In short: SPC flooring costs KSh 2,200 to KSh 2,900 per sqm, is fully waterproof, clicks together with no glue and is fitted in a day, but it needs a level floor and feels hard and cool underfoot. Excel Deco on Moi Avenue, Nairobi supplies and fits SPC for homes, shops and offices.

The pros

• Waterproof. The stone plastic core does not swell. Spills, mopping and wet shoes do not harm it.
• Fast. A room is done in hours and you walk on it at once.
• Tough. The wear layer shrugs off chairs, pets and school bags.
• Goes over old floors. Tiles, screed and old vinyl are fine if level.
• Looks real. Embossed wood and stone designs fool most visitors.

The cons

• Hard underfoot. It is not as warm or soft as carpet or laminate with thick underlay.
• Shows bad floors. Every bump in the base shows as a hollow or a lifting joint.
• Sun fade. Direct sun through glass all day can fade the colour over years. Use blinds or film.
• Heavy. Boxes weigh about 20kg. Plan the delivery.
• Not repairable in place. A damaged plank in the middle means unclicking from the wall to reach it.

Our honest verdict

For kitchens, living rooms, rentals, clinics and shops, SPC is the best value floor in Kenya today. For bedrooms where you want warmth, consider laminate or carpet. For an uneven floor, fix the floor first or the SPC will disappoint.

How to get around the cons

Every floor has weak points. The good news is that the main SPC cons have simple fixes.

• Hard and cool underfoot. Add a rug in the living room and next to the bed. If you want soft and warm wall to wall, put carpet in the bedrooms and SPC everywhere else.
• Needs a level floor. Check the base with a long straight edge before you buy. Dips and humps get levelled first.
• Sound of footsteps. A good underlay softens the click of shoes. An underlay roll costs KSh 4,999.
• Joints are not sealed. Wipe spills quickly and keep SPC out of the shower itself.

With these in place, SPC is one of the easiest floors you can own in Nairobi.

One more con people raise is the feel of a floating floor. On a flat base with a good pad, it feels solid. On a wavy base it can feel slightly springy in spots. That is a floor problem, not a plank problem, so fix the base and the feeling goes.

What a three bedroom flat costs in SPC

Take a three bedroom flat in South B. Say the living and dining area is 5 by 4 metres, each bedroom is 3.5 by 3 metres and the corridor is 4 sqm.

• Living and dining: 5 x 4 = 20 sqm
• Bedrooms: 3 x (3.5 x 3) = 31.5 sqm
• Corridor: 4 sqm
• Total: 55.5 sqm. Add 8 percent for cuts: 55.5 x 1.08 = about 60 sqm

At KSh 2,200 per sqm that is KSh 132,000. At KSh 2,500 it is KSh 150,000. At KSh 2,900 it is KSh 174,000. Fitting is quoted on WhatsApp. For a full house budget, see the cost of flooring a three bedroom house.

Pros and cons room by room

For kitchens in particular, see our kitchen flooring page.

Who should pick something else

SPC is not for everyone. If your budget is tight or you rent for a year or two, mkeka wa mbao at KSh 1,299 per sqm makes more sense. If you want a warm, quiet bedroom, carpet wins. If the space is outdoors, SPC is the wrong product.

If you are torn between SPC and laminate or sheet vinyl, our SPC vs vinyl vs laminate guide lays out the trade offs in one place.

The honest test is simple. If you plan to stay in the house for years, want a floor that takes water and want it done in a day, SPC is hard to beat. Come to our showroom on Moi Avenue and stand on a few samples before you decide. Bring your room sizes and we will work out the cost on the spot.

Want to see it fitted before you buy?

Real jobs filmed on site by our team. Tap play and watch how the work is done.

Want the same in your space? Chat on WhatsApp

Shop the products on this page

SPC Flooring Click LockKSh 2,200Herringbone SPC FlooringKSh 2,799Laminate Flooring 8mm and 12mmKSh 1,799Commercial Carpet Tiles, Office & High Traffic Modular FlooringKSh 2,499

Questions buyers ask

Is SPC flooring good for Kenyan homes?

Yes. It handles mopping, dust and heat well. Keep direct afternoon sun off it with blinds.

Does SPC flooring scratch?

The wear layer resists most scratches. Dragging heavy furniture without pads can mark it.

Is SPC better than laminate?

SPC is waterproof and laminate is not. Laminate is warmer and softer. Pick by room.

How long does SPC last?

15 to 20 years in a home with normal care.

Does SPC flooring feel cold?

Yes, SPC feels cool underfoot, more so in Nairobi’s cold months of June and July. A rug or underlay helps, or choose carpet for bedrooms.

Can SPC be used in a shop?

Yes, SPC handles busy foot traffic and daily mopping well. Put a good mat at the door to keep street grit off the wear layer.

Is SPC worth the extra cost over mkeka wa mbao?

If you own the home and plan to stay, yes, because SPC is rigid, waterproof and longer lasting. For a short rental, mkeka wa mbao is the better value.

Shop and read next

• SPC click lock flooring
• SPC vs vinyl vs laminate
• SPC vs tiles
• All SPC flooring