- SPC with a waterproof core for kitchens, kids' rooms and homes that mop daily
- Laid over existing tiles in most flats, so no breaking or debris
- Wood, stone and concrete looks in plank and tile formats
- Flatness and damp checked before we quote, not after
- Skirting, door profiles and silicone sealing in wet zones included in the plan
If you want a wood look in a room that gets mopped, splashed or walked on by a dog, vinyl is where most of our flooring conversations end up. Our flooring service in Hyderabad lays three kinds of vinyl, and the right one depends less on looks than on what’s underneath and how wet the room gets. Our complete flooring guide for Hyderabad homes compares vinyl with wood, laminate and carpet room by room.
Types of vinyl flooring compared
| SPC (rigid core) | LVT (glue-down) | Sheet vinyl | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | Rigid core of limestone powder, PVC and stabilisers; printed film; clear wear layer; often an attached underlay | Flexible vinyl layers with printed film and wear layer | Flexible vinyl in rolls, about 2 m wide |
| Typical thickness | About 4 to 8 mm including underlay | About 2 to 3 mm | About 1.5 to 3 mm |
| Installation | Click-lock, floating | Glued to a smooth base | Glued or loose-laid |
| Over existing tiles | Yes, bridges normal grout lines | Needs a skim coat or levelling first | Needs a smooth base |
| Water | Core doesn’t swell | Water-resistant once glued | Few joints, good for spills |
| Best for | Whole flats, kitchens, rentals | Offices, large open areas | Clinics, play areas, budget utility rooms |
SPC is what most homeowners mean when they ask for “vinyl flooring” in Hyderabad today. For a broader comparison, read SPC vs laminate vs vinyl vs wooden flooring.
Is SPC flooring waterproof?
The core is. Water on an SPC plank won’t make it swell or soften the way it ruins laminate. But the floor isn’t a sealed membrane: water can pass through joints and around edges to the subfloor. So SPC is right for kitchens and children’s rooms, with silicone at the edges near the sink, and wrong for showers, open balconies and utility areas that get washed down. Those stay tiled. Our SPC flooring guide covers water resistance in more depth.
What about monsoon humidity?
Humidity that makes laminate and wood move barely affects SPC, because the stone-based core holds its size far better than wood fibre. The real monsoon risk is moisture rising from below, which shows up on ground-floor slabs and against outer walls that stay damp. On those floors we lay a polyethylene sheet under the planks, and if a wall is visibly wet, we tell you to fix the seepage first.
Which vinyl suits which room in a Hyderabad home?
Rented flat: SPC, floating. No glue, no breaking, and it covers tired or mismatched tiles. Check with the landlord, of course.
Kitchen: SPC laid around the cabinet plinths with an expansion gap, edges sealed near the sink. It handles damp mopping, which wood and laminate do not.
Bedrooms and living room: SPC in a wood look, with around a 0.3 mm wear layer for bedrooms and 0.5 mm or more for living rooms. Choose the thicker wear layer if you have pets.
Rooms with large west-facing glass: vinyl fades and expands under strong direct sun. SPC’s rigid core is more stable than flexible LVT, but blinds or curtains on that glass still matter.
Office or clinic: glue-down LVT or sheet vinyl on a levelled base. See our office furnishing service for full fit-outs.
Want real wood instead? Bedrooms and living rooms that stay dry can take wooden flooring.
Laying vinyl and SPC over existing tiles
SPC is the easiest floor to lay over tiles. The rigid core spans normal grout lines, so they don’t show through, and the floor only rises by about 5 to 8 mm with underlay, so most doors need little or no trimming. Two conditions still apply: tiles must be firmly bonded (hollow ones are fixed first), and the floor must be flat within the manufacturer’s tolerance.
Thin glue-down LVT and sheet vinyl are different. Grout lines and tile edges telegraph through within weeks, so the tiles need a levelling skim before the vinyl goes down. Read more in our guide to flooring over existing tiles.
How we install SPC flooring
- Check flatness with a straightedge and tap every tile for hollow spots.
- Fix hollow tiles and fill dips with levelling compound.
- Let boxes acclimatise in the rooms for 24 to 48 hours.
- Lay a polyethylene sheet on ground-floor slabs or damp-prone rooms.
- Click planks together in a staggered pattern with an expansion gap at every wall.
- Fit skirting, door profiles and silicone sealing in wet zones.
How long does it take?
A bedroom in floating SPC is often done in a day, and a 2BHK usually takes 2 to 3 days, with each room back in use as soon as it’s finished. Glue-down LVT with levelling takes 2 to 4 days, because the compound must cure first.
What decides the cost of vinyl and SPC flooring?
- Format: SPC, LVT or sheet vinyl
- Plank thickness, wear layer (0.3 or 0.5 mm) and attached underlay
- Pattern: herringbone and chevron take more labour and more wastage than straight planks
- Area, room shapes and cuts around cabinets and pillars
- Floor preparation, skirting and profiles
You get a fixed, itemised quote, room by room, after the free home visit.
Caring for vinyl and SPC floors
Sweep or vacuum grit daily; construction dust is the main thing that scratches the wear layer. Damp mopping is fine, which is the big practical advantage over wood and laminate. Avoid steam mops, which many manufacturers advise against, and rubber-backed mats, which can leave yellow stains on vinyl. Felt pads under furniture prevent dents.
Vinyl and SPC flooring across Hyderabad
We install across Hyderabad, including Kukatpally, Gachibowli, Miyapur, Kollur and Manikonda.
WhatsApp your room sizes to +91 98499 17494, or book a free home visit. We’ll bring samples, check your existing floor and give you a fixed quote.
How it works
- Free home visit with samples We bring SPC, LVT and sheet vinyl samples, check tile flatness with a straightedge, tap for hollow tiles and look for damp near bathrooms and outer walls.
- Product and quote We recommend a format and wear layer per room and give a room-by-room quote that includes underlay, skirting, profiles and any floor preparation.
- Preparation and acclimatisation Hollow tiles are fixed and dips levelled. Boxes rest in the rooms for 24 to 48 hours so planks match room temperature.
- Installation SPC is clicked together as a floating floor with an expansion gap at the walls; LVT and sheet vinyl are glued to a smooth base.
- Finishing and handover Skirting and door profiles go on, wet-zone edges are sealed with silicone, doors are checked for clearance, and we explain cleaning and care.
Frequently asked questions
Is SPC flooring waterproof?
SPC flooring has a waterproof core: the rigid limestone and PVC board does not swell or soften when it gets wet, unlike laminate or engineered wood. The floor as a whole is water-resistant rather than watertight, because water can still pass through plank joints and around the edges to the subfloor below. That makes SPC suitable for kitchens and children's rooms, with silicone sealing at the edges near sinks, but not for shower areas, open balconies or utility areas that are washed down.
Which is cheaper, tiles or SPC flooring?
Whether SPC or tiles cost less depends on what you're replacing. In an existing home, SPC laid over the current tiles avoids the cost and mess of breaking old tiles, debris removal and fresh screed, and the room is usable within a day or two, so the total job is often cheaper and much faster. For a bare new slab, basic vitrified tiles can cost less per square foot than mid-grade SPC. We compare both for your rooms on the home visit.
What is the difference between SPC and laminate flooring?
SPC and laminate look similar but are built differently. SPC has a rigid core of limestone powder and PVC that does not swell with water, and a clear vinyl wear layer on top. Laminate has a core of high-density fibreboard (HDF), a wood-based material that swells permanently if water gets into its joints, under a hard melamine surface. Laminate usually feels slightly warmer and more solid underfoot; SPC is the safer choice for kitchens, homes with pets and anywhere floors get mopped.
Can SPC flooring be laid over existing tiles?
Yes. SPC flooring is commonly laid over existing tiles in Hyderabad homes as a floating floor. The tiles must be firmly bonded, and the floor must be flat within the tolerance given by the plank manufacturer; hollow tiles are fixed and dips levelled first. Because SPC is rigid, normal grout lines don't show through, unlike thin glue-down vinyl. The floor rises only by the plank and its underlay, usually about 5 to 8 millimetres, so most doors need little or no trimming.
Is vinyl flooring good for Indian homes?
Vinyl flooring, especially rigid-core SPC, works well in Indian homes because it handles spills, damp mopping and humidity better than wood or laminate, is quieter and warmer underfoot than tile, and can be laid over existing floors. It suits bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and rented flats. The trade-offs are that it can scratch if grit isn't swept regularly, and it fades and expands under strong direct sun through large glass, so blinds or curtains are advisable on west-facing windows.
Which SPC wear layer should I choose?
The wear layer is the clear top film that protects the printed design on SPC flooring, and it decides how well the floor resists scratches and scuffs. For bedrooms and light-traffic rooms, a wear layer of around 0.3 millimetres is usually enough. For living rooms, homes with pets or children, and light commercial spaces, choose around 0.5 millimetres. Total plank thickness matters less than the wear layer for durability. We show you the specification sheet for each option.
Can SPC flooring be used in bathrooms?
SPC flooring can be used in dry bathroom zones such as a powder room or the area outside a shower, provided the edges are sealed with silicone and water doesn't pool on the floor. It is not recommended inside shower areas or bathrooms where the floor is regularly flooded, because water can travel through the joints and get trapped underneath, causing mould and smells. For wet bathrooms in Hyderabad homes, tiles remain the better floor; SPC suits the rest of the house.
How long does vinyl or SPC flooring installation take?
SPC flooring installation usually takes two to three days for a 2BHK apartment once the planks have acclimatised for 24 to 48 hours, and a single bedroom is often finished in a day, with furniture back the same evening. Glue-down LVT and sheet vinyl take longer if the floor needs a levelling compound, which must cure before the vinyl goes down, so allow two to four days. Floor repairs found on the home visit, such as hollow tiles, add time and are planned in the quote.
