough, and one room is quick to redo.

Belle Greige is the colour nobody complains about. Tenants add their own warmth.

Ben & Belle Greige laminate. Survives anyone.

You Carpet

Ben Carpet tile, S$480 to S$960 for 12 sqm. Tenant spills coffee, you replace one tile.

Belle Charcoal forgives. So will you.

Ben & Belle Charcoal carpet tiles. One tile at a time.

You For us

Ben Then have the herringbone you want. Vinyl herringbone sits in the vinyl band, S$3,825 to S$8,500 for the whole 85 sqm. Ask whether the pattern costs extra.

Belle Five years of loving your floor beats five years of a floor for strangers.

Ben & Belle Herringbone for you. Buyers can live with good taste.

You For the buyer

Ben Neutral mid oak. Laminate S$5,525 to S$10,200 or vinyl S$3,825 to S$8,500 for the whole 85 sqm.

Belle One designer says first-time owners are keeping things simple for resale. A calm oak floor is the easy call.

Ben & Belle Calm mid oak. Easy to sell, easy to live with.

You Pale and airy

Ben Pale ash vinyl, S$2,700 to S$6,000 for the whole 60 sqm. Keep the floor quiet, the furniture low.

Belle Pale ash, low wood furniture, a paper lamp. Calm from the front door.

Ben & Belle Pale ash and low furniture. Japan on a BTO budget.

You Darker and cosier

Ben Honey oak, S$2,700 to S$6,000 for the whole 60 sqm. Same band as pale.

Belle Honey oak and warm paper light. A ryokan at the end of your day.

Ben & Belle Honey oak and lamps. Cosy Japanese.

You Terracotta

Ben Light oak vinyl, S$3,825 to S$8,500 for the whole 85 sqm. Put the colour in cushions and pots; they're cheaper to change than floors.

Belle Light oak and terracotta. Clean lines, warm heart.

Ben & Belle Light oak, terracotta accents.

You Sage or caramel

Ben Honey oak vinyl, S$3,825 to S$8,500 for the whole 85 sqm. Caramel and honey get along.

Belle Honey floor, sage cushions. Calm with a pulse.

Ben & Belle Honey oak, sage and caramel. Minimal, never cold.

You Some upkeep is fine

Ben Then get microcement quoted in writing, per sqm, with the sealing and resealing spelled out. That's the part that bites.

Belle Microcement and limewash look like weathered stone. Gorgeous. One designer says homeowners are finding the style costly to create and hard to maintain.

Ben & Belle If you love it, quote it properly. Eyes open.

You Low upkeep please

Ben Stone-look vinyl, S$4,050 to S$9,000 for 90 sqm. The look, not the upkeep.

Belle Keep the wabi-sabi in the furniture and linen. The floor just has to stay quiet.

Ben & Belle Stone-look vinyl, wabi-sabi in the details. The feeling with less fuss.

You Dark floor

Ben Smoked engineered oak, S$11,700 to S$25,200 for 90 sqm. With a pet that sheds, dark shows every hair. Budget a vacuum.

Belle Smoked oak, bronze lamps, heavy curtains. Check-in at your own front door.

Ben & Belle Smoked oak and a vacuum. Luxury needs staff.

You Dark walls

Ben Honey oak vinyl, S$4,050 to S$9,000 for 90 sqm. Dark walls, lighter floor.

Belle Deep walls and a warm floor. Moody, and you can still find your keys.

Ben & Belle Dark walls, warm floor. Moody without the mop.

You Probably not

Ben Then natural oak laminate, S$5,525 to S$10,200 for the whole 85 sqm, and colour everywhere else.

Belle A calm floor frames a colourful home. Paint and rugs can change; floors are harder.

Ben & Belle Calm floor, loud everything else.

You Absolutely

Ben Terrazzo's the colourful classic. No price band for it, so I won't guess. In an HDB flat, replacing the floor needs a permit. Get it quoted per sqm, in writing.

Belle Terrazzo with a few rust and cream chips. Playful underfoot.

Ben & Belle If it's forever, terrazzo, quoted properly.

You Real wood

Ben Parquet, S$45,000 to S$90,000 for 180 sqm. Singapore's air is humid, around 82% on average. Ask how it's acclimatised, finished and protected from termites.

Belle Teak herringbone and slow ceiling fans. You'll stop booking holidays.

Ben & Belle Teak parquet, doors shut when it rains, the humidity questions asked.

You The look

Ben Honey oak vinyl, S$8,100 to S$18,000 for 180 sqm. Less fuss in the humidity. Still wipe up rain that blows in.

Belle Rattan, linen, honey floor. The resort without the resort fee.

Ben & Belle Honey vinyl and rattan. Holiday every evening.

You Mop every day

Ben Vinyl, then. Water-resistant, not waterproof: mop it, don't flood it. S$3,825 to S$8,500 for the whole 85 sqm.

Belle Same oak look either way. Your mop decides, not your eyes.

Ben & Belle Vinyl for moppers. Done.

You Vacuum and damp cloth

Ben Laminate then, S$5,525 to S$10,200 for the whole 85 sqm. Vinyl would be S$3,825 to S$8,500.

Belle The oak looks the same. Your mop made the call.

Ben & Belle Laminate for vacuumers. Both quoted.

You Cool

Ben Tiles, S$7,225 to S$16,150 for the whole 85 sqm. Removing the old floor is noisy work, weekdays 9am to 5pm only, and it needs an HDB permit.

Belle Cream matte porcelain, cool for bare feet in June.

Ben & Belle Tiles, with a permit and some patience.

You Warm

Ben Vinyl, S$3,825 to S$8,500 for the whole 85 sqm. Laid over the old tiles if they're sound, so no hacking.

Belle Warm oak, quiet install, and your parents will come round.

Ben & Belle Vinyl over the tiles. Parents converted by Christmas.

You It hurts

Ben Engineered, S$11,700 to S$25,200 for 90 sqm. A real wood top layer at a lower band.

Belle Wide engineered planks look calmer than small blocks anyway.

Ben & Belle Engineered oak. Real wood, less pain.

You It's fine

Ben Parquet then. Ask how many times it can be sanded over its life.

Belle Chevron parquet. The floor becomes the art.

Ben & Belle Chevron parquet. A floor people ask about.

You Yes, every night

Ben Then carpet tiles in the bedrooms work. 33 sqm of bedrooms is S$1,320 to S$2,640. Vacuum weekly.

Belle Soft oatmeal carpet in a cool room. Winter, without leaving Singapore.

Ben & Belle Carpet tiles in the aircon bedrooms.

You Windows open

Ben With windows open, go hard floor. Vinyl, S$1,485 to S$3,300 for 33 sqm.

Belle Light oak and a small rug by the bed. Breezy.

Ben & Belle Hard floor for open windows. Rug for your toes.

You Poured

Ben In a condo, check the MCST allows it first. Then get two written quotes per sqm, with grinding and sealing on separate lines.

Belle Poured terrazzo with small chips. Timeless, like an old shophouse floor.

Ben & Belle Two written quotes from specialists. Then decide.

You Tiles

Ben Terrazzo-look porcelain sits in the tiles band: S$7,650 to S$17,100 for 90 sqm. Real terrazzo tiles have no band, so get those quoted.

Belle Terrazzo-look tiles with a slim grout. Almost seamless.

Ben & Belle Terrazzo-look tiles, costed. Real ones, quoted.

You Every day

Ben Then marble-look porcelain. S$1,700 to S$3,800 for 20 sqm. Stains wipe off.

Belle Marble-look porcelain has come a long way. The veins, without the heartbreak.

Ben & Belle Marble-look porcelain. Cook freely.

You We barely cook

Ben Then real marble is your call. No price band for it. Written quotes, with sealing included.

Belle Real marble for a kitchen that's mostly for show. I approve.

Ben & Belle Real marble, quoted and sealed. Handle with care.

You The floor

Ben Herringbone vinyl. The band is S$3,825 to S$8,500 for the whole 85 sqm, but patterns take more cutting and waste. Ask if the quote adds for pattern.

Belle Honey herringbone. The floor becomes the conversation.

Ben & Belle Herringbone, pattern cost asked about.

You The room

Ben Straight planks, S$3,825 to S$8,500 for the whole 85 sqm. Quicker to lay.

Belle Straight planks let the furniture and the light do the talking.

Ben & Belle Straight planks. The room gets the attention.

You Longer

Ben Run them along the longest wall. Same S$3,825 to S$8,500 for the whole 85 sqm. Direction is free.

Belle Along the long wall, the eye travels to the far end. The room stretches.

Ben & Belle Along the length. Free upgrade.

You Wider

Ben Run them across the room. Still S$3,825 to S$8,500 for the whole 85 sqm.

Belle Across the room, the walls step apart. Good for narrow living rooms.

Ben & Belle Across for wide. Same floor, new shape.

You Flat

Ben Then wide planks work. Engineered, S$1,430 to S$3,080 for 11 sqm, or wide vinyl, S$495 to S$1,100.

Belle Fewer seams, calmer floor. Small rooms love that.

Ben & Belle Wide planks. Fewer lines, more calm.

You Not sure

Ben Wide planks show every bump. Get the floor checked and levelled first. Vinyl after, S$495 to S$1,100 for 11 sqm.

Belle A flat floor is the whole secret. Ask them to check it before they quote.

Ben & Belle Level first, then wide planks.

You New

Ben Ask for the skirting as a separate line, and not the flimsiest plastic. It's the edge you look at every day.

Belle Paint the skirting the wall colour. It disappears and the floor looks bigger.

Ben & Belle Decent skirting, wall-coloured. Floor looks finished.

You Keep old

Ben Then ask how they'll finish the edge of the new floor against it. A gap is a dust trap.

Belle Old skirting is fine if the edge is neat. Neat edges make a floor look expensive.

Ben & Belle Neat edge, old skirting. Done.

You Cosy

Ben Close, not the same. Exact matches look flat.

Belle One shade apart. The eye sees two woods that belong together.

Ben & Belle Siblings, not twins.

You Bright

Ben Lighter floor than the cabinets. Easy.

Belle Pale floor, warmer cabinets. The kitchen lifts.

Ben & Belle Floor lighter, cabinets warmer.

You There's a door

Ben Change floors under the door, with a low transition strip. Close the door and the join is hidden.

Belle When the door is closed, each room has its own floor. Clean.

Ben & Belle Change under the door. Neat.

You It's open-plan

Ben Pick a straight line where the kitchen starts. A low, tapered strip takes up any height difference.

Belle Let the line follow the edge of the counter. It looks planned, because it is.

Ben & Belle A straight line along the counter. Planned, not patched.

You Small gap

Ben Then some doors may need trimming. Put it on the quote so nobody's surprised.

Belle Check the wardrobe doors and sliding tracks too.

Ben & Belle Measure every door, trimming on the quote.

You Plenty of room

Ben Good. Vinyl itself needs no HDB permit. Other floors glued over the old one skip the permit only at 13mm or less, glue included.

Belle Then enjoy it. The doors will glide.

Ben & Belle Room to spare, rules kept.

You No idea

Ben Floating floors need an expansion gap at the edges. Heat from the sun makes them move. Ask your installer how they leave the gap and hide it.

Belle The skirting covers the gap. You never see it, but the floor needs it.

Ben & Belle Ask about the expansion gap before anyone starts.

You They glued it

Ben Then the floor underneath may not have been prepared properly. Ask your installer how they check and prepare the floor before laying.

Belle Most floors fail from what's underneath. Ask about the prep.

Ben & Belle Ask about the prep, not just the plank.

You So no vinyl in the bathroom?

Ben Keep bathrooms tiled. Vinyl stops at the bathroom door.

Belle A tile threshold at the door looks deliberate.

Ben & Belle Tiles in wet rooms, vinyl in dry ones.

You What about spills?

Ben Spills are fine. Wipe them up. It's standing water you avoid.

Belle Mop damp, not wet. Your floor will thank you.

Ben & Belle Wipe spills, no standing water.

You When is it allowed?

Ben Weekdays, 9am to 5pm. Not on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays or the eve of major public holidays. No more than 3 consecutive days to remove floor finishes.

Ben & Belle Weekdays only for hacking.

You And other works?

Ben General renovation is 9am to 6pm on weekdays and Saturdays. HDB says to use only contractors from its Directory of Renovation Contractors, even for works without a permit.

Ben & Belle Weekdays for noise, DRC contractors for the work.

You Whole flat

Ben Carpet tile, S$3,400 to S$6,800 for the whole 85 sqm. Vinyl, S$3,825 to S$8,500. Hold each against your budget before you pick.

Belle If the whole flat runs over, do the rooms you live in first. A rushed floor is the one you notice later.

Ben & Belle Whole flat priced. If it runs over, the rooms you use first.

You Some rooms can wait

Ben Then vinyl in the rooms you use most. Price them one room at a time on the quote.

Belle Start with the living room. It's the first floor anyone sees.

Ben & Belle Vinyl where you live, the rest next year.

You Laying over

Ben Overlay skips the noisy removal, so it's quicker to schedule. Book early; everyone wants the same weeks.

Belle Overlay and a fresh coat of paint. Leave a buffer week before the holidays.

Ben & Belle Overlay, booked early.

You Hacking

Ben Hacking only happens on weekdays, 9am to 5pm, and not on the eve of major public holidays. Plan around that.

Belle Leave room in the plan. Rushed floors are the ones you notice later.

Ben & Belle Weekday hacking, planned around the holidays.

You Yes

Ben Then some floors are already done. Check your brochure before you quote a whole flat. In newly completed blocks, approved works must finish within 3 months of the permit date.

Belle Walk the flat with the brochure in hand. Note what you'll keep and what you'll change.

Ben & Belle Brochure check, then quote only what's left.

You No

Ben Then the living, dining and bedroom floors are likely bare. Vinyl: S$3,825 to S$8,500 for the whole 85 sqm, less for the dry rooms only.

Belle A bare flat is a blank page. Pick the floor first; everything else follows it.

Ben & Belle Floor first. Anything needing a permit, done within 3 months of it.

You Same floor later

Ben Buy a few spare boxes now, from the same batch. Colours can shift between batches. Bedrooms, 33 sqm: S$1,485 to S$3,300.

Belle Same floor later means the flat still feels like one home.

Ben & Belle Spare boxes, same batch. Future you says thanks.

You Something different

Ben Then carpet tiles in the bedrooms, S$1,320 to S$2,640 for 33 sqm, and a clean edge at each door.

Belle Soft bedrooms now, a living room floor you'll choose with fresh eyes.

Ben & Belle Carpet bedrooms now, living room later.

You That's it?

Ben Light oak vinyl, S$3,825 to S$8,500 for the whole 85 sqm. Laid over the old floor if it's sound. Done.

Belle Forgive Ben. One question: what does your living room light look like at 5pm?

Ben & Belle Light oak, laid over the old floor. Belle's still asking about the light.

You Belle, your turn

Ben She'll ask about the light. She always does. Honey oak is the same S$3,825 to S$8,500 for the whole 85 sqm.

Belle What does your living room light look like at 5pm? If it's golden, honey oak. Same band as Ben's pick.

Ben & Belle Honey oak. Ben's price, Belle's light.

You One through

Ben Engineered oak, S$23,400 to S$50,400 for 180 sqm. Vinyl, S$8,100 to S$18,000. Similar colour, different feel, different wallets.

Belle One floor through a whole house feels generous. Your guests will feel it in their feet.

Ben & Belle One floor through. Pick the wallet.

You Room by room

Ben Tiles downstairs where the garden comes in, wood-look upstairs. Get each on its own line.

Belle Cool downstairs, warm upstairs. A house with seasons.

Ben & Belle Tiles down, wood up. Priced line by line.