4 Popular Flooring Types in Singapore
Are you planning to renovate or revamp your home but are not sure which flooring type to use? After all, there are numerous flooring types available, each with its own aesthetic appeal, functionality, and benefits.
Ranging from laminate flooring to cement, parquet, tiling, and marble flooring, there are just so many types of flooring out there that it can really be impossible to pick the perfect one for you!
Not to worry, this article will take an in-depth look at 4 of the most popular flooring types in Singapore so you can choose which suits your home and your preferences best. Join us as we take a closer look at laminate, marble, vinyl, and cement screed flooring!
Laminate Flooring
Credits: Home Stratosphere
Laminate flooring, which combines wood and plastic, gives your home a look akin to tiles or hardwood while yet being less expensive than other flooring alternatives. Due to its synthetic representations of ceramic, stone, and wood, laminate is a widely used and well-loved flooring type in Singapore. As such, with laminate flooring, you will have a wide selection of designs to pick from.
In fact, the image above by home Stratosphere is a great reflection of the many types of laminate flooring types you can choose from for your home. With that said, what makes laminate flooring unique from other types of flooring is the fact that laminate flooring is created from wood waste and is glued with resins.
Laminate flooring also gets its name because it undergoes a lamination process to fuse together the numerous layers of synthetic flooring. With a rich history of nearly 50 years, laminate flooring is typically intended to add flair and value to your home while enduring wear and tear.
How Much Does Laminate Flooring Cost?
So, how much does laminate flooring cost then? While it definitely depends on the design and type of laminate flooring you go for, you can expect the price to come to about $4 to $9 per square foot in Singapore. As you can see, laminate flooring is considered rather cheap and affordable for floor types in Singapore!
Advantages of Laminate Floorings
Indeed, with how popular and well-loved laminate floorings are in Singapore, there has to be a reason (or many) for that right? Yes, that’s right! After all, laminate floorings have numerous advantages and here are some of the benefits about them:
• Looks beautiful
Nowadays, due to developments in laminate flooring technology, it is much more difficult to tell real wood from laminate. Many types of laminate flooring have specific embossing to accurately mimic the appearance and feel of genuine wood. Basically, laminate flooring is really beautiful, and you will love it!
• Affordable
As mentioned previously, laminate flooring is one of the cheapest floor types in Singapore. In fact, it is also arguably one of the most cost-effective types of floor types all over the world. This is especially so when comparing the costs and looks of laminate flooring and other wood floor types. Laminate flooring is far less expensive than real wood, which may be rather expensive depending on how exotic the tree is, because it is mostly made of composite wood that is pressed together at high temperatures.
• Easy maintenance
It goes without saying that no one would want to worry too much about cleaning up or maintaining one’s home. With laminate flooring, you don’t have to worry about that because laminate flooring has a superior stain and moisture-resistant surface layer. At the same time, you do not need to worry about using varnishes or waxes to maintain or clean the laminate flooring. All you need is a simple soft microfiber cloth to easily remove spills and markings. For any dirt and dust, you can easily sweep or vacuum them up.
• Extremely durable
If you are looking for a strong and durable type of flooring, you will love laminate flooring. This is due to laminate flooring's distinct, sturdy external shell, resin coating, and top layer of aluminium oxide. As such, using laminate flooring will provide you with exceptional resistance to dents, scratches, fading, dampness, and stains. As a result of its durability, laminate floors may be used in homes with dogs or children without fear of harm. Not to add, it is highly durable and long-lasting.
• Simple to install
Laminate flooring is a form of floating floor type that often has a straightforward lock-together mechanism that is relatively simple to use. So easy, that you can even have your own DIY installation!
Disadvantages of Laminate Floorings
While laminate floorings certainly have their own benefits, it is also not perfect. It has its own fair share of disadvantages that you need to look out for.
• Not water-repellent
Unfortunately, laminate flooring is not resistant to the effects of dampness since it is comprised of wood. In fact, using laminate flooring types in water-concentrated areas can cause the flooring to swell and require a lot of money to fix it up. As a result, it shouldn't be utilized as hard flooring in bathrooms and should be used carefully in kitchens and laundry rooms. With that said, it shouldn't be a problem to use light surface water for cleaning.
• Material may be toxic
You shouldn't use this product if you care about the environment. The majority of laminate floors often include certain hazardous chemicals that are bad for the environment. One of the most hazardous chemicals that may be detected in this kind of floor is formaldehyde. Additionally, this product includes several volatile organic chemicals that have a negative impact on the environment.
What Kind of Homes Is Suitable for Laminate Floorings?
Now that we understand the advantages and disadvantages of laminate floorings, when is laminate floorings the perfect choice then? For which homes or which part of your home? To that, we recommend laminate floorings for those of you who want to increase the resale value of your house without having to spend a lot of money on flooring. We also recommend laminate flooring for non-water concentrated areas, and the perfect choice if you have children or pets at home.
Marble Flooring
Credits: TINO Natural Stone
Did you know that marble is the most often used natural stone? It is a member of the limestone family and is created when limestone is subjected to high heat and pressure, which causes the stone to undergo metamorphism. It comes in a range of lovely hues that are caused by impurities like iron oxide, mica, graphite, and quartz, among others.
In fact, the image above is a great example of the many types of marble flooring you can enjoy. Depending on the marble's quality, the veins may be more or less noticeable. Higher-quality marble has fewer veins because it contains fewer contaminants in its makeup.
How Much Does Marble Flooring Cost?
So, how much does marble flooring cost? While it depends on the design, type, and degree of marbling you choose, you can expect a pricier range. The average cost of marble flooring is about $15 to 75 in Singapore. Marble flooring types are also arguably the most expensive type of flooring in Singapore.
Advantages of Marble Floorings
Let us take a closer look at the pros of marble flooring!
• Incredible looks
The look of marble floor tiles is opulent, classy, and simply stunning. Their royal aspect may instantly improve a room's appearance and atmosphere. It comes in a broad selection of hues and tones. You may combine several colours to create an amazing colour scheme and pattern for your floor.
• Eco-Friendly
When compared to synthetic floor materials, which cause the production of hazardous gases and toxic wastes, natural stones like marble don't require any form of chemical processing and are therefore more environmentally friendly. Marble flooring also brings the beauty of nature into the confines of your house. Mother Nature's energy is channelled via the ethereal beauty of marble floor tiles, which has a relaxing but profound influence on people's minds.
• Unique and distinct
Being a natural stone, marble is distinctive and unique in that each tile is different from the others and has veins that grow randomly. Compared to tiles with several colours, the distinctive marble characteristics are more subdued in those with a single hue. Therefore, making your home one of a kind with marble floorings.
Disadvantages of Marble Floorings
While marble flooring may look beautiful and have other perks, it also has its own cons. And many people often think about how expensive marble floorings are, but there are actually other cons as well.
• Expensive
Despite being the most beautiful and well-loved natural stone flooring and the most preferred by homeowners, marble floors are nevertheless fairly pricey. They are more expensive than any natural stone utilized in the building industry in terms of per-tile pricing, installation fees, and maintenance expenses.
• Requires high maintenance
To enjoy the beautiful look of marble flooring, unfortunately, requires high maintenance. First, frequent sealing must be done to address the porousness. Then, you must be selective in the cleaning agents you choose to employ. The incorrect ones will rapidly ruin your marble's brilliance, while some will make it sparkle. To make sure it doesn't lose its brilliance, you might also need to spend money on routine polishing. When your marble has aged from years of use, it is even more crucial.
What Kind of Homes Is Suitable for Laminate Floorings?
Now that we understand the pros and cons of marble floorings, when is marble floorings the perfect choice then? We recommend marble flooring if you love the classy and timeless look of marble and don’t mind spending additional money on its beauty. It is also a good idea if you are looking for a classic beauty that can stand the test of time.
Vinyl Flooring
Credits: Home Stratosphere
What is vinyl flooring? It is a sort of material that is constructed from many layers of varying types of materials that are fused together to create a flooring type that is exceptionally strong, practical, and inexpensive.
The 2 main variations of vinyl flooring include Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) and Vinyl Roll. Despite the fact that vinyl rolls and LVT are made of the same type of materials, they are created differently to achieve different goals. The plank format, for example, is ideal for simulating real wood. Similar to laminate flooring, it can imitate wood planks or stone tiles. And the photo shown above by home stratosphere is a wonderful illustration of the various appearances vinyl flooring can have.
How Much Does Vinyl Flooring Cost?
Once again, the cost of vinyl flooring depends on the design and style of vinyl flooring that you choose, but you can expect a cheaper price range. The average cost of vinyl flooring is about $4 to 6 in Singapore.
Advantages of Vinyl Floorings
Let us take a closer look at the pros of vinyl flooring that you can enjoy in your home!
• Affordable
As mentioned previously, vinyl flooring is extremely in Singapore. In fact, with its’ easy installation process, you can even save additional money from simply DIY-ing the installation process yourself.
• Durable
Vinyl flooring is well known for its durability. This shows that most vinyl flooring is durable, water-resistant, and needs very little maintenance. If it has a wear layer, vinyl flooring frequently won't stain and can handle a lot of wear and tear, making it an excellent replacement for any places that see a lot of foot traffic. For water-concentrated parts of your home, some businesses provide vinyl flooring that is entirely waterproof.
• Waterproof
Unlike laminate flooring, vinyl floorings are waterproof. Due to its composition of plastic and natural recycled wood, coupled with its waterproof coverage, you do not need to worry about water issues with vinyl floorings.
• Comfortable
As compared to other materials like stone or wood, vinyl flooring feels more comfortable to touch due of its layered composition. These layers act as insulation and help maintain the flooring's steady temperature all year long. Additionally, vinyl may be soundproof, making any space less loud and echo-free. In essence, vinyl flooring allows you to live a more pleasant existence.
Disadvantages of Vinyl Floorings
Vinyl flooring is not perfect either, so let us look at some of its disadvantages that you need to be careful of.
• May feel cheap
Because of the plastic-like texture, some may feel that vinyl flooring feels cheap and low-value. This is especially so if placed in comparison with the expectation of wooden tiles. As compared to wood tiles or laminate tiles, vinyl floorings certainly lose out on the texture department.
• Not eco-friendly
Vinyl-based products are infamous for releasing toxic chemicals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere, which has been shown to have negative health impacts on people.
These substances can be dangerous for those with respiratory allergies when put in houses. Although vinyl planks typically contain relatively few volatile organic compounds, certain low-cost models can still include components that could expose you to these dangerous substances. However, a number of variables, such as the concentration of VOCs in the air and the duration of your exposure, will affect the extent of the damage.
What Kind of Homes Is Suitable for Vinyl Floorings?
With the pros and cons of vinyl floorings in mind, it is time for our recommendations for vinyl floorings. Due to its resistance to moisture, vinyl flooring in Singapore is ideal for those who want to maintain dogs. Dogs are known for their propensity to drool, which might be problematic if your flooring is particularly porous. Pets in HDB apartments that have not yet been trained to use the toilet may also leave an ugly mark on porous flooring from urine stains.
Cement Screed Flooring
Credits: Paramount Construction
Last but not least, we have cement screed floorings. On top of the concrete flooring, the screed is a layer of cement and sharp sand. For a stronger substance, it can also be created with coarse aggregates. In contrast to concrete, screed is not combined with water.
To create screed cement, a number of different ingredients can be mixed together. The most typical floor screed (popular in homes) is made of cementitious/latex products, anhydrite binders, coarse aggregates, and a concrete-like mixture with a cement ratio of 1:3. And the image above is a great example of how concrete screed floorings can look like in your home.
How Much Does Cement Screed Flooring Cost?
Once again, the cost of vinyl flooring can vary depending on the area of your home as well as the style that you choose. But in general, the average cost of cement screed flooring is about $15 to 32 in Singapore.
Advantages of Cement Screed Floorings
Let us take a closer look at the advantages of cement screed flooring that you can enjoy in your home!
• Durable
Concrete screed flooring has an extremely long lifespan and is incredibly durable. It is sturdy even without care or maintenance, but it will endure longer with them. It can withstand extreme pressure from powerful machines. Furthermore, concrete floors are difficult to harm. Since it is scratch-proof, you won't need to be concerned whether your cat plays on the floor or if you enter the room wearing high heels. Although this flooring is less expensive than other floor choices, it is nonetheless of great quality.
• Environmentally-friendly
Concrete flooring does away with the requirement for additional materials like wood. It lessens the likelihood of resource depletion. Additionally, it doesn't harbour allergies, allowing your family to breathe clean air indoors.
• Many variations
Cement used to be a drab and lifeless material, but recent advancements have allowed this flooring to grow in terms of texture and colour. Sometimes, colour is incorporated directly into the concrete, but it may also be added to floors that have already been built by painting or staining. While the surface is still wet or during installation, textural variety can be produced. Your concrete surface can get a flawless finish by polishing as well.
Disadvantages of Cement Screed Floorings
Cement screed flooring is not perfect either, so let us look at some of its disadvantages that you need to be careful of.
• Cold to touch
Because it doesn't absorb heat, cement flooring can be rather cold. When getting ready in the morning, you could find yourself rushing across the floor to avoid the chilly surface.
• Uncomfortable
If you stand on the hard cement screed flooring for a long time, it could hurt. After standing on concrete without any rugs or slippers to cushion your feet, your feet will definitely suffer.
What Kind of Homes Is Suitable for Cement Screed Floorings?
With the pros and cons of cement screed floorings in mind, it is time for our recommendations for cement screed floorings. Cement screed flooring is unquestionably the first item you need if you want to get the trendy, edgy industrial style. Sure, the stains and cracks in this flooring could become more obvious with time, but that can be a sight in and of itself. After a few years, you decide to change your flooring—great! that's Contrary to marble or tiles, cement screed flooring is fairly simple to alter.
There you have it - an in-depth look at 4 of the most popular flooring types in Singapore! You are not well-equipped to choose which suits your home and your preferences best.
About Renodots.com – Singapore’s Best Interior Design and Renovation Portal
Your best one- stop renovation website in Singapore that provides a daily dose of quality interior design firm projects, interior design and renovation ideas, home renovation services, maximizing hacking space ideas, home decor, furnishing, and lifestyle ideas. Send us your request for a free quote and we will connect you with up to four reliable interior firms that can help you with your upcoming home renovation.
Get A Renovation Quotes from Top 5 Interior Design Firms in Singapore
