- This topic has 1 reply, 2 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 3 months ago by .
-
Topic
-
This is a Strata Plan in NSW where the floors of the units are covered in magnesite. In some units this magnesite has broken up, mostly around the sliding doors leading to balconies.
The repair of the magnesite is an O/C responsibility as we know. However does the O/C only have to remove and repair the damaged magnesite and re-top the slab or replace the magnesite in the whole room, which some Owners want to have done?
-
Replies
-
Felix – it’s probably worth taking into consideration the extent to which an Owners Corporation (O/C) need not maintain its Common Property (under Sect 62(3) of the Strata Schemes Management Act) and to then apply that to its deliberations concerning the maintenance and repairs to the magnesite floor covering.
In consideration of the above, it’s my opinion that your O/C needs undertake repairs to the extent that the magnesite flooring no longer affects the safety of the building or that of the occupants of the Lots, and does not detract from the appearance of those Lots.
If the application of that criteria means that your O/C decides to only repair the damaged sections that your post refers to (and that would be my approach), then it also needs to consider that whilst magnesite was used primarily as a floor leveling compound (e.g. prior to laying tiles or parquetry), it was also used as a sound insulating compound; where it was quite effective.
So whatever your O/C decides to use as a replacement for the magnesite, that material too needs to have sound insulation properties – particularly as it’s adjacent to sliding doors with metal runners and the potential for impact at both extremities whenever occupants are careless.
Perhaps check for compatible materials (which I think would need to be both waterproof and acrylic) with someone like Regupol.