Vinyl over, or new tiles?
The resale flat's big question. Ben takes one corner, Belle takes the other, and they meet at the tap test.
Ben's corner: vinyl, laid over
Illustration
Light oak vinyl plank
Vinyl laid over the old floor needs no HDB permit.
- Laying of vinyl finishes, carpet or linoleum: no permit required. HDB, Building works guidelines · checked 30 Sep 2026
Nothing comes up, so there are no noisy removal days to plan around.
- Removing floor finishes is a restricted renovation, allowed only 9am to 5pm on weekdays. HDB, Renovation: important information · checked 30 Sep 2026
Karndean's conditions for laying over tiles: firm, dry and clean tiles, loose ones fixed, and grout lines wider or deeper than 5 mm levelled first.
- Tiles: ensure the surface is firm, dry and free of wax, oil and dust; level any grout lines with a width or depth of more than 5 mm. Karndean, Rigid Core plank and tile installation guide (USA) · Jan 2024
- Fix any loose tiles. Karndean, 2G Rigid Core installation guidelines (Australia and New Zealand) · Aug 2023
Our price band: S$3,825 to S$8,500 for 85 sqm.
Our price band · supplied and laid
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.
- Vinyl band: S$45 to S$100 per sqm (S$4.18 to S$9.29 per sq ft). SGFloorFinder price bands · our own table
Sound tiles? Lay over them. No permit, no noisy days.
Belle's corner: new tiles
Illustration
Cream matte porcelain
Porcelain feels cool under bare feet, and a matte one keeps the 5pm light soft.
- Karndean, a vinyl maker, on stone and ceramic: they can feel cold when the temperature drops. Karndean, Frequently asked questions · undated, checked 29 Sep 2026
Replacing floor finishes needs an HDB permit.
- Replacement of floor finishes: permit required. HDB, Building works guidelines · checked 30 Sep 2026
Taking the old floor up is noisy work: weekdays 9am to 5pm only, and no more than 3 days in a row.
- Removing floor finishes: 9am to 5pm on weekdays; no more than 3 consecutive days. HDB, Renovation: important information · checked 30 Sep 2026
Our price band: S$7,225 to S$16,150 for 85 sqm. Taking up and carting away the old floor is normally extra.
- Tiles band: S$85 to S$190 per sqm (S$7.90 to S$17.65 per sq ft). Removing and disposing of the old floor is normally extra. SGFloorFinder price bands · our own table
Cool porcelain under bare feet in June. Worth the paperwork.
Monli is our affiliate partner, and we earn a commission when you buy there. Our quote form offers a visit to their showroom, a free measure or an estimate by email.
Monli is our affiliate partner, and we earn a commission when you buy there. Our quote form offers a visit to their showroom, a free measure or an estimate by email.
Sources
HDB, Building works guidelines · checked 30 Sep 2026
- Laying of vinyl finishes, carpet or linoleum: no permit required.
- Replacement of floor finishes: permit required.
HDB, Renovation: important information · checked 30 Sep 2026
- Removing floor finishes is a restricted renovation, allowed only 9am to 5pm on weekdays.
- Removing floor finishes: 9am to 5pm on weekdays; no more than 3 consecutive days.
Karndean, Rigid Core plank and tile installation guide (USA) · Jan 2024
- Tiles: ensure the surface is firm, dry and free of wax, oil and dust; level any grout lines with a width or depth of more than 5 mm.
Karndean, 2G Rigid Core installation guidelines (Australia and New Zealand) · Aug 2023
- Fix any loose tiles.
SGFloorFinder price bands · our own table
- Vinyl band: S$45 to S$100 per sqm (S$4.18 to S$9.29 per sq ft).
- Tiles band: S$85 to S$190 per sqm (S$7.90 to S$17.65 per sq ft). Removing and disposing of the old floor is normally extra.
Karndean, Frequently asked questions · undated, checked 29 Sep 2026
- Karndean, a vinyl maker, on stone and ceramic: they can feel cold when the temperature drops.