A buyer inspects laminate flooring in the GM Interior showroom on Anawrahta Road.

CHINESE-made laminate is dominating the market for flooring materials in Yangon, home decorating experts say. It’s much cheaper than its competitors.

U Ko Ko Lay, general manager of Three Friends Construction and Decoration explained: “Comparing laminate, vinyl, parquet and tiles, people prefer Chinese imported laminate because of the price. Although imported Korean flooring costs K280,000 for 100 square feet, Chinese laminate costs only K150,000 – almost 50 percent less,” he said.

He said customers found parquet longer-lasting, but less affordable.
“Parquet is the best material for flooring except in the bathroom and toilet. But its market share is only 30pc, as it is nearly five times as expensive as Chinese laminate. But parquet can be polished when its colour fades, but you have to replace faded laminate with new flooring,” he said.

But U Ko Ko Lay said the majority of customers also chose laminate to save time and labour costs.

“It takes three labourers one day to install 500 square feet of laminate flooring. But the same area of parquet, which is much more complicated, would take at least a week to lay, even with four skilled workers.”

U Maung Maung Zay Lin, owner of Zeal Men interior decoration said his customers demanded Chinese laminate simply because of value.

“Chinese laminate came on the market two years ago. It’s easy to install and finish, and comes in a variety of colours and designs that match different room and wall types,” he said.

“It’s only about one-fifth the cost of its competitors, but is more suitable for use in shops and offices where people take their shoes off. It’s not so good in a crowded public space, where people’s shoes can leave scratch marks,” he said.

He added that Chinese laminates were not suitable for the families with older members because it feels cold underfoot.

However, some companies importing wood-substitute vinyl said sales orderd had increase, reflecting customer preference for its advantages.

“Vinyl can be stained wood colour and has greater density, which makes it capable of bearing heavy weight.it can even be used as garage flooring,” said Daw Thida Hlaing, sales co-ordinator of Sin Pauk Trading, which has been importing vinyl flooring from Thailand since December 2006. She said orders had doubled, not just from Yangon, but also from other big cities.

“Customers in Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw and Taunggyi are ordering twice as much as they did from January to August last year, both residential and commercial.”

Daw Thida Hlaing said the usual size for household use was three feet by four inches, and 2mm thick. Customers prefer vinyl because it doesn’t shrink or expand with changes in temperature, and doesn’t conduct electricity. It’s also half the price of parquet,” she said.

G.M. Interior Company’s managing director said sales of imported Korean vinyl flooring had increased, with especially heavy demand from private hospitals.

“There’s been a 35pc increase in sales volume this year for the period ending in March, compared with last year. It is sound- and heat-proof and harmful to insects, so private hospitals like it,” said Mr Kim Kuk Tae, managing director of the company.

One home owner in Tarmwe township who put down parquet flooring throughout his house five years ago said, despite the higher price, choosing parquet was a sound decision.

“I have had to polish the floor only once in five years. I prefer parquet because it’s long-lasting and doesn’t need much maintenance. Also, we don’t wear shoes indoors, so that’s another way of avoiding fading, by not harming the floor surface,” home owner U Moe Kyaw said.

“I installed 30 units of 100 cubic feet, which cost K100,000 per unit. But it’s fair to say that was a reasonable price – especially when you compare it to the current price of parquet flooring, which is nearly six times higher,” he said.