Most of the homeowners we visit have already decided they want vinyl flooring. It is waterproof, it copes with sand and heat, and it can usually go straight over old tiles. The question we hear next is almost always the same: should it be SPC or LVT?
The short answer
Choose SPC for living areas, bedrooms and anywhere with uneven floors or heavy furniture. Choose LVT for bathrooms, small rooms that need a softer, quieter feel, and floors that are already perfectly flat. In a typical villa we often use both.
What SPC flooring is
SPC stands for stone plastic composite. Each plank has a rigid core made mostly from limestone powder bound with PVC, a printed design layer that looks like wood or stone, and a clear wear layer on top. Most SPC we fit also has an acoustic underlay bonded to the back.
Because the core is so dense, SPC does not dent under sofa legs, does not expand much in heat, and clicks together without glue. That makes it quick to lay and easy to repair: a damaged plank can be unclipped and replaced.
What LVT flooring is
LVT means luxury vinyl tile. It is built from the same kind of design and wear layers, but on a flexible vinyl core instead of a rigid one. It is thinner, softer and quieter underfoot, and it is usually glued down, although click-lock and loose-lay versions exist.
That flexibility is both its strength and its weakness. LVT follows the floor beneath it closely, which makes it ideal for wet rooms where a sealed, glued-down finish matters. It also means any bump or grout line underneath will eventually show through.
SPC and LVT side by side
How the two compare in the homes we fit
Which to choose, room by room
Living rooms and hallways
SPC. These are your highest-traffic areas, they collect the most sand, and they carry the heaviest furniture. A 0.55 mm wear layer handles all three.
Bedrooms
Either works. SPC with a bonded underlay is quieter for neighbors below in apartments. LVT feels a little warmer and softer if you often walk barefoot.
Bathrooms and utility rooms
Glue-down LVT, sealed at the edges. It sits lower, so doors and shower trays need less adjustment, and there are no click joints for water to find.
Kitchens
SPC, as long as the perimeter is sealed around the sink run. It takes dropped pans and chair legs better than the softer LVT.
What each costs in the UAE
On most of our jobs, SPC fully installed starts from AED 60 per square meter. That covers the planks, underlay, door frame undercutting, fitting, matching skirting and cleanup. LVT tends to land in a similar range, because the lower material cost is balanced by extra time spent preparing and gluing.
The number that really changes a quote is subfloor preparation. A floor that needs self-leveling compound can add a few dirhams per square meter, so it should be measured and written down before you agree to anything.
Laying over existing tiles
Both floors can usually go straight over existing ceramic or porcelain tiles, which saves the dust, noise and cost of demolition. Before we do, we check three things:
- The tiles are firmly bonded, with no hollow-sounding areas.
- The floor is level to within about 3 mm over 2 meters.
- Doors will still open once the new floor adds its height.
Deep grout lines are filled first when laying LVT, because they would otherwise print through the thinner plank.
Key takeaways
SPC is the safer all-round choice for most UAE living spaces
LVT is best for bathrooms and floors that are already flat
Both are fully waterproof and can usually go over tiles
Ask for subfloor preparation to be priced in writing before you sign
