Guide
How SPC Flooring Is Installed: What Happens on Day 1, 2 and 3
From first WhatsApp to handover: how SPC flooring is installed in a Dubai home, step by step. About 1 day for a 1-bed, 2 to 3 days for a villa.
By BestFloor team15 October 2026
A one-bedroom apartment typically takes about one day to floor with SPC, and a villa of around 200 m² about two to three days, including stairs and skirting. That speed comes from two things: SPC is a click system with no glue to cure, and in most homes it is laid straight over the existing tiles, so there is no demolition phase at all. The exact schedule is confirmed on the site visit.
Below is what actually happens, from the first message to the moment you put your furniture back. Knowing the steps makes it easier to plan around work, school runs or a tenant moving in.
Before installation: from WhatsApp to a confirmed date
Most of the planning happens before installation day: photos and floor area on WhatsApp, a site visit, your plank choice, a final quote, and any building approval. Good preparation is what keeps installation to one day for an apartment.
1. First message and price range
Send us your approximate floor area (or the floor plan), a few photos of the current floor and whether you have stairs. You can also get a first range with our cost calculator. For reference, a 4-bedroom villa of 200 to 220 m² typically costs AED 18,000 to 22,000 with us, depending on material, including skirting, stairs and 5% VAT.
2. Site visit and final quote
On site we measure every room, check the tiles for flatness, loose or hollow tiles, grout depth and moisture, measure door clearances and look at the stairs. The manufacturer's tolerance for Ecofloor Click is that levels should not vary by more than 2 to 3 mm over a 2 metre area, otherwise preparation is needed (Ecofloor Signature SPC catalogue). The full checklist is in our guide on SPC over tiles. We bring samples to the site visit and help you choose the colour and thickness in your own light. You then receive the final quote.
3. Choose your floor
Pick the plank and pattern from the samples we bring: straight planks, herringbone, chevron or other patterns, in 5 mm or 6.5 mm. See the options on our floors page and the matching skirtings. Real installs on our projects page help you judge colours in Dubai daylight.
4. Building approval
Many Dubai buildings ask for a no objection certificate (NOC) before flooring work, and tenants need the landlord's permission under Dubai tenancy law (Khaleej Times). Timelines differ by building. Wasl, for example, issues residential NOCs within up to 5 working days from payment (Wasl NOC FAQ). Apply early so it does not delay your date. We help you with the NOC application and provide the details the building asks for from us.
5. Getting the rooms ready
The rooms need to be empty or cleared in stages. Fitted units such as kitchens and wardrobes stay; the floor is fitted up to them. Ecofloor recommends that the floor is the last thing installed in a room, after other works and fitted units, to avoid accidental damage (Ecofloor Signature SPC catalogue). So painting and other trades should be finished first.
Illustrative image: an empty room with the flooring delivered and the old tiles still in place.
Day 1: preparation and laying the floor
Day 1 starts with protecting the home and preparing the tiles, then the planks are laid room by room. In a one-bedroom apartment the whole floor, skirting and clean-up usually fit into this one day. In a villa, day 1 covers the first set of rooms.
What happens on day 1:
- Protection. Doorways, walls and fitted units near the work area are protected.
- Floor preparation. The tiles are cleaned. Low spots, deep grout lines or loose tiles found on the site visit are fixed.
- Door clearance. Because the floor rises by roughly the plank thickness, doors that would rub are trimmed.
- Laying the planks. The planks click together and float on top of the tiles. The layout is planned so the planks run in the direction that looks best in the room, usually towards the main light source.
- Expansion gaps. A small gap is left at walls, around fixed objects and at doorways, as the manufacturer requires: at least 2 mm for residential rooms up to 10 m long and 5 mm for rooms 10 to 20 m long (Ecofloor).
- Skirting and profiles. Skirting covers the expansion gap. Neat transition profiles finish the edge at bathrooms and balconies.
- Clean-up. Offcuts and packaging are removed and the floor is cleaned.
Because nothing is glued, each finished room can be walked on right away.
Day 2: the rest of the villa
In a villa of around 200 m², day 2 continues through the remaining rooms, corridors and upper floor, with the same preparation, laying and skirting steps. We plan the order of rooms so you can keep using part of the house.
Typical order in a villa:
- Rooms that are already empty go first.
- Furniture moves into finished rooms as we go.
- Corridors and landings are done in a way that keeps access to bedrooms and bathrooms.
Day 3: stairs, details and handover
Stairs, final details and the handover walk-through usually happen on the last day of a villa job. Stair cladding is included in our price per m², so it is part of the same project, not a separate booking.
Stairs
Each step is clad with a tread and riser in a finish that matches your new floor, with a nosing on the front edge. Read more on our stair cladding page.
Final details
Last skirting runs, profiles at doorways, silicone where needed at wet-area transitions, and a full clean.
Handover walk-through
We walk through every room with you, check doors, transitions and skirting, and explain simple care: sweep or vacuum to remove sand, damp mop, felt pads under furniture, and a mat at the entrance.
Illustrative image: a finished bedroom, ready for furniture on the same day.
Installation timeline at a glance
The table shows a typical schedule. The site visit confirms yours.
| Stage | 1-bed apartment | Villa of around 200 m² |
|---|---|---|
| WhatsApp, price range | First step | First step |
| Site visit and final quote | Before booking | Before booking |
| NOC from building (if required) | Depends on building | Depends on community |
| Preparation and laying | Day 1 | Days 1 and 2 |
| Stairs | Not usually needed | Last day |
| Skirting, profiles, clean-up | Day 1 | Each day, finished on the last day |
| Total installation time | About 1 day | About 2 to 3 days |
SPC over tiles vs re-tiling: what changes on site
Laying SPC over sound tiles removes the noisiest, slowest part of a flooring job: breaking out the old floor. Re-tiling adds demolition, debris removal, new screed or adhesive and curing time before you can use the room.
| SPC over existing tiles | Re-tiling | |
|---|---|---|
| Demolition | None | Old tiles broken out |
| Debris | Offcuts and packaging | Broken tiles and adhesive |
| Waiting time | None, no glue to cure | Adhesive and grout need to set |
| Use of the room | Same day | After curing |
| Noise | Cutting planks | Demolition tools |
What you can do to keep it on schedule
Three things help most: approval in place, rooms cleared, and other trades finished before we arrive. Small details, like knowing where parking and the service lift are, also save time on the day.
- Confirm the NOC or landlord approval before the date.
- Clear the rooms, or agree with us which rooms are cleared in which order.
- Finish painting and other works first.
- Tell building security and reception about the delivery.
- Keep the AC running as normal in the days around installation, so the planks are laid in normal room conditions.
Why BestFloor
We install SPC across the UAE, mainly in Dubai and also in Abu Dhabi, typically finishing a one-bedroom apartment in about a day and a ~200 m² villa in two to three days. Our floors carry a 20-year limited residential manufacturer warranty from Ecofloor, plus our own 2-year installation warranty, and skirting and stairs are included in our price per m².
Learn more about laying flooring over tiles, compare SPC vs laminate, or check the SPC cost guide.
FAQ
How long does SPC flooring installation take?
A one-bedroom apartment typically takes about one day. A villa of around 200 m² typically takes about two to three days, including stairs and skirting. The site visit confirms the exact plan for your home.
Do I need to move out during installation?
Usually not for an apartment done in a day, but the rooms being worked on need to be empty or cleared in stages. For villas, we plan the rooms in an order that lets you keep using part of the house.
Can I walk on the floor straight away?
Yes. Click SPC is not glued, so there is no adhesive that needs to cure. You can walk on each finished room as soon as it is done and cleaned.
Is there a lot of dust and noise?
Far less than re-tiling. When SPC goes over your existing tiles there is no breaking out, so the noise is mainly cutting planks and fitting skirting.
Do I need an NOC before installation?
Many Dubai buildings require one from building management, and tenants need the landlord's permission. Rules vary by building, and we help you with the NOC application so it is in place before your installation date.
What happens to the doors?
The new floor sits roughly 5 mm or 6.5 mm higher, depending on the plank. We measure every door on the site visit, and doors that would rub are trimmed as part of the job.
Follow our latest installs on Instagram at @bestfloor.ae.
FAQ
How long does SPC flooring installation take?
A one-bedroom apartment typically takes about one day. A villa of around 200 m² typically takes about two to three days, including stairs and skirting. The site visit confirms the exact plan for your home.
Do I need to move out during installation?
Usually not for an apartment done in a day, but the rooms being worked on need to be empty or cleared in stages. For villas, we plan the rooms in an order that lets you keep using part of the house.
Can I walk on the floor straight away?
Yes. Click SPC is not glued, so there is no adhesive that needs to cure. You can walk on each finished room as soon as it is done and cleaned.
Is there a lot of dust and noise?
Far less than re-tiling. When SPC goes over your existing tiles there is no breaking out, so the noise is mainly cutting planks and fitting skirting.
Do I need an NOC before installation?
Many Dubai buildings require one from building management, and tenants need the landlord's permission. Rules vary by building, and we help you with the NOC application so it is in place before your installation date.
What happens to the doors?
The new floor sits roughly 5 mm or 6.5 mm higher, depending on the plank. We measure every door on the site visit, and doors that would rub are trimmed as part of the job.