Common Types of Flooring in Singapore

Flooring is a process of permanently or temporarily covering a floor. It involves the installation of different types of material on the top section of the floor structure of a building. The type of flooring you choose depends on your preferences and budget. Common flooring types include:

Wood Flooring
It’s one of the most common types of flooring. Wood flooring can be softwood or hardwood. Note that hardwood flooring involves the use of durable materials from sources such as mahogany, maple, birch, oak, and bamboo among others. On the other hand, softwood consists of cider, pine, fir, and blue gum.
Hardwood floors are usually popular among most homeowners because of their appearance and durability. They are perfect for any type of living area. However, homeowners normally use them in areas such as dining rooms, living rooms, and kitchens. Hardwoods are not good for use in areas that constantly get wet or high-traffic regions such as laundry and bathrooms.

Softwoods are cheaper alternatives for hardwoods. They are usually less durable as well. So, they are not suitable for use in areas with high traffic, frequently wet rooms, and places with heavy furniture.

Laminate
They are affordable alternatives for hardwood flooring. Laminate is an attractive type of flooring that’s designed like engineered wood floors. The only difference is that laminate flooring does not have a top layer made of real wood but instead uses an image taken by photo-realism technology to create attractive finishes such as stone, wood, ceramic tile, and others.

Cork
This is an environmentally-friendly material that’s renewable and water-resistant. Cork is normally obtained from a tree’s bark. This material comes with grain patterns and has the same warm and attractive appearance like wood. Cork is designed as laminate because its top layer is normally glued underneath a core material. This type of flooring can be used as planks or tiles.

It is suitable for a wide range of spaces including bathrooms and basements. Although they are flexible, they can easily get damaged by friction and sharp objects. It’s also important to reseal them after every 4-5 years to protect them against moisture and stains.

Vinyl and Linoleum
Although both linoleum and vinyl are different materials, they have the same characteristics. They are considered to be a “resilient” type of flooring. Additionally, they are also easy to install and come in the form of sheets, planks, or tiles. Vinyl is made of plastic with polymers, acrylic, or PVC. Meanwhile, Linoleum contains natural materials such as linseed oil, cork, primarily jute, and other natural materials.

Linoleum and vinyl are highly durable and they come in a broad range of styles and colors. These moisture-resistant materials are, therefore, good for high-traffic areas such as laundry rooms, dining areas, bathrooms, kitchens, and mudrooms. Among the two, Vinyl offers homeowners more options because it has a wider quality and price range. On the other hand, linoleum has a price range that starts from medium to high-end. It also comes in a wide range of vibrant colors. Linoleum’s nature makes it an attractive choice for home builders who want environmentally-friendly materials. It’s, therefore, a beautiful alternative for vinyl.

Ceramic/Porcelain/Tile
For a very long time, ceramic has been the best option for bathroom flooring. However, homeowners also use it in areas such as laundry rooms, entryways, kitchens, and hallways. Tiles come in multiple options depending on shape, texture, finishing, and color.

Its nature makes it durable and water-resistant. As a result, they are not easy to dent, scratch, or wear out. Although they normally require very little maintenance, you need to periodically to seal them in order to protect them from stains.


Carpet
Carpets are indeed the most used type of flooring. This attractive flooring option is normally made by attaching a layer of a pile on top of a backing. Note that the pile can be made of fibers such as polyester, nylon, and polypropylene. Alternatively, some manufacturers use wool. Carpets are generally durable and they have various styles, texture as well as color.

Although they are easy to install and maintain, they are susceptible to stains and damage. Additionally, they cannot be used in areas that frequently get wet or damp because they quickly get damaged by spills, stains, and moisture. So, they are suitable for use in areas such as family, living, or bedrooms.