Choosing the right materials for your home renovation can be overwhelming.
In this article, we’ll break down popular materials, compare options and share practical tips to help you make confident decisions.
Materials Guide
Your budget, design preference and lifestyle will affect your material selection.
Flooring
Flooring is crucial in a renovation because it sets the foundation for the overall look and functionality of your space.
4-room Resale HDB with Vinyl flooring by Darwin InteriorFloor Materials for Home Renovation in Singapore
Common Home Renovation Flooring Materials
| Materials |
What Is It? |
Pros |
Cons |
Suitable For |
Price Range |
| Tiles |
Mixture of clay and other raw materials
baked under extreme high heat |
✅ Durable
✅ Easy to maintain |
❎ Surface may be cold to the feet
❎ Difficult to install |
All indoor and
outdoor floorings |
💰💰 |
| Vinyl |
A synthetic flooring material made up
of plastic (Polyvinyl chloride, PVC) |
✅ Fast & easy to install
✅ Insulation properties |
❎ Can show imperfections depending on the sub-floor
❎ Easily scratched by sharp objects |
Bedrooms, Living rooms |
💰 |
Micro
cement |
Cement-based coating |
✅ Durable
✅ Timeless aesthetics |
❎ Surface finishing may be damaged over time |
Indoor floorings |
💰💰 |
Parquet
Flooring |
Wood flooring |
✅ Durable
✅ Easy to maintain |
❎ Spills need to be cleaned up immediately
❎ Sunlight may discolour the wood |
Bedrooms, Living rooms |
💰💰💰 |
Kitchen
Kitchen is one of the most-used spaces in any home, so selecting durable and functional materials is crucial.
Countertops
4-room HDB with Sintered Stone Kitchen Countertop by Luova Project ServicesKitchen Countertop Materials for Home Renovation in Singapore
Common Home Renovation Kitchen Countertop Materials
| Materials |
What Is It? |
Pros |
Cons |
Price Range |
Quartz
Sintered Stone |
Engineered stone top composed
of minerals or stone |
✅ Durable and easy to maintain
✅ Scratch, stain, heat resistant
|
❎ May be difficult to install or replace |
💰💰💰 |
| KompacTop |
Layers of kraft paper mixed with resin
and compressed under high heat |
✅ Scratch, stain, impact resistant
✅ Easy to maintain
|
❎ May warp over time |
💰💰 |
Granite
Marble |
Natural stone slabs |
✅ Beautiful designs to choose from
✅ Scratch, heat resistant
|
❎ Regular maintenance needed
❎ Highly porous
|
💰💰💰💰 |
Cabinets
Stainless Steel Kitchen CabinetsKitchen Cabinet Materials for Home Renovation in Singapore
Common Home Renovation Kitchen Cabinet Materials
| Materials |
What Is It? |
Pros |
Cons |
Price Range |
Solid
Plywood |
Cross-grain wood compressed
under heat and pressure |
✅ Durable
✅ Cross-layered structure makes it less likely to fall apart
|
❎ Exposure to water over time will cause damage |
💰 |
Stainless
Steel |
Metal alloy |
✅ Durable and easy to maintain
✅ Stain, heat, corrosion, rust resistant
|
❎ Can be noisy when utensils are dropped on them
❎ Prone to scratches, dents, and fingerprints
|
💰💰💰 |
| Concrete |
Cement |
✅ Durable and able to withstand heavy pounding
✅ Heat, corrosion, rust resistant
|
❎ Difficult to install or replace |
💰💰 |
Backsplashes
HDB Maisonette with Tiles Backsplash by CraftmakersKitchen Backsplash Materials for Home Renovation in Singapore
Common Home Renovation Kitchen Backsplash Materials
| Materials |
Pros |
Cons |
Price Range |
| Tiles |
✅ Durable and easy to maintain
✅ Lots of design
|
❎ Grout line will get dirty over time |
💰💰 |
Quartz
Sintered Stone |
✅ Durable and easy to maintain
✅ Scratch, stain, heat resistant
|
❎ Difficult to install or replace |
💰💰💰 |
Tempered
Glass |
✅ Durable and easy to maintain
✅ Scratch, stain, heat resistant
|
❎ Difficult to install or replace
❎ May crack over time due to expansion and contraction behind stove area
|
💰 |
Tips to Consider When Choosing Materials for Your Home Renovation
Weighing Quality vs Cost
Quality materials may come with a higher upfront cost, but are more durable and long lasting.
Tip: Focus on investing in quality material for high-usage areas e.g. kitchen, bathroom, living room.
Effort for Maintenance
Think about how much time and effort you’re willing to dedicate for on-going maintenance.
Tip: Choose low-maintenance options to save time and reduce hassle in the long run.
Overseas Imported Fittings
Although fittings are typically not considered part of your home renovation materials, we find it important to highlight them given the substantial costs involved.
Imported materials like faucets or light fixtures may not meet Singapore’s regulations. Always look for the PUB-approved logo for water fittings and the Singapore Safety Mark for electrical appliances.
Beware! Cheap overseas fittings may lead to leaks, damages, or even fire hazards, requiring costly repairs.
Recommendations from Renovators
Renovators may recommend materials that suit your budget, lifestyle and design. They often have access to supplier discounts, which help save costs.
Tip: Always consult your renovator before purchasing materials to avoid compatibility issues.
Still unsure about which materials are best suited for your home renovation?
No worries! We’ll find you suitable renovators who can guide you! 👇🏻
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It was almost like they didn’t exist - so we started our search on Google. HomeMatch came across as a no brainer for us to try because of their case trust accredited IDs, clear outline of their services and the fact that they came at no cost to us. The communication with HomeMatch were always swift, clear and helpful. From our online form, they called and clarified our needs then set about to match us with five IDs. We were able to view their profiles, portfolios and video snippets which were handy when it came to comparing meeting them in person whether they were authentic. Four of the five IDs contacted us swiftly and met with us twice - the first time to understand our requirements and floor plan and the second time to propose layout and itemized quotation. Same went for the fifth ID who was a later match because the initial match was not able to meet us. HomeMatch really came through with promptly replacing the initial recommendation such that the replacement ID was able to meet us the very next day. We were able to select an ID from the five based on all our interactions and although the process from contacting HomeMatch to signing with ID took 2 months it would have taken even longer had we tried to source IDs from the wild. HomeMatch services didn’t end with us signing the contract. HomeMatch reviewed our contract and advised us of its pros and shortcomings. They also provided critical tips that will help make our renovation journey a successful one. Although our Reno work have not begun we know that clear communication works best and we can always count on HomeMatch should we need them again.
Sit Back — Your Renovation’s in Safe Hands
No more worries. HomeMatch will recommend you trusted & suitable renovators, check your contract, and protect 100% of your deposits!
Recommend Me!Nobody Around Us Could Recommend a Good ID
It was almost like they didn’t exist - so we started our search on Google. HomeMatch came across as a no brainer for us to try because of their case trust accredited IDs, clear outline of their services and the fact that they came at no cost to us. The communication with HomeMatch were always swift, clear and helpful. From our online form, they called and clarified our needs then set about to match us with five IDs. We were able to view their profiles, portfolios and video snippets which were handy when it came to comparing meeting them in person whether they were authentic. Four of the five IDs contacted us swiftly and met with us twice - the first time to understand our requirements and floor plan and the second time to propose layout and itemized quotation. Same went for the fifth ID who was a later match because the initial match was not able to meet us. HomeMatch really came through with promptly replacing the initial recommendation such that the replacement ID was able to meet us the very next day. We were able to select an ID from the five based on all our interactions and although the process from contacting HomeMatch to signing with ID took 2 months it would have taken even longer had we tried to source IDs from the wild. HomeMatch services didn’t end with us signing the contract. HomeMatch reviewed our contract and advised us of its pros and shortcomings. They also provided critical tips that will help make our renovation journey a successful one. Although our Reno work have not begun we know that clear communication works best and we can always count on HomeMatch should we need them again.
Sit Back — Your Renovation’s in Safe Hands
No more worries. HomeMatch will recommend you trusted & suitable renovators, check your contract, and protect 100% of your deposits!
Recommend Me!
