FirmaTimber: Solid Timber Flooring in Singapore

Premium timber flooring suits some Singapore homes very well and is genuinely constrained in others. It is the only flooring material that can be sanded back and refinished repeatedly across decades. That is why a well-kept timber floor outlives everything laid beside it. It also moves with humidity more than any engineered or synthetic alternative. That is what decides which properties suit it.

Floorrich has worked as Singapore’s flooring supplier and contractor since 2009. That gives us 17 years on the ground and 51,000 completed homes behind every quote.

Every FirmaTimber floor is finished with Bona Premium water-based coatings. Water-based finishes cure with far lower emissions and far less odour than the oil-based varnishes still common in this trade. That matters when you are living in the home while it dries.

We will tell you before quoting whether solid timber is right for your property. That conversation is usually shorter and more useful than a brochure.

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4.8 out of 5 across 493 Google reviews
17
Established 2009 17 years of flooring experience
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51,000 Singapore homes installed
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From $18/sqft Timber flooring

Solid Timber Flooring Singapore

Showcasing some of our past projects

Benefits of FirmaTimber Flooring

8 Top reasons to get FirmaTimber solid timber flooring in Singapore

  1. Impressive Design
  2. Natural Look
  3. Durability
  4. Walking Comfort
  1. Aesthetic Appeal
  2. Easy Maintenance
  3. Adds Value to Property
  4. Versatility

Our FirmaTimber Collection

A wide variety of FirmaTimber solid timber flooring for your selection.

The collection consists of three types of wood and 8 colourways. Teak comes in Natural and Dark Brown. Walnut comes in Natural and Black. Oak carries the widest range, in Natural, White, Grey and Black. In Singapore, oak is generally the most requested out of the three types of wood.

Every board is a single piece of milled hardwood, so no two are identical. Grain, figure and tone vary within a species and between batches. A sample can show you the character of the wood, but it does not guarantee the exact appearance of the boards delivered to site.

What FirmaTimber Solid Timber Flooring Is

With solid timber flooring, each board is milled from a single piece of hardwood. As a solid piece of wood, there is no mix of materials that form the core, veneer or layers.

That matters for two reasons. The first is that the surface you walk on is solid hardwood, so it can be sanded back and refinished many times. The second is that a full-thickness board carries the full movement of the wood, which shapes where it can sensibly go.

This is not laminate and it is not wood-look vinyl. Both of those print an image of timber onto a synthetic core. A solid timber floor is the tree.

The Bona finish

Floorrich finishes every FirmaTimber floor with Bona Premium water-based coatings rather than solvent-based varnish. Water-based systems raise wear resistance, cure faster, and release substantially fewer volatile organic compounds during application and drying. In practice that means less odour, a shorter wait before the room is liveable, and better indoor air quality afterwards.

FirmaTimber specification

Key board specifications and finish details.

Board thickness 11-18mm
Board Length 300-1,200 mm Random Length (RL)
Board Width 95-125mm
Permitted number of re-sands Can be resanded and revarnished
Janka hardness, Teak approx. 1,070 lbf (Burmese teak)
Janka hardness, Walnut approx. 1,010 lbf (American black walnut)
Janka hardness, Oak approx. 1,360 lbf (American white oak)
Grades
AB Select/Nature Grade ABC Mixed Grade CD Rustic Grade
Surface treatment Bona Premium water-based coating, matt finish
Edge profile micro-bevelled, four sides
Moisture content at delivery 10 to 12 percent

How It Performs In Singapore

Solid timber is a natural material, so understanding how it responds to Singapore's climate, moisture, sunlight and everyday use is important before choosing it for your home.

✓
Living rooms and bedrooms:

Yes. Dry, conditioned interiors are where solid timber belongs.

✓
Dining rooms and studies:

Yes, with felt pads fitted to every chair leg before the furniture goes in.

!
Kitchens:

Only in a dry open-plan layout, and only with prompt spill management. A wet kitchen is unsuitable.

×
Service yards:

No.

×
Bathrooms and wet areas:

No. Water reaching a solid board causes swelling and permanent damage.

×
Balconies and outdoors:

No. This corrects the older version of this page, which suggested otherwise. For balconies, gardens and pool surrounds, choose composite decking homes can leave in the weather.

See solid timber flooring in action

Singapore daytime humidity runs above 80 percent for much of the year, and indoor air drops sharply whenever the aircon runs. A solid timber board takes on moisture and gives it back through that cycle, expanding and contracting across its width every single day.

This is not a defect and it cannot be engineered out of a solid board. It is managed. Perimeter expansion gaps around every wall, doorway and fixed object give the floor somewhere to go. Boards acclimatised on site before installation start at the right moisture content rather than adjusting afterwards.

When a solid timber floor buckles, the cause is almost always inadequate expansion gaps rather than a fault in the timber. When it gaps in the dry season and closes again later, that is the floor working as intended.

Solid timber is real wood, so termites will eat it. Species differ in natural resistance, with teak holding up notably better than oak thanks to its natural oils, but no species is immune. Singapore's subterranean termites reach flooring through the subfloor and the walls, so protection is a building-level measure taken before the floor goes down.

Every solid timber floor changes colour under UV. Teak deepens and darkens, walnut lightens, and oak warms. A rug left in place for a year will leave its outline behind when you move it. Rotating rugs and furniture occasionally evens this out. Expect a floor to look different at year five than at handover.

Denting resistance tracks species hardness. Teak and oak resist better than walnut. Any solid timber floor will mark under dragged furniture, dropped tools and unclipped pet claws. The difference between species is a matter of degree.

The compensation is real. A dent in solid timber can be sanded out. A dent in vinyl, laminate or thin-veneer engineered wood cannot.

Glue-down solid timber is quiet and solid underfoot. A floor laid on battens can transmit noise downwards, which in a condominium is a neighbour dispute waiting to happen. The Installation method matters more than material here, and we advise on it after seeing the property.

Solid Timber or Engineered Wood

Both are real wood. The difference is what sits under the surface, and that difference decides where each one belongs.

Construction

Solid timber is a single piece of hardwood milled from a log, the same material top to bottom. Engineered wood flooring is a hardwood veneer bonded to a cross-laminated core.

Movement in humidity

Solid timber moves more through the daily aircon cycle, which is what produces gapping, cupping and squeaking in Singapore flats. Engineered wood restrains that movement. Neither material is immune, and both need expansion gaps.

Refinishing

Solid timber can be sanded many times across decades, which is its genuine advantage over everything else. Engineered wood depends entirely on veneer thickness. A thick veneer allows several sandings, a thin one allows none.

Installing on a concrete slab

Engineered boards float or glue down directly. Solid timber needs either a demanding direct glue-down onto a moisture-tested slab, or a batten and plywood substructure. The substructure adds 30mm or more of floor height.

Cost

The price of solid timber starts from $18+ per square foot for 50mm width parquet strips, while engineered wood starts from $20+ per square foot for a board that is 140mm (width) x 1900mm (length).

No HDB regulation bars timber from a flat. Nothing prohibits it, and anyone telling you otherwise is simplifying.

What usually disqualifies solid timber in an HDB flat is a thickness rule. HDB caps combined floor finishes and screed at 50mm. That is measured from the bare concrete slab and includes whatever is already down. A batten and plywood substructure for solid timber typically adds 30mm or more before the boards go on top. Add existing tiles and screed from a previous renovation and the cap is gone.

Direct glue-down avoids the substructure and can fit within the cap, but it demands a slab that is level, dry and properly prepared. Whether your flat qualifies is a site question, not a website question.

Most timber flooring guidance is written for temperate climates, where indoor humidity moves seasonally. Singapore homes move it daily. A living room can swing from 80 percent humidity to conditioned dry air and back again between morning and night.

Solid timber responds to every one of those swings. Over years, that repeated movement is what opens joints at skirting lines and lifts board edges. Engineered wood absorbs the same cycle with far less visible result. This is the honest reason engineered wood outsells solid timber in local flats. It is also why we ask about your aircon habits before quoting.

Laminate belongs in the conversation as a third option

Laminate belongs in the conversation as a third option, though it is a different product. Laminate has no real wood on its surface, cannot be refinished at all, and its fibreboard core swells when water reaches it.

Solid timber is usually the right answer in condominiums, landed property, and floors built on timber joists. It also suits heritage work and owners planning to stay for decades. Our guide to solid wood versus engineered wood goes deeper on the trade-offs, and the FirmaEngineered page covers the alternative in full.

A site inspection settles this. Floor height, subfloor condition and how you live in the space decide it, and none of those are visible from here.

How Installation Works

Not every timber flooring contractor can lay a solid timber floor well. The skill is in reading the subfloor and the moisture in it. That comes from years of doing the work rather than from a product course. We stand by our workmanship.

01

Site measurement and subfloor assessment

We measure your space on site before quoting, so the numbers reflect your actual floor. The same visit establishes floor height, subfloor condition and which installation method your property will take.

02

Moisture testing

Moisture in the slab is the single most common cause of solid timber floor failure in Singapore. A slab that reads too high pushes moisture upward into the boards after installation. The floor then cups months later, when nobody is looking for it.

03

Glue-down or battened substructure

Direct glue-down is the better answer in most Singapore properties. Boards bond to a level, dry, primed slab, which gives the quietest and most solid result and adds the least floor height.

04

Acclimatisation

Boards sit on site before installation so they reach the moisture content of the room they will live in. Skipping this step is a reliable way to produce gapping a few months after handover. Solid timber needs longer than engineered wood, typically 48 hours or more.

05

Sequencing, protection, duration and curing

Flooring goes in after wet trades and after painting. Our installers protect adjacent surfaces, remove offcuts, and clear the site on completion. We walk the floor with you at handover.

Calculate The Cost of Your New Flooring

Floorrich quotes per project rather than publishing a rate card. Solid timber has the widest cost spread of any floor we supply. Species, grade, board size and installation method all move the number substantially.

What a Floorrich quote itemises

Material supply

The FirmaTimber boards, by species and colourway.

Labour

Installation by our own trained team.

Underlay, adhesive and moisture barrier

Specified to the method and the slab.

Chargeable separately, as needed

Shifting of furniture
Cutting of doors to clear the new floor height
Screed works
Self-levelling works

This list is not exhaustive.

The substructure line nobody mentions

Where your property needs a batten and plywood build-up, that is a separate and substantial cost on top of the boards and the labour. It also raises your finished floor height, which affects door clearance and thresholds.

Leaving this off a quotation is the most common cause of a dispute after the site visit. We state it as its own line before you commit rather than after the boards are ordered.

Why the cheapest rate is rarely the cheapest floor

Supply-only example $1.99 per square foot

A quote at $1.99 per square foot is supply only. It carries no installation and no labour. Suppliers quoting that way also tend to allow generous wastage, which quietly offsets the lower rate by the time the job is finished. Compare the bottom line of each quote rather than the rate on the front page.

5–10%

Wastage on solid timber

Wastage on solid timber runs 5 to 10 percent for straight plank. Diagonal and patterned layouts run higher, because every board meets another at an angle.

Solid timber needs recoating periodically to keep its finish intact, and sanding back when the finish has worn through. Both are real costs, and both are the price of a floor that can be renewed rather than replaced.

Refinishing and Aftercare

This is the argument for solid timber, and it is worth stating with real numbers rather than adjectives.

A solid timber floor can be sanded back and refinished many times across its life. Every synthetic floor and every thin-veneer engineered board eventually reaches a point where the only option is replacement. A solid timber floor reaches that point and gets sanded instead, and the room looks new again.

Sanding runs in stages, from a coarse grit that removes the old finish and the damage with it, through progressively finer passes that bring the surface back. Two to three coats of finish follow. Expect two to four days for a typical residential floor, and longer in humid months when coatings take their time to cure.

Dust-extraction sanding keeps the mess containable enough to work in an occupied home, which matters if you cannot move out for the week.

S$3.50–S$7.00
per square foot

Sanding and revarnishing in the Singapore market runs roughly S$3.50 to S$7.00 per square foot. That figure is market context rather than a Floorrich rate, and it varies with floor condition, access and the finish specified.

A single damaged board is straightforward to replace in a floating or battened floor and considerably harder in a glue-down. Oiled finishes can be spot-repaired without redoing the whole floor. Lacquered finishes cannot, because a patch will always read differently against the surrounding sheen.

Keep a small number of spare boards from your original batch. Timber ordered years later will not match, however carefully it is specified.

Keep spare boards from the original batch

Timber ordered years later will not match, however carefully it is specified.

A floor that can be renewed rather than replaced

Solid timber's ability to be sanded and refinished is what allows the floor to be restored as it ages rather than discarded when the surface eventually wears.

Warranty and What It Covers

A FirmaTimber installation carries two separate warranties:

Limited lifetime product warranty

Covers milling and manufacturing defects in the board.

Workmanship warranty

Covers our installation work for one year from handover.

Lifetime Residential product warranty
Up to 5 years Commercial product warranty
The word limited carries real weight on solid timber.

Movement with humidity and colour change under light are normal, expected behaviours of a natural material. No supplier warrants against them.

The limited lifetime product warranty covers defects like:

✓

Milling defects, including out-of-square boards and profile faults that prevent proper fit

✓

Factory finish defects present on delivery

✓

Grade or species supplied not matching the confirmed order

It does not cover:

×

Movement, gapping, cupping or expansion caused by humidity, which is normal timber behaviour

×

Colour change and tone shift under UV light

×

Impact damage, dents and scratches from use

×

Water ingress from a burst pipe, appliance leak or flooding

×

Damage from unsuitable cleaning agents, steam mops or wet mopping

×

Boards lifted, refitted or repaired by another contractor

×

Damage from termites or other pests

×

Installations over subfloors that failed a moisture test

Workmanship rectification

If a workmanship defect appears within the term, our installation team will return to rectify the defects accordingly.

Specifying FirmaTimber for Projects

Designers, architects and main contractors work to a different brief than homeowners. You need figures that survive a tender, samples that match delivered stock, and a supplier who can be vetted.

Specification support

We supply technical data for every FirmaTimber species, specification samples cut from current stock, and the figures listed in the specification section above. Commercial installations carry a product warranty of up to five years.

The finish specification

The Bona Premium water-based coating is the strongest specification argument FirmaTimber carries. Water-based systems release far fewer volatile organic compounds than solvent-based alternatives, both during application and afterwards. On occupied fit-outs and phased handovers, that difference is measured in days of usable programme.

Credentials

Floorrich has been an HDB-approved supplier of vinyl flooring to Singapore BTO projects, and carries years of expertise across residential and commercial properties. As a timber flooring supplier we have delivered into homes, offices, hotels and retail fit-outs for high end luxury boutiques.

For tender and vetting purposes:

bizSAFE Level 3

bizSAFE Level 3

The common minimum safety accreditation required for commercial and office renovation projects.

SME One Asia Award 2014

SME One Asia Award, 2014

Regional recognition for small and medium enterprise excellence in 2014.

SME of the Year 2015

SME of the Year, 2015

National recognition for business performance in 2015.

Public liability insurance

Covered up to $500,000 with our insurer, protecting every project we take on.

Registered entity

FLOORRICH GLOBAL PTE LTD, UEN 200912345A.

Confidentiality

We describe luxury boutique and commercial work generically and never name a client brand without written permission. Completed projects are viewable in our commercial gallery.

google

I surveyed several flooring vendors before choosing Floorrich. Their SPC flooring stood out - solid, easy to maintain, and the colors give a warm, cozy feel. Vic sent extra sample photos to help me visualize the look and went above and beyond when installation didn't go as planned. She listened to my concerns, coordinated with the installer, and made sure the final result matched my vision. The whole process wouldn't have been easy without her patience and understanding. Floorrich has good quality products and people like Vic - highly recommend!

google

Highly recommend! Ke Xin was extremely patient and supportive in helping us choose the right flooring. The light white wood grain design looks beautiful and brightens up our home so nicely. Love the quality and the excellent service!

google

I engaged Vic for my vinyl flooring and had a great experience. She was very helpful, professional, and responded really fast. After the vinyl was installed, I needed someone to trim my door and reinstall it. Vic went the extra mile to help me find a contact and even informed the person about my problem. I’m very satisfied with her service and would definitely recommend her!

google

Our primary contact is Vic, she is friendly and responsive to all our questions from beginning till the end of, much appreciated😊. The work team on site also did a good job, keeping the place tidy and organized, the pool deck was nicely laid and all defects were promptly rectified 👍. Overall, highly recommended.

google

Sales rep, Vic was very responsive and was clear and quick in her responses to my queries. Very happy with the overall service and end product. Highly recommended!

google

We needed to replace our flooring which had worn out after ten years. Reached out to Floorrich and was served by Vic. And the job was done in just 3 weeks! Super efficient and job was very well done. The pictures speak for themselves. Very pleased with Floorrich!

google

I recently completed the renovation of my new home and decided to engage Floorrich directly for my flooring instead of going through my id to save on costs. From the very beginning, Vic was incredibly helpful and responsive. We started discussing the project almost four months before the actual installation, and throughout the entire process, she was patient, professional, and always willing to answer my questions. I must say that Vic and the entire Floorrich team exceeded my expectations. The installation team worked meticulously, taking their time to ensure every flooring plank and skirting piece was perfectly aligned. Their attention to detail and workmanship were truly impressive, and it was obvious that they took pride in delivering quality work rather than rushing to finish the job. What impressed me even more was the excellent after-sales service. A few weeks after I moved in, the silicone in one of my toilets came off. I contacted Vic, and without any hesitation or excuses, she immediately arranged for her team to come down and rectify the issue. The touch-up was done promptly and professionally. It's not often that you come across a company that delivers both quality workmanship and reliable after-sales support. Thank you, Vic, and the Floorrich team, for making this part of my renovation such a smooth and pleasant experience. I would definitely recommend Floorrich to anyone looking for quality flooring and excellent customer service.

google

I am so glad that I found Floorrich to replace the vinyl of my aunt's room. Sheena was very prompt with my WhatsApp queries and provided a quotation very quickly based on the information I shared. At the showroom, she was very sincere and warm despite having to serve 2-3 groups of walk-ins at the same time. Kudos to Mizanur Rahman and Alan Syed for their work. They were very professional and their workmanship were good! Thank you once again to Sheena and her team!

Contact Us

Floorrich Global Pte. Ltd

 

Showroom Address:
5 Yishun Industrial Street 1, #04-11 Northspring Bizhub, Singapore 768161

 

Opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 9.00 am to 5.30 pm
Saturday: 12.00 pm to 5.00 pm
Sunday: 12.00 pm to 5.00 pm
Public holidays: 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm
(Other hours can be arranged with prior appointment)


Email:
enquiry@floorrich.com
Showroom: +65 64622939
WhatsApp: +65 84440099

Frequently Asked Questions About FirmaTimber Solid Wood Flooring

Common questions regarding FirmaTimber Solid Timber flooring.

Why is solid timber flooring often priced higher than other flooring options?

Solid timber costs more because every board is milled from real hardwood with no synthetic core to bring the price down. Species quality, grade and milling craftsmanship all move the figure. The offsetting argument is lifespan. A solid timber floor can be sanded and refinished repeatedly, so it is renewed rather than replaced.

Can solid timber flooring be used for both indoor and outdoor flooring?

Indoor only. Solid timber is sensitive to moisture and temperature change, and outdoor exposure in Singapore will move, split and grey it within a season. For balconies, gardens and pool surrounds, composite decking or specifically treated outdoor timber is the correct material.

What should I consider for solid timber flooring installation?

Three things decide the outcome. Subfloor moisture, which must be tested before boards are laid. Expansion gaps at every perimeter, which give the floor somewhere to move. And acclimatisation on site, so boards start at the right moisture content. Professional installation matters more on solid timber than on any other floor Floorrich supplies.

What is the hardest timber flooring?

Hardness is measured on the Janka scale. Among the species Floorrich carries, oak rates highest at approx. 1,360 lbf, followed by teak at approx. 1,070 lbf and walnut at approx. 1,010 lbf. Teak also carries natural oils that give it better moisture and insect resistance than its Janka figure alone suggests.

How much does it cost to install hardwood floors in 1000 square feet?

Floorrich quotes per project after a site measurement rather than publishing a fixed rate. Solid timber in Singapore typically costs S$18 per square foot for a 50mm width strip, other items like subfloor preparation, installation labour, as well as skirting should be added to the total installation costs.

What is Floorrich timber flooring?

FirmaTimber is Floorrich’s solid timber range, milled from single pieces of natural hardwood and finished with Bona Premium water-based coatings. The collection covers Teak, Walnut and Oak across 8 colourways.

What flooring is used in high-value properties?

Solid timber remains the most specified floor in landed homes, heritage properties and high-end condominium interiors. Owners choose it for the material authenticity and for the fact that it can be renewed rather than replaced. Engineered wood is the common alternative where floor height or subfloor conditions rule solid timber out.

Can solid timber flooring be refinished, and how often?

Yes, many times across decades, which is solid timber’s single genuine advantage over every alternative. Each sanding removes a small amount of the board. At 18mm board thickness, expect six to ten full sandings across the floor’s life.

Is solid timber flooring termite-proof?

No. Solid timber is real wood and termites will eat it. Teak resists better than oak or walnut thanks to its natural oils, but no species is immune. Protection is a building-level measure taken before the floor is laid, not a property of the boards.

Can I take a sample home before deciding?

Yes. Floorrich provides up to three take-home samples free of charge. Collect them from the Yishun showroom. Samples are yours to keep and do not need to be returned. Solid timber varies between boards, so treat a sample as an indication of species character rather than a match to what will be delivered.

Can I install solid timber flooring in an HDB flat?

Yes in principle. No HDB rule bars timber from a flat. The practical constraint is the 50mm cap on combined floor finishes and screed. It is measured from the bare concrete and includes whatever is already down. A battened substructure usually exceeds it. Direct glue-down can fit, subject to the slab. Hacking out an existing floor finish requires an HDB permit, and your contractor must be listed on HDB’s Directory of Renovation Contractors.

What restrictions apply in a new BTO flat?

New BTO owners cannot remove bathroom or toilet tiles for the first three years, which protects the original waterproofing membrane. Dry areas are unaffected. Renovation hours also apply. General works run 9am to 6pm on weekdays and Saturdays. Noisy works such as hacking and tile cutting are restricted to weekdays only, 9am to 5pm, with a 1pm to 2pm quiet hour. Nothing is permitted on Sundays or public holidays. Permit approval typically takes 3 to 14 working days.

Do I need condo management approval?

Yes, in almost every development. Most MCSTs require written approval before work begins, plus a renovation deposit and a copy of your contractor’s insurance. Changing from tiles to timber usually needs the installation method and resulting floor height stated in the application. House rules and permitted hours vary by development.

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