Old Parquet in Central Singapore: Restore or Replace?

Why central Singapore has so much old parquet

Queenstown and Toa Payoh were Singapore's first two satellite towns, and many of the condos along Meyer Road, River Valley, Farrer Road and Bukit Timah were built between the late 1970s and the 1990s. Homes from that period were often handed over with solid timber parquet or teak strips, and a lot of it is still there under decades of varnish.

Restore if

• Most pieces are solid when you tap them
• Damage is limited to worn varnish, scratches and a few loose pieces
• You like the look of real timber, especially herringbone or teak

Consider replacing if

• Large areas sound hollow or keep popping up
• There is widespread termite damage
• The pieces have been sanded so often that tongues are showing

Cost comparison

Condo rules to check first

• Whether management needs a renovation permit or deposit
• Permitted working hours for noisy work
• Lift booking and protection rules

Our advice

In most older central Singapore homes we visit, the parquet is worth saving. We tap-test every room and tell you honestly if a section isn't.

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