Reading an SPC specification
| Parameter | Range in the market | What we specify | Consequence if ignored |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total thickness | 3.2 – 8 mm | 5 mm or more | Thin boards telegraph every subfloor imperfection |
| Wear layer | 0.1 – 0.7 mm | 0.3 mm home, 0.5 mm office | 0.1 mm wears through in traffic paths in 2–3 years |
| Surface treatment | PU or ceramic bead coating | UV-cured PU | Untreated film scuffs and dulls |
| Core density | 1,900 – 2,200 kg/m³ | 2,000 kg/m³ minimum | Low density dents under furniture feet |
| Underlay | None / 1 mm IXPE / 1.5 mm EVA | Pre-attached 1.5 mm IXPE | Loose underlay shifts; bare core sounds hollow |
| Locking system | Angle-angle or drop lock | Drop lock for end joints | Weak joints open at the end seams first |
2026 Indian rates
| Grade | Rate (₹/sq ft, supplied & fixed) | Suited to |
|---|---|---|
| 4 mm, 0.2 mm wear layer | ₹110 – 150 | Rental flats, bedrooms, low traffic |
| 5 mm, 0.3 mm wear layer, IXPE backed | ₹150 – 200 | Family homes; our residential default |
| 6 mm, 0.5 mm wear layer | ₹190 – 260 | Offices, clinics, retail, high traffic |
| Subfloor levelling screed, where needed | ₹35 – 90 | Almost always needed over old tile |
| Skirting, matching PVC or MDF | ₹60 – 140 per running foot | Covers the expansion gap |
A 650 sq ft 2BHK in 5 mm SPC with levelling and skirting typically runs ₹1.25–1.75 lakh installed, ex-GST.
Design and build under one accountable roof
The subfloor is the whole job
SPC is rigid, which means it bridges hollows rather than following them. A floating floor over an uneven base flexes at every void, and within a year the click joints work loose and the floor clicks underfoot.
- Check flatness with a 2 m straight edge. More than 3 mm of gap under it anywhere means levelling compound before laying.
- Existing tile can usually stay if it is sound and flat; grout lines under 6 mm wide need no filling. Loose tiles must come out.
- Moisture in the slab matters. On a ground-floor or podium-level flat, lay a polythene DPM before the underlay.
- Leave an 8–10 mm expansion gap at every wall, column and door frame, covered by skirting or a profile. This is the most commonly skipped step, and the result is buckling in May.
- Limit a continuous run to about 12 m in any direction; beyond that, a transition profile at a doorway.
How it performs in Mumbai
- Water: the core is mineral and plastic, so it does not swell. Spills, mopping and a washing machine overflow are non-events. This is the decisive advantage over laminate flooring in this climate.
- Heat and sunlight: the one genuine weakness. SPC expands with temperature, and a strip of floor in direct sun behind a sliding door can cup or lift at the seam. Keep an expansion gap, use blinds on a west-facing window, and avoid it on an enclosed balcony that bakes.
- Furniture: felt pads on chairs and hard castors are the enemy. Point loads dent lower-density cores permanently.
- Sound: IXPE backing takes the hollow click out. In a society that complains about noise, it is worth specifying the acoustic backing rather than the cheapest board.
Care, life and BOQ wording
- Damp mop with a neutral cleaner. No steam mops — heat and pressure open the seams.
- Realistic life in a Mumbai flat: 8–12 years with a 0.3 mm wear layer, 12–15 with 0.5 mm. Individual planks can be replaced if the floor was laid with access to a wall.
- BOQ: “Flooring in 5 mm SPC rigid core with 0.3 mm wear layer, UV-cured PU surface, pre-attached 1.5 mm IXPE underlay, drop-lock end joints; core density not below 2,000 kg/m³.”
- BOQ: “Subfloor to be levelled to within 3 mm under a 2 m straight edge; self-levelling compound where required, measured and paid separately.”
- BOQ: “8 mm expansion gap at all perimeters and fixed elements; transition profiles at doorways; 5% surplus planks handed over.”
Specification summary
| Property | Specification |
|---|---|
| Construction | Limestone-PVC rigid core, printed film, PU wear layer |
| Thickness | 5 mm residential, 6 mm commercial |
| Wear layer | 0.3 mm residential, 0.5 mm commercial |
| Underlay | Pre-attached 1.5 mm IXPE |
| Subfloor tolerance | 3 mm under a 2 m straight edge |
| Expansion gap | 8 – 10 mm at all perimeters |
| Rate | ₹110 – 260 per sq ft supplied and fixed |
| Life | 8 – 15 years depending on wear layer |
Selected work by Greenbox Design Studio. Tap any image to enlarge.
Frequently asked questions
Is SPC flooring really waterproof?+
The plank is. The core is limestone powder and PVC, which do not absorb water, and the surface film is impervious. What can still let water through is the joint, over time and under standing water. Treat it as fully splash-proof and mop-safe, and clean up a flood rather than leaving it.
Can SPC be laid directly over old tiles?+
Usually yes, and that is one of its main advantages in a Mumbai renovation — no demolition, no debris, no society objections. The tiles must be sound and the surface flat within 3 mm over 2 m. Wide or deep grout lines and loose tiles need attention first.
Why did my SPC floor lift near the balcony door?+
Thermal expansion with no room to move. A strip of floor in direct afternoon sun heats several degrees above the rest, expands, and if the expansion gap was filled with skirting adhesive or silicone it has nowhere to go. The fix is to re-cut the gap at the perimeter.
Is SPC better than laminate flooring for Mumbai?+
Yes, clearly. Laminate has an HDF core that swells irreversibly when wet, and Mumbai supplies water four months a year. SPC costs ₹30–60 more per square foot and removes the failure mode entirely. Our SPC versus laminate flooring page has the detail.
Does SPC feel cheap underfoot?+
Thin boards do — 4 mm over a hard slab sounds hollow and reads as plastic. At 5 mm or more with IXPE backing the sound and the underfoot feel are close to engineered timber. If a showroom sample feels light and clicky, look at a thicker board before dismissing the material.