Choosing floor materials: engineered wood, SPC flooring or ceramic tile

Prices and specifications come from articles by material sellers and news sites (sources at the end of the article) and are for reference only; for real specifications see the technical data sheet of the product you choose. Updated 24 October 2026.

The floor covers the largest area in a home, so your choice affects how it feels to live in, the noise, and later repair costs. Three common groups in apartments are engineered wood, SPC vinyl flooring and ceramic / porcelain tile. Below is a comparison to help you choose room by room.

1. Quick comparison table

Criterion	Engineered wood	SPC flooring	Tile
Material price (VND/m²)	250,000–850,000	180,000–450,000	150,000–350,000
Water resistance	Poor against standing water; plank edges may swell	Almost waterproof	Very good (porcelain water absorption under 0.5%)
Foot feel	Soft, warm	Hard, colder	Cold, hard
Sound insulation	Good	Poor without an underlay	Depends on the base layer
Weight	about 8–12 kg/m²	light (about 2–7.5 kg/m² according to some manufacturers)	about 20–35 kg/m²
Reference lifespan	about 15–20 years	about 10–20 years	about 15–25 years
Installation	Click-lock, fast	Click-lock, fast	Screeding, laying, waiting to dry

Engineered wood and SPC prices are per VOH (10 October 2026); tile prices, weight and lifespan are per Kosmos (updated 5 August 2026). SPC lifespan and weight figures are advertised specifications and need to be checked against the specific product.

2. Cost for a 70 m² unit (flooring material only, rounded)

If you lay about 60 m² of flooring in a 70 m² unit (excluding bathrooms and balcony), the estimated material cost is:

Type	Approximate material cost
SPC	about 11–27 million VND
Engineered wood	about 15–51 million VND
Tile	about 9–21 million VND

Add: foam underlay, skirting and trims, labour (VOH cites about 30,000–40,000 VND/m² for straight-pattern laying of click-lock flooring) and material wastage of 5–10%. Tile needs extra labour for screeding, laying and grouting; Kosmos gives no unit price, so ask a contractor for a quote.

3. Choosing by room

• Living room, bedroom: engineered wood is chosen by many because it is soft, warm and sound-insulating; if you want easier cleaning and better moisture resistance, SPC is an option.
• Kitchen: often has water and grease: tile or SPC suits better than engineered wood.
• Toilet, balcony, loggia: usually laid with anti-slip tile; avoid engineered wood where water tends to stand (see waterproofing for homes).
• High-rise unit, renovation over an old floor: light materials such as engineered wood and SPC are laid over the existing base, adding less load and less dust than tile.

4. Notes specific to apartments

1. Building rules: some management boards require a soundproof underlay, limit breaking up the floor and restrict working hours. Ask before buying materials (renovating an apartment).
2. Finished height: a new floor raises the floor level, affecting door height and thresholds; screeded tile is heavy, so ask carefully for a renovation unit.
3. Noise to the floor below: hard floors (tile, SPC without a backing) make footsteps more audible; use a soundproof underlay.
4. Emissions: for engineered wood, choose low-formaldehyde-emission products (recommended by VOH); for SPC, VOH notes that types using recycled plastic may have an odour.
5. Base moisture: the base of a newly handed-over apartment usually needs its moisture and flatness checked before laying.

5. Should you choose natural wood?

VOH says natural wood is highly attractive, lasts about 20–50 years and can be sanded and refinished, but is expensive (about 1,000,000–3,500,000 VND/m²) and expands and contracts a lot, swelling easily in high humidity if technical gaps are not left. In an apartment with frequent air-conditioning and a damp rainy season, many families choose engineered materials to reduce risk.

6. Flooring selection checklist

1. Decide which room gets which material; don't use one type across the whole unit if there are wet areas.
2. Ask for real samples and try them barefoot.
3. Ask for technical specifications: thickness, abrasion class (AC), water absorption (tile), emissions (wood).
4. Ask about the warranty and its conditions (moisture, correct installation).
5. Allow for 5–10% wastage and accessories (trims, skirting, underlay).
6. Ask the management board about the soundproof layer and working hours.
7. Keep a few spare tiles / planks for replacing damaged ones.

7. If you buy a unit handed over with flooring

A basic-finish unit is usually already floored (tile or wood). Compare the flooring type in the contract appendix with what is actually there when you take over the handover, and ask about the warranty.

Note: this article does not recommend brands. Product prices vary by manufacturer and time; ask for a specific quote.

• VOH — Should you lay natural wood, engineered wood or SPC flooring?, 10 October 2026 (prices of engineered wood, SPC, natural wood; laying labour; wastage).
• Kosmos — Comparing tile and engineered wood flooring, updated 5 August 2026 (tile prices, weight, lifespan, moisture resistance). Kosmos is a material seller; some figures are advertised specifications.
• The flooring material cost for a 70 m² unit in section 2 is HPR's rounded calculation from the price ranges above, not a quote.