Walk into any HDB renovation showroom in Singapore and you will hear two acronyms thrown around constantly: SPC and LVT. Both are vinyl. Both look fantastic. Both are popular with HDB owners because they handle our weather and our wet-shoe lifestyle far better than laminate or solid wood. The question is which one belongs in your flat.
At DS Flooring we install both every week, and the honest answer is that the right pick depends on your sub-floor, your budget, and how heavy your household is on the floor. This guide breaks down the real differences so you can choose with confidence.
What SPC and LVT actually are
SPC stands for Stone Plastic Composite. The core is a dense limestone-and-PVC mix, which makes the plank rigid, dimensionally stable, and very hard to dent. LVT stands for Luxury Vinyl Tile. The core is a flexible PVC compound, which makes the plank softer underfoot and slightly quieter. Both come with a printed design layer and a clear wear layer on top, so visually you often cannot tell them apart on a showroom floor.
The construction difference is what drives every other trade-off. A rigid SPC plank can bridge minor floor unevenness because it does not bend into the dip. A flexible LVT plank conforms to the sub-floor, so any bump or hollow underneath telegraphs through. In an older HDB with a worn cement screed, that single fact often makes the decision for us.
Side-by-side comparison
| Factor | SPC Vinyl | LVT Vinyl |
|---|---|---|
| Core material | Stone-plastic composite, rigid | Flexible PVC, softer |
| Dent resistance | Excellent — handles heavy furniture and pet claws | Good — can mark under sharp point loads |
| Water resistance | 100% waterproof core | 100% waterproof core |
| Sub-floor tolerance | Forgiving — hides minor unevenness | Strict — needs a flat, smooth screed |
| Feel underfoot | Firm, similar to tile | Softer and warmer, more cushioned |
| Sound | Slightly louder, hollow click | Quieter, softer footstep |
| Typical thickness | 4 to 6 mm with attached underlay | 2 to 5 mm |
| Best for | Living rooms, kitchens, rental units, retail | Bedrooms, study rooms, condo interiors |
| Price range in SG | Mid to upper mid | Entry to mid, but premium LVT exists |
Pro tip: If your HDB still has the original cement screed and you have not done hacking, SPC is usually the safer choice. The rigid core forgives the small dips that almost every older flat has.
Which one wins in a typical HDB
For a four-room or five-room HDB with the whole family living on the floor — kids, helpers, food deliveries, occasional rolling suitcases — SPC is the workhorse. The rigid core takes the abuse, the click-lock joints stay tight, and the surface barely shows after years of use. We install SPC across living-dining, kitchens, and bedrooms in the same shade so the home looks seamless.
LVT shines in bedrooms, study rooms, and condos where comfort matters more than impact resistance. The softer feel is genuinely nicer barefoot at the end of a long day, and the lower acoustic profile keeps a bedroom quiet. For a master bedroom with a heavy bed frame, we sometimes recommend LVT throughout because the bed never moves and dent risk is minimal.
Things that catch buyers out
- Wear layer thickness: ignore the total plank thickness and look at the wear layer in mils. 0.3 mm or 12 mil is residential-grade. 0.5 mm or 20 mil handles commercial traffic.
- Underlay: SPC usually comes with attached EVA or IXPE underlay. LVT often does not. Factor an underlay into the LVT quote or footsteps will sound thin.
- Sub-floor prep: if your screed is uneven, LVT installation may require self-levelling compound first, which adds a day and a real cost. SPC can often skip this step.
- Skirting: both vinyl types are floating floors, so existing skirting may need to come off and go back on. Confirm this in the quote.
Pro tip: Ask to feel an actual offcut, not just look at the showroom panel. Your feet will tell you in three seconds which one you prefer.
Our honest recommendation
If you are doing a full HDB resale renovation and you want one flooring across the whole flat, choose SPC. It handles every room, every load, every wet shoe. If you are doing a bedroom-only upgrade in a condo or you have already laid SPC in the living areas and want something softer in the master suite, LVT is the right call. Both will outlast laminate and outperform vinyl sheet for everyday wear.
Want a free site visit? Get in touch with DS Flooring — we will measure, check your sub-floor, advise on SPC versus LVT for your specific flat, and quote within 24 hours.
