SPC vs Vinyl vs Laminate Flooring for Kenyan Homes
Three floors, three price tags and one fundi who swears his is the best. Which one is right for your home?
This Excel Deco guide compares SPC (KSh 2,200 to KSh 2,900 per sqm), vinyl and mkeka wa mbao (KSh 1,250 to KSh 1,599) and laminate (KSh 1,799 to KSh 1,999 per sqm) for Kenyan homes. A 60 sqm two bedroom flat costs from KSh 77,940 in mkeka to KSh 150,000 in 5mm SPC, with samples at Summit House, Moi Avenue, Nairobi CBD.
- Prices last updated October 2026
- Delivery and fitting across Nairobi
- Showroom at Summit House, Moi Avenue
- Price per sqm: From KSh 2,200 (4mm) to KSh 2,900 (6mm)
- Waterproof: Fully. Limestone core does not swell
- Feel underfoot: Firm and quiet, underlay attached
- Lifespan in a busy home: Long, thick wear layer
Prices last updated October 2026. Excel Deco Solutions, Summit House Room 9, Moi Avenue, Nairobi.
For most Kenyan homes SPC is the best all round choice, vinyl is the best budget choice and laminate only makes sense in dry rooms. Excel Deco in Nairobi sells SPC from KSh 2,200 per square metre, mkeka wa mbao vinyl from KSh 1,299 per square metre and laminate from KSh 1,799 per square metre.
SPC, vinyl and laminate compared
| SPC | Vinyl (mkeka wa mbao and LVT) | Laminate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per sqm | From KSh 2,200 (4mm) to KSh 2,900 (6mm) | Mkeka wa mbao KSh 1,299, LVT from KSh 1,299 | KSh 1,799 to 1,999 |
| Waterproof | Fully. Limestone core does not swell | Fully. PVC does not absorb water | Water resistant only. Fibreboard core swells if soaked |
| Feel underfoot | Firm and quiet, underlay attached | Soft and cushioned, warm | Firm, hollow sound without underlay |
| Lifespan in a busy home | Long, thick wear layer | Medium. Thin grades wear in corridors | Medium. Edges chip over time |
| Installation | Click lock, floats over tiles, no glue | Glued down as a sheet or plank by plank | Click lock over a separate underlay |
| Best for | Whole homes, offices, kitchens, wet areas | Rentals, bedsitters, clinics, quick refreshes | Dry bedrooms and living rooms |
Which flooring is waterproof?
SPC and vinyl are. Laminate is not. Wet mops, wet shoes in April and the odd spill all reach the floor. Laminate has a wood fibre core. Once water gets into a joint the board swells and the edges lift. SPC has a limestone and PVC core and vinyl is PVC right through, so neither moves.
Which flooring is cheapest?
Vinyl. Mkeka wa mbao from Excel Deco is KSh 1,299 per square metre, so a 3m by 4m bedroom needs about KSh 15,600 of material. Laminate comes next from KSh 1,799, then you add underlay. SPC starts at KSh 2,200 for 4mm planks with the underlay already attached.
Which flooring looks and feels best?
SPC gives the most convincing wood or stone look because the planks are rigid and the surface follows the grain. Vinyl feels softest under bare feet, which families with small children like. Laminate looks good from standing height but sounds hollow unless a good underlay goes underneath.
Our pick by room
| Room | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Living and dining | SPC 4mm or 5mm | Looks, quiet, waterproof |
| Bedrooms | SPC or mkeka wa mbao | SPC for the long term, vinyl to save money |
| Kitchen and corridor | SPC or LVT | Both are waterproof |
| Rental or bedsitter | Mkeka wa mbao | Lowest cost, fitted the same day |
| Office, shop, salon | SPC 6mm or LVT | Heavy duty wear layer |
| Dry upstairs room on a budget | Laminate | Only where water never reaches |
If you can pick only one floor for a whole house, pick SPC. If the budget does not stretch, pick vinyl. Excel Deco brings samples of both to your home so you can compare them side by side.
Which is best for a rental flat?
SPC is the safest pick because it handles water and heavy use. Mkeka wa mbao is the budget choice for quick refreshes between tenants.
Do I need underlay?
Laminate needs underlay, which we sell at KSh 4,999 a roll. Ask us on WhatsApp whether your chosen SPC needs one.
Can I see SPC, vinyl and laminate side by side?
Yes. Visit our showroom at Summit House, Room 9, Moi Avenue, Nairobi CBD, Monday to Saturday.
Costing a two bedroom flat three ways
Take a two bedroom flat with 60 sqm of floor to cover. Here is the material cost at each price.
- SPC 4mm at KSh 2,200: 60 x 2,200 = KSh 132,000
- SPC 5mm at KSh 2,500: 60 x 2,500 = KSh 150,000
- Laminate 8mm at KSh 1,799: 60 x 1,799 = KSh 107,940, plus underlay at KSh 4,999 a roll
- LVT at KSh 1,299 to KSh 1,599: KSh 77,940 to KSh 95,940
- Mkeka wa mbao at KSh 1,299: 60 x 1,299 = KSh 77,940
Add a little extra for cuts. Laying is quoted on WhatsApp. For a bigger home see cost of flooring a 3 bedroom house in Kenya. To turn square metres into boxes read how many boxes of SPC flooring do I need.
Mistakes buyers make
- Laminate in wet rooms. Laminate does not like standing water. Keep it out of bathrooms and wet kitchens.
- Laying on a bumpy floor. Click floors need a flat base. High spots make joints creak and open.
- Tearing up good tiles first. Flat, firm tiles can often stay. Read can you install SPC flooring over tiles.
- Skipping underlay under laminate. It saves a little money and costs you comfort and quiet.
- Ordering in two lots. Buy all the flooring at once so the colour matches across rooms.
What to check on delivery
- Count the boxes against your order.
- Check that every box shows the same colour name.
- Look for crushed corners. Damaged boards are easier to swap before you start.
- Store boxes flat in the room where they will be laid, away from wet walls.
Furnishing a rental? See rental apartment flooring for choices that survive tenants.
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 2,200
Laminate Flooring 8mm and 12mmKSh 1,799
Vinyl Carpet Mkeka wa MbaoKSh 1,299
Herringbone SPC FlooringKSh 2,799Questions people ask
Is SPC better than laminate? For Kenya, yes. SPC is waterproof and laminate is not.
Is mkeka wa mbao the same as vinyl? Yes. It is the Kiswahili name for cushioned sheet vinyl with a wood print.
Can all three go over existing tiles? Yes, if the tiles are level and firmly fixed.
Which is best with pets? SPC or vinyl. Accidents wipe up without soaking in.
Which is quickest to fit? Vinyl. A room takes two to three hours. SPC takes about a day for a two bedroom flat.
Related pages: SPC flooring in Nairobi, vinyl flooring, SPC planks, laminate flooring, mkeka wa mbao, SPC price guide.
Prices updated October 2026.
WhatsApp: 0757 753 748 · Call: 0757 753 748 · Email: info@exceldeco.co.ke