Flooring is all the time one of many greatest prices in any renovation undertaking, however that price can differ drastically. Likewise, some owners bemoan the price of repairing the ground each three years, whereas others go a decade with out doing it. In keeping with an inside designer we spoke to, the explanations come all the way down to the kind of flooring materials you utilize:

Key concerns for any kind of flooring

Earlier than selecting your flooring, the primary inquiries to reply are:

• What’s the objective of the room? Softer flooring supplies equivalent to laminates could also be warranted for the bed room, whereas anti-slip tiling could also be required for the lavatory.

As a fast run-down, our inside designers suggest the next:

• Kitchen and Service Yard – Porcelain tiles
  • resistance to scratches and dents from gentle objects equivalent to falling containers; Low upkeep requires nothing greater than vacuuming and cleansing.

• Loos – Porcelain tiles
  • water resistance; Textured tiles are nice at stopping slippery flooring
• Eating, residing and bedrooms – Vinyl
  • Resilient and low upkeep – stain, scratch, water and fireplace resistant. Additionally immune to micro organism, so no want to scrub with harsh chemical compounds.
  • Comfy – Tender and extremely padded really feel underfoot.
  • Soundproofing Properties – On account of its layered composition, vinyl helps scale back noise and echoes in any room.

• How a lot funds per sq. foot? A reasonably low cost vinyl flooring can go for lower than $3 psf, whereas marble can attain as much as $70 psf (relying on the kind of marble). Decide the funds earlier than selecting the kind of flooring.
• How a lot are you prepared to spend on upkeep? Vinyl and bigger tiles are simpler to keep up and vinyl particularly is cheaper to switch. However sharpening and re-sealing supplies like marble could be costly.
• Do you may have pets at residence? You probably have canines or cats, it is best to steer clear of onerous wooden, tender wooden, or supplies that scratch simply. Laminates and vinyls are much less prone to be chewed or spit up. Exhausting objects are additionally potential, however typically pets will scrape on the ground if they cannot get a grip.
• Are there kids or toddlers at residence? Tender flooring is usually extra comfy for crawlers; However it is advisable guarantee that the flooring shouldn’t be too textured, which won’t trigger abrasions.
• What sort of furnishings can be on the ground? You probably have heavy furnishings or furnishings with metal ends on the legs, then supplies like cement screed or hardwood could be broken. Nevertheless, ceramic tiles have glorious resistance.

Observe that though there are overlaps between inside designers and contractors in Singapore, recommending the best flooring supplies is technically the designer’s job. The contractor’s job is solely to execute the undertaking; So some contractors won’t advise you for or in opposition to sure gadgets. You select, they set up it.

(There are some skilled contractors, nonetheless, who will warn you in case your decisions are a foul thought).

Abstract of frequent forms of flooring

Our inside designer gave us a fast rundown of frequent flooring sorts. There There are With some exceptions to the next, for instance high quality might differ, not all manufacturers of vinyl flooring have the identical high quality and sturdiness. However you need to use this as a normal guideline:

1. Marble flooring

Marble flooring is usually acknowledged as a luxurious possibility, however the vary of high quality is sort of large. For instance, marble can go for $15 to $20 psf or marble can go for over $70 psf. Carrara marble is usually cheaper, whereas calacatta marble (particularly the range with gold-colored veins) is pricier.

In recent times Spanish Imperial marble with its darkish brown tones has began to realize reputation in Singapore.

Marble has a singular look as a result of patterns equivalent to veins can by no means be duplicated precisely. Our inside designers say that polished marble has higher scratch resistance and warmth dissipates quicker by marble. Whether it is onerous for the toes the flooring is chilly.

The obvious draw back to marble is price. It is by no means the most cost effective flooring possibility and upkeep could be dear. Marble might should be polished each three to 5 years and costs could be north of $4 psf.

With out upkeep, marble is definitely rubbed and broken; And it is not ideally suited for rooms just like the kitchen, as a result of marble can stain simply. Plus, the polish is marble an excessive amount of It’s a harmful materials for the aged who’ve a danger of slipping when wiped.

2. Exhausting wooden

Hardwood flooring could be very sturdy and may age properly over time. Nevertheless, you need to guarantee uniformity (ie, the wooden comes from the identical tree), as various kinds of wooden can age otherwise.

Hardwood affords one of many largest ranges of alternative, from mahogany to beech to maple and extra. If you’re utilizing different forms of wooden furnishings, you could need to evaluate the colours carefully so there’s a match.

Our inside designer additionally means that hardwood is nice for owners with allergy symptoms. Its floor collects much less mud and different allergens.

On the draw back, hardwood is susceptible to termite injury, so it is advisable act rapidly whenever you spot these. As a substitute high-maintenance hardwood is often protected with a polyurethane clear coat that may should be resealed with time and put on.

Singapore’s local weather is much less appropriate for wooden flooring (each onerous and tender wooden). Our designer says:

Wooden flooring doesn’t deal with temperature fluctuations very properly. Wooden expands with warmth, and mixed with moisture, floorboards can find yourself swelling, resulting in warping, lifting or cupping of the boards. Humidity ranges at residence should be monitored – When humidity ranges are too excessive, you could want to make use of an AC or dehumidifier to cut back it..

Wooden flooring usually must be refinished each 5 years.

3. Tender wooden

Whereas softwood is extra budget-friendly than hardwood, the most cost effective is usually thought of pine wooden. These share many similarities with hardwood, the primary distinction being that they scratch or dent extra simply.

Nevertheless, softwood is favored for sustainable causes, as many softwood species regenerate extra rapidly. A semi-accurate instance is bamboo (as a result of technically bamboo is grass and never wooden, though most individuals contemplate it tender wooden flooring). Bamboo grows rapidly, so your flooring will not contribute to deforestation.

Observe that softwood flooring aren’t fire-resistant until handled.

4. Margins

Aside from the infinite design potentialities, high quality tiles are very sturdy and lengthy lasting. They’re stain and water resistant, therefore their reputation for bogs and kitchens. And like marble, most tiles dissipate warmth rapidly, protecting flooring cool to the contact.

The primary drawback with tiles is grouting (gaps between tiles). Grout is cement based mostly, so it could possibly gather moisture and grime. It’s troublesome to scrub as it’s a must to scrub deep between the sides. This is among the explanation why smaller edges aren’t an issue, as bigger edges imply much less scrubbing between them.

Like marble, the tiles are onerous underfoot, which isn’t comfy for everybody. You will get slip-resistant tiles, which have a greater grip than marble.

Tiles additionally do not muffle sound very properly, so for those who drop one thing it could possibly get it out loud.

5. Vinyl flooring

A really budget-friendly possibility, vinyl flooring appears to be like a lot better as of late. Yow will discover textured vinyl flooring that mimics wooden, for instance, or tiling. Vinyl now not appears to be like like hospital flooring within the 80s and 90s.

Vinyl is resilient and low upkeep that resists stains, scratches, water injury and even fireplace. It is non-porous, and onerous for micro organism to set in (the entire cause for its outdated popularity as hospital flooring within the first place!).

The layered high quality of vinyl flooring means it’s softer and extra comfy underfoot, and it muffles sounds and echoes.

Maybe the most important benefit is the pace and ease of set up. If the situation of the present floor is appropriate, you’ll be able to even lay vinyl flooring over it with out hacking it. It is among the solely forms of flooring that even a hobbyist can self-install.

That mentioned, vinyl flooring can’t be renewed. Whether it is broken, you will want to chop out all the affected space and substitute it. It’s also not environmentally pleasant as its polyvinyl chloride (PVC) composition releases unstable natural compounds (VOCs) into the air; No less than when it was nonetheless new.

6. Cement screed

It is for an unfinished, industrial/city look. It is as low cost and easy as you may get. Polish the ground there and it is sturdy and simple to scrub.

Cement screed can crack for those who relaxation heavy objects on it, and the porous floor can result in mould and mildew development if not correctly sealed. Cement screed, like marble, could be dangerously slippery when moist.

Cement screed additionally goes solely with sure design types; It doesn’t mix with extra conventional inside types equivalent to Victorian, French cottage, and so on.

Cement screed must be re-sealed each two to 5 years relying on the severity of wear and tear and tear.

7. Micro cement

Micro cement is multipurpose and could be utilized to each flooring and partitions. It’s a high-strength materials, sturdy and immune to moisture; Good for a moist local weather like Singapore.

Micro cement is immune to excessive temperatures and reduces the danger of fireside within the residence.

Nevertheless, the draw back is that labor prices could be excessive, as this materials can solely be utilized by hand. The coating on micro cement must be re-sealed every now and then relying on the frequency of its use.

How briskly will it take to finish the flooring?

If it is advisable make an replace urgently, the best reply is to make use of vinyl. It is all the time faster to put in, particularly for those who overlay an present flooring as a substitute of hacking it away.

In any other case, some tough timelines:

• Engineered wooden flooring – 10 days on common for a 4-room flat, varnish and so on
• Tiling Common 10-12 days for 4-room HDB
• Cement screed Three days for a 4-room HDB, however the ready time for drying takes an additional week.
• Micro cement Two to 3 weeks for a 4-room flat, as a result of a number of layers of utility.

In case you want particular assist together with your unit, you’ll be able to contact us instantly at Stacked. Within the meantime, comply with us for evaluations of latest and resale condos, in addition to residence possession suggestions for the Singapore property market.