Remember These Rough Walls? A Look Back at the Rockstone Finish in HDB Homes
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These grainy textured walls were once everywhere in older HDB flats. Here's why they were popular—and why most people are now removing or painting over them.
Image: Facebook/Singapore Home DIY/Ro Che
Step into a resale flat built in the 1980s or 1990s, and you might still see it: a wall or entire ceiling with a rough, grainy surface that feels like sandpaper.
This is the Rockstone finish—a textured spray-on cement coating that was commonly used in Housing & Development Board (HDB) flats across Singapore.
What Is the Rockstone Wall Finish?
Known locally as Rockstone or spray texture finish, this was a practical and cost-effective wall treatment used in many HDB flats. Applied using a high-pressure spray gun, it left behind a coarse surface that could hide minor imperfections like uneven plastering or hairline cracks.
The Rockstone finish was most commonly used on the interior of HDB living room walls, bedroom ceilings, and common stairwell areas. It wasn’t exactly pretty—but it was durable, fast to apply, and required almost no maintenance.
Why Was It So Popular Then?
AI image: OpenAI
In the early days of HDB construction, efficiency and function were key. Rockstone walls:
Disguised flaws in the wall surface
Resisted damage, making it ideal for high-use areas
Didn’t require repainting as often as smooth walls
Minimised glare by diffusing light with its uneven texture
For contractors and the HDB alike, it was an economical and practical choice—especially before smoother plastering techniques became the norm.
Why Most Homeowners Remove It Now
As interior design tastes evolved, the Rockstone finish fell out of favour. Today, most homeowners see it as:
Visually outdated
Hard to clean, use or repaint
Uncomfortable to touch or lean against
Clashing with modern styles like minimalist, Japandi, or Scandinavian
Renovation contractors typically recommend replastering or skim coating over it to create a smooth, paint-ready surface.
Popcorn Walls vs. Rockstone: Not the Same
Images: Facebook/Singapore Home DIY/Ro Che, Wikipedia
Some people confuse it with the "popcorn ceilings" popular in North America, but they’re not quite the same. Popcorn ceilings use a lighter, foam-like material and are typically white and soft. Singapore’s Rockstone finish is cement-based, much denser and harder, and often left in its natural beige or grey tone or painted over.
Is It Making a Comeback? Not Really.
While there’s growing interest in raw, tactile wall finishes like microcement, limewash, or textured paint, the original Rockstone spray wall isn’t making a return.
Instead, some designers are revisiting texture in modern, refined ways—using subtle surface treatments that evoke the depth of Rockstone but without the rough, gritty feel.
So What Should You Do If You Have Rockstone Walls or Ceilings?
AI image: OpenAI
If you’ve moved into an older HDB flat with Rockstone walls or ceilings, you have options:
Keep it for nostalgia if the texture doesn’t bother you
Repaint with high-opacity wall paint for a fresh look
Skim coat or replaster to smooth it out completely
Most modern renovations opt for the third choice. But if you love the textured character and want to keep a piece of Singapore’s HDB history, there’s no harm in preserving a section as a feature wall.
Rough around the edges—but undeniably a part of Singapore’s housing legacy—the Rockstone wall was a product of its time. And for some, it's still a reminder of home.
