Room Decision System

Surfaces

The biggest surfaces in the room — and where moisture decides what lasts and what fails early. How the space is divided and connected — partitions and the staircase.

Each decision below is shown three ways — what it changes in use, which way it moves the cost, and how it looks. Price-free; ALUMAX confirms the figure.

Room

Specialists: Flooring · Tiling · Painting & finishes · ALUMAX cabinet & joinery · Ceiling · Aluminium doors & windows

Floor finish

SpecialistFlooringProduct decisionConfigure & price

Specialist tradeELS specifies

SPC (stone-plastic composite)Baseline
Porcelain tileLow
Engineered timberModerate

Your choice · Whole home

See what each option changes

SPC (stone-plastic composite)

In use: Waterproof, scratch-resistant click-plank — warm underfoot, quiet, and forgiving of Sarawak humidity. Low maintenance and quick to lay over a sound base.
Cost impact: Baseline — specialist quotation required
How it looks: Convincing timber or stone looks in wide planks — warm and contemporary without the upkeep of real wood.

Porcelain tile

In use: The most durable, most water-tolerant floor — ideal for wet and high-traffic zones; cool underfoot and effectively permanent. Grout lines need occasional care.
Cost impact: Low — specialist quotation required
How it looks: Large-format tiles read seamless and calm; marble-look or micro-cement finishes lift a space.

Engineered timber

In use: Real wood veneer over a stable core — the warmest, most natural underfoot; best kept to dry living and bedroom zones, away from standing water.
Cost impact: Moderate — specialist quotation required
How it looks: Genuine grain and depth no printed surface matches — the warmest, most crafted floor for living spaces.

Flooring Selector Take this into your room plan

Wall & facade tile

SpecialistTilingProduct decisionConfigure & price

Specialist tradeELS specifies

Ceramic tileEssentialBaseline
Porcelain tileSignatureLow
Large-format porcelainBespokeModerate
Natural stoneBespokeHigh
Mosaic / feature tileSignatureModerate

Your choice · Whole home

See what each option changes

Ceramic tile

In use: Glazed ceramic is the everyday wall tile — light, easy to fix to an interior feature wall, and its glazed face shrugs off splashes and wipes clean of the grease and mould that Sarawak's humidity encourages. Its higher water absorption keeps it to interior and sheltered walls, not a fully exposed facade.
Cost impact: Baseline — specialist quotation required
How it looks: A broad range of colours, patterns and gloss levels — the most affordable way to give a feature wall character. Reads clean and bright.

Porcelain tile

In use: Denser and far less absorbent than ceramic, porcelain resists driven rain, mould and UV fade — the dependable choice for both wet interior walls and exposed facade cladding in Sarawak's climate. Termite-proof and rot-proof, it outlasts timber cladding with almost no upkeep.
Cost impact: Low — specialist quotation required
How it looks: Stone-, marble- or concrete-look faces in a matte or satin finish read solid and contemporary — equally at home on an interior feature wall or a full facade.

Large-format porcelain

In use: Big porcelain slabs mean far fewer grout lines — fewer seams for Sarawak's mould and grime to lodge in, so a facade or feature wall stays cleaner and wipes down in a single pass. Heavy panels need skilled fixing onto a sound, level substrate.
Cost impact: Moderate — specialist quotation required
How it looks: Near-seamless expanses that read as solid stone — the calmest, most monolithic wall or facade. Slabs can run floor-to-ceiling with barely a joint.

Natural stone

In use: Genuine granite, slate or sandstone brings real depth and coolness, and stands up to sun and rain on a facade — but it is porous, so it must be sealed and re-sealed against Sarawak's persistent damp and staining. A premium surface that rewards regular upkeep.
Cost impact: High — specialist quotation required
How it looks: No two pieces alike — genuine grain, cleft texture and natural tone give a facade or feature wall a weight and authenticity no printed tile matches.

Mosaic / feature tile

In use: Small tiles on mesh sheets wrap curves, niches and columns that large tiles cannot, and a busy pattern hides the odd splash — but the many grout lines need a good sealer and regular cleaning to keep mould out in the humidity. Best as an accent, not a whole wet wall.
Cost impact: Moderate — specialist quotation required
How it looks: Glass, stone or ceramic chips catch the light and add colour, texture and shimmer — the richest way to make one feature wall or a facade band the focal point.

Take this into your room plan

Wall paint & coating

SpecialistPainting & finishesProduct decisionConfigure & price

Specialist tradeELS specifies

Standard emulsionEssentialBaseline
Washable premium emulsionSignatureLow
Weatherproof exterior coatingModerate
Textured / decorative finishBespokeModerate
Anti-mould / anti-fungalLow

Your choice · Whole home

See what each option changes

Standard emulsion

In use: The everyday interior wall paint — a smooth matte coat for bedrooms, living areas and ceilings in genuinely dry, well-ventilated rooms. In Sarawak's humidity it shows scuffs sooner and needs a fresher coat earlier than a premium line, and it does not sit happily on a wall that stays damp.
Cost impact: Baseline — specialist quotation required
How it looks: A clean, even matte wall in any colour — the quiet backdrop that lets furniture and finishes lead. It reads flat and unremarkable, which is exactly its job.

Washable premium emulsion

In use: A tougher, wipeable interior coat — fingerprints, food splashes and children's marks sponge off without leaving a halo, so hallways, dry kitchens and family rooms stay presentable. It holds its colour far longer in the heat and humidity than standard emulsion.
Cost impact: Low — specialist quotation required
How it looks: The same calm matte or soft-sheen wall, but with a subtle depth of colour that stays true rather than chalking out. It looks freshly painted for years longer.

Weatherproof exterior coating

In use: The exterior armour — a flexible, water-shedding film built for driving monsoon rain and relentless UV, sealing the wall against water ingress while letting trapped moisture breathe out. It resists the fading, chalking and hairline cracking that Sarawak sun and rain force on ordinary paint.
Cost impact: Moderate — specialist quotation required
How it looks: A rich, even facade colour that stays saturated year after year instead of dulling to a washed-out grey. Offered in matte or low-sheen so the building reads crisp from the street.

Textured / decorative finish

In use: A hand-worked finish — sand, travertine, limewash or fine stucco effect — troweled on for a feature wall or a facade with real surface. It quietly hides minor plaster imperfections, though the raised grain holds a little more dust and is best kept off constantly-touched or grease-prone surfaces.
Cost impact: Moderate — specialist quotation required
How it looks: Turns a flat wall into a tactile focal point — light rakes across the texture and shifts through the day, giving a room or entrance genuine material presence. The most expressive of the paint options.

Anti-mould / anti-fungal

In use: A fungicidal coat formulated for Sarawak's worst walls — bathrooms, utility and wet kitchens, shaded north faces and any surface prone to condensation or past flood damp. It actively resists the black mould and mildew that persistent humidity breeds, so the wall stays sound and healthy far longer between repaints.
Cost impact: Low — specialist quotation required
How it looks: Looks like an ordinary clean matte wall — the protection is in the film, not the finish — but it stays that way, free of the creeping grey-black spotting that ages a damp room. Available across the usual colour range.

Colour Palette Take this into your room plan

Wall panel / cladding

SpecialistALUMAX cabinet & joineryProduct decisionConfigure & price

ALUMAX productELS specifies

HPL laminate panelEssentialModest uplift
Timber veneer panelSignatureNotable uplift
Fluted / slatted panelSignatureNotable uplift
WPC composite claddingEssentialModest uplift
ACP / aluminium panelSignatureNotable uplift
Stone / porcelain-look panelBespokeSignificant uplift

Your choice · Whole home

See what each option changes

HPL laminate panel

In use: HPL laminate is a hard, wipeable surface bonded to board — scratch- and moisture-tolerant for interior feature walls and easy to clean of Sarawak's humidity grime; not for full exterior exposure.
Cost impact: Modest uplift — By finish and board; priced by ALUMAX.
How it looks: A huge range of woodgrain, stone and solid-colour faces in matte or gloss — the most affordable way to dress a wall with a factory-clean, consistent surface.

Timber veneer panel

In use: A real wood-veneer face over a stable core brings genuine warmth to a feature wall; keep it to dry living and bedroom zones away from splashes, and it wants occasional care.
Cost impact: Notable uplift — A natural veneer finish; priced by ALUMAX.
How it looks: Real grain and depth no print matches — the warmest, most crafted feature wall; book-matched leaves make a statement.

Fluted / slatted panel

In use: Vertical fluting or slats add tactile rhythm and soften echo in open-plan rooms; the grooves catch a little dust but wipe down along the line.
Cost impact: Notable uplift — A profiled panel system; priced by ALUMAX.
How it looks: Light rakes across the ribs and shifts through the day — a contemporary, textured feature wall with real depth.

WPC composite cladding

In use: Wood-plastic composite resists rain, rot and termites, so it clads both a feature wall and a sheltered facade in Sarawak's climate; low upkeep, no repainting.
Cost impact: Modest uplift — By profile and finish; priced by ALUMAX.
How it looks: Woodgrain warmth with crisp, uniform lines — a durable, contemporary cladding equally at home inside or on the facade.

ACP / aluminium panel

In use: Aluminium composite panel is light, flat and fully weatherproof — the dependable facade cladding and a sleek interior feature; wipes clean and holds colour under UV.
Cost impact: Notable uplift — A facade-grade composite system; priced by ALUMAX.
How it looks: Flat, seamless expanses in solid colour, metallic or timber-look — the crispest, most modern facade or feature wall.

Stone / porcelain-look panel

In use: Large stone-look sintered or porcelain panels give a marble presence with far fewer joints, wiping clean where real stone would stain; heavy panels need skilled fixing.
Cost impact: Significant uplift — Large slabs and specialist fixing; priced by ALUMAX.
How it looks: Near-seamless marble or stone across a whole wall — the most monolithic, most luxurious feature.

Price wall panels Take this into your room plan

Ceiling

SpecialistCeilingTechnical decisionGet specification / site review

Specialist tradeELS coordinates

Skim-coat existing slabBaseline
Flat plasterboard ceilingEssentialLow
Bulkhead / cove detailSignatureModerate
Feature ceiling (timber · fluted)BespokeHigh

Your choice · Whole home

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Skim-coat existing slab

In use: Smooth and repaint the bare slab — the cheapest option and it keeps head height, but there is nowhere to hide ducts, wiring or cove lighting.
Cost impact: Baseline — specialist quotation required
How it looks: A flat, plain ceiling at full height; services stay surface-mounted.

Flat plasterboard ceiling

In use: A new flat ceiling hides wiring, AC piping and trunking — the standard for a coordinated room and a tidy base for downlights.
Cost impact: Low — specialist quotation required
How it looks: A clean, seamless plane — the base for downlights and a tidy room.

Bulkhead / cove detail

In use: A dropped perimeter or bulkhead conceals AC units and carries cove lighting and curtain pockets; it is coordinated with the AC and lighting.
Cost impact: Moderate — specialist quotation required
How it looks: Layered ceiling planes with a glow of cove light — depth and a designed edge.

Feature ceiling (timber · fluted)

In use: A designed ceiling — timber slats, fluting or coffers — becomes the room's fifth surface; the most build and coordination.
Cost impact: High — specialist quotation required
How it looks: The ceiling becomes a feature — warmth and rhythm overhead, a clear step up in finish.

Take this into your room plan

Premium finishing

SpecialistALUMAX cabinet & joineryProduct decisionConfigure & price

ALUMAX productELS specifies

Standard flush finishEssentialIncluded
Shadow-gap / reveal detailingSignatureModest uplift
Seamless microcement / plasterBespokeNotable uplift
Metallic / PVD accent trimsBespokeNotable uplift
Backlit / edge-lit featuresBespokeNotable uplift
Book-matched feature grainBespokeSignificant uplift

Your choice · Whole home

See what each option changes

Standard flush finish

In use: Clean flush surfaces with standard edges — everything reads neat and wipes down easily; the dependable baseline that lets the materials do the talking.
Cost impact: Included — The baseline detailing; no uplift.
How it looks: Simple, flat and unfussy — a calm backdrop with no special detailing.

Shadow-gap / reveal detailing

In use: A fine recessed reveal where surfaces meet removes the need for bulky trims and hides slight movement, so junctions stay crisp for years in the humidity.
Cost impact: Modest uplift — Precision joinery detailing; priced by ALUMAX.
How it looks: A crisp shadow line replaces bulky trims — the single detail that most makes joinery read custom and expensive.

Seamless microcement / plaster

In use: A troweled seamless coat wraps walls, and even counters, with no joints for grime to lodge in; it needs sealing and skilled application and suits dry-to-splash zones.
Cost impact: Notable uplift — A specialist hand-applied finish; priced by ALUMAX after measurement.
How it looks: One continuous, softly-mottled surface — a calm, tactile, gallery-like envelope with real material depth.

Metallic / PVD accent trims

In use: Slim PVD-coated metal trims and inlays edge shelves, reveals and feature panels; the coating resists tarnish and fingerprints better than raw metal in the humidity.
Cost impact: Notable uplift — Specialist metal trims; priced by ALUMAX.
How it looks: Fine lines of champagne, bronze or black metal catch the light — the jewellery that lifts a room toward luxury.

Backlit / edge-lit features

In use: Concealed LED behind a panel, niche or onyx-look surface adds a soft glow and gentle wayfinding at night; the driver needs an accessible, ventilated home.
Cost impact: Notable uplift — Integrated lighting detailing; priced by ALUMAX.
How it looks: A feature that appears to float and glow from within — the most dramatic, most premium focal point.

Book-matched feature grain

In use: Adjacent veneer or stone leaves are mirrored so the grain flows across the wall as one composition; a made-to-measure detail that rewards careful setting-out.
Cost impact: Significant uplift — A bespoke matched-grain feature; priced by ALUMAX.
How it looks: A mirrored, flowing grain that reads as a single artwork — the most bespoke, most gallery-grade feature wall.

See the range on ALUMAX Take this into your room plan

Partition / divider

SpecialistAluminium doors & windowsProduct decisionConfigure & price

ALUMAX productELS specifies

Solid — full privacyIncluded
Semi-transparent — reeded / frosted glassModest uplift
Clear glass — light & view onlyNotable uplift
Operable glass — light & airNotable uplift
Adjustable — sliding / switchableSignificant uplift

Your choice · Whole home

See what each option changes

Solid — full privacy

In use: A full wall or solid panel — complete privacy and sound separation, and it blocks light and air between the two spaces. Best where rooms should feel truly separate.
Cost impact: Included — The standard partition; no glazing.
How it looks: Reads as a solid wall — grounds the layout and hides what is behind. Can carry paint, panel or tile like any wall.

Semi-transparent — reeded / frosted glass

In use: Fluted, reeded or frosted glass lets daylight pass while keeping the view private; it stays a sealed panel, so no air moves through. Good between a study and a hallway.
Cost impact: Modest uplift — A glazed panel over a solid wall; priced by ALUMAX.
How it looks: Softens the boundary — light glows through and silhouettes blur. A quietly contemporary divider.

Clear glass — light & view only

In use: Fixed clear glazing borrows daylight and keeps sightlines open, but stays sealed — no air or sound crosses. Makes a small room feel larger.
Cost impact: Notable uplift — Clear tempered glazing and framing; priced by ALUMAX.
How it looks: Almost dissolves the wall — the two spaces read as one bright volume. The most open, most expansive look.

Operable glass — light & air

In use: Sliding, folding or louvred glass that opens — daylight and a view when shut, cross-ventilation when open. Ideal to a balcony, dry kitchen or courtyard.
Cost impact: Notable uplift — An operable glazed system with hardware; priced by ALUMAX.
How it looks: Open, it erases the boundary entirely; closed, it is a clean glass plane. Flexible and airy.

Adjustable — sliding / switchable

In use: Sliding panels, pivoting louvres or switchable (electric frosted) glass — you dial privacy, light and air on demand. The most flexible divider for changing needs.
Cost impact: Significant uplift — Movable or switchable systems; a Bespoke-tier choice priced by ALUMAX.
How it looks: Transforms with use — clear and open one moment, private the next. The most adaptable reading.

Price glass works Take this into your room plan

Staircase

SpecialistAluminium doors & windowsDesign decisionPlan with ELS

Specialist tradeELS coordinates

RC / tiled staircaseEssentialBaseline
Timber-tread staircaseSignatureModerate
Floating / cantilever treadsBespokeHigh
Glass-balustrade staircaseSignatureHigh
Spiral / compact staircaseLow

Your choice · Whole home

See what each option changes

RC / tiled staircase

In use: A reinforced-concrete stair finished in tile — the most robust, most water-tolerant option for our climate. It shrugs off humidity, the rain tracked in from outside and termites, never creaks or shifts over the years, and needs almost nothing beyond wiping the treads.
Cost impact: Baseline — specialist quotation required
How it looks: Reads as a solid, grounded form; the tile choice sets the character — from plain matte porcelain to a marble-look feature run. Honest and understated, it sits quietly in the space.

Timber-tread staircase

In use: Solid timber treads over an RC or steel frame — warm and quiet underfoot, and the most inviting to walk barefoot. In our humidity the timber must be a properly seasoned, termite-treated hardwood and sealed; re-oil the treads every few years and keep them clear of any flood-prone ground floor.
Cost impact: Moderate — specialist quotation required
How it looks: Genuine grain brings a warmth and craft a hard finish cannot — the treads become the feature. Pair with a slim metal or glass balustrade to keep the look light and contemporary.

Floating / cantilever treads

In use: Treads anchored into a structural wall or a hidden steel spine, appearing to hover with open risers. It demands proper engineering and a wall built to carry the load, so it belongs in a considered new build or major renovation; the open risers let light and air move through — welcome in our heat — though young children need a secured balustrade.
Cost impact: High — specialist quotation required
How it looks: The most dramatic, most architectural staircase — the treads read as floating planes and the whole stair almost disappears, opening up the space around it. A true centrepiece.

Glass-balustrade staircase

In use: Any stair core paired with a frameless or minimal-frame tempered-glass balustrade in place of a solid railing. The glass keeps sightlines and daylight open, and toughened panels handle our climate well; expect to wipe them regularly, as fingerprints and dust show readily in the humidity.
Cost impact: High — specialist quotation required
How it looks: The balustrade all but vanishes, so the treads and the view beyond carry the space — bright, open and expensive-looking. It makes a compact stairwell feel considerably larger.

Spiral / compact staircase

In use: A tight helical stair around a central post — the smallest footprint of all, ideal for reaching a mezzanine, attic or roof terrace where floor space is scarce. Choose galvanised or powder-coated steel so it resists rust in the humidity; the narrow, winding treads suit occasional use more than daily heavy traffic or moving furniture.
Cost impact: Low — specialist quotation required
How it looks: A sculptural spiral reads as a piece of design in its own right — a coiling ribbon of steps. It draws the eye upward and turns an awkward corner into a feature.

Take this into your room plan

Each decision's badge shows who supplies it. A real figure belongs only to what ALUMAX supplies; appointed-trade works — electrical, air-conditioning, ceiling, flooring, painting, data and security — are quoted by the trade, and loose items are the owner's own purchase. ELS specifies and coordinates throughout. Cost is a relative direction only, never a price; maintenance is described in each option's “In use”.

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