Mkeka wa mbao is Kiswahili for wooden mat. It is a roll of cushioned sheet vinyl printed with a realistic wood grain. It is waterproof, soft underfoot and the fastest way to give a room a wooden floor look in Nairobi. Most rooms are finished in two to three hours.

Excel Deco stocks residential and heavy commercial grades. The 1.5mm residential grade suits bedrooms, rentals and bedsitters. The 2.0mm executive grade has a thicker cushion and wear layer for living rooms and corridors. The 3.0mm commercial grade is for clinics, schools, shops and offices. Colours include light oak, dark walnut and grey wood.

The vinyl is glued over clean tiles or screed in one piece per room, so there are very few seams and no demolition. It suits landlords refreshing flats, families with children, clinics that need a floor that mops clean and anyone who wants a quick change before moving in.

Supply only pricing is per square metre off the roll. Installed packages include adhesive and labour. Delivery within Nairobi is same or next day and rolls are couriered to other towns in Kenya. A free site survey confirms the floor is smooth enough.