PVC
Polyvinyl chloride, the solid waterproof material used for HERA vanity cabinets. It does not warp, swell, or peel in a humid bathroom.
What it means
PVC is short for polyvinyl chloride, a dense, moisture-stable plastic. In bathroom furniture, the word matters most when it describes the body of the cabinet itself: a solid PVC cabinet is waterproof all the way through, not just on the surface. Water can sit on it, splash on it, and steam around it without the board underneath changing shape.
That is the key difference from MDF and particle board, the engineered wood boards used in most budget bathroom cabinets. Those boards rely on a thin coating to keep moisture out, and once water finds an edge or a screw hole they swell, warp, or peel. Solid PVC has no wood fibre to swell in the first place.
A common worry is that PVC will look like plastic. In practice the core is wrapped in a permanently bonded wood-effect finish, so a PVC vanity carries the warmth and grain of timber while behaving like the waterproof material it actually is. Our guide to bathroom materials in Singapore humidity covers the comparison in more depth.
In a Singapore home
Singapore bathrooms are hot, humid, and wet every single day, and HDB and condo bathrooms are usually compact enough that the vanity sits close to the shower. That environment can destroy a regular wooden cabinet within months, which is why every cabinet in the HERA vanity and storage range is built from a solid PVC body rather than coated engineered wood.
Both the vanity cabinet and the side column cabinet share this construction, paired with a ceramic basin and soft-close drawers rated for up to 30kg each. The range runs to six finishes, from warm Ash Wood and Brown Walnut to Grey Oak and Slate Grey, with the 40 Series from $711 and the 46 Series from $810. Message us for the side column price, which is not listed on the online store yet.
The PVC body is also part of what the 1-year HERA warranty covers, alongside the soft-close drawer mechanism, hinges, and ceramic basin. Bathtubs, for the record, use a different material: they are moulded from acrylic, which suits the humidity for the same reasons.
Quick questions
Are HERA vanity cabinets really waterproof?
Yes. HERA vanity cabinets use a solid PVC body, not particle board or MDF with a coating. Water can sit on it, splash on it, and steam around it without causing warping, swelling, or peeling.
Does a PVC cabinet look like plastic?
No. The PVC core carries a permanently bonded wood-effect finish that mimics timber such as Ash Wood, Brown Walnut, Grey Oak, or Slate Grey, so the cabinet has the warmth and grain of wood without its moisture problems.
How should I clean a PVC vanity?
A wipe down with a damp cloth is enough for everyday cleaning. Avoid abrasive cleaners: the finish is what protects the surface, and scrubbing it off exposes the layer underneath.
Is the PVC body covered by warranty?
Yes. Every HERA vanity comes with a 1-year warranty against manufacturing faults, covering the PVC body, soft-close drawer mechanism, hinges, and ceramic basin.
Related terms
Feel the PVC finishes in person
The vanity range is on display at the MacPherson showroom, or message us on WhatsApp and the team will help you pick a size and finish, usually within 15 minutes during showroom hours.