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Topic
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We’ve owned our 4th floor unit for over 5 years, and the carpet will probably be due for replacement soonish. We’re not too keen on carpet generally (and it doesn’t take too well to constant cat vomit). We’ve accepted a timber floor is not possible because of the current by-laws, but I think we may have some wiggle room on the finish depending on how you interpret the relevant by-law:
…you must not:
install timber (or timber type) flooring, tiles or other hard flooring except on the ground floor
Under the carpet is a very neatly finished concrete slab. What do you think of the following, none of which I’d consider ‘installing’ hard flooring but is clearly against the intent of the by-law:
a) remove carpet and leave concrete floor as it is
b) remove carpet and paint concrete floor
c) remove carpet and polish concrete floor.
If we were to do option c) I’d raise it with the strata manager because of the amount of noise and dust during the polishing. I think I already know what their answer would be, which I’d imagine goes for a) and b) too.
If we remove the carpet a large part of the floor would be covered by rugs anyway. If we keep the carpet I guess worse case is we just have to re-lay it?
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Is Fuzzy quoting the actual current by-law in his/her block or interpreting reports of changes to be made in NSW in 2014? The Model By-law in NSW, adopted by most blocks, gives a positive direction:
“1. An owner of a lot must ensure that all floor space within the lot is covered or otherwise treated to an extent sufficient to prevent the transmission from the floor space of noise likely to disturb the peaceful enjoyment of the owner or occupier of another lot.
2. This by-law does not apply to floor space comprising a kitchen, laundry, lavatory or bathroom.”
Bare concrete throughout living/sleeping areas would most likely fall foul of this.
Otherwise you may be opening an argument about whether your proposed action would amount to ‘installation’ through removement of a presumably deliberate concealment.
Fuzzy – without reading the entire By-Law, it seems to me that your Owners Corporation (O/C) is trying to ensure that for (valid) reasons of preventing so far as is possible the transmission of “impact noise” from Unit to Unit, that floorcoverings are replaced on a like-for-like basis.
So clearly that objective as legitimised in your Plan’s (special) By-Law rules out all of your listed options, but have you considered high quality vinyl (and cat-friendly) flooring laid over underlay of similar quality (6 star)?
As a compromise following on-going noise complaints, a couple of first floor Units in our Plan were given consent to replace cheap floating floors with a vinyl product, and after almost 3 years we’ve had no further complaints and the finished product looks great; one actually looks like polished concrete!
I have the names of the suppliers, but as neither was engaged by me and there are numerous numbers of them in NSW and elsewhere, I’ll not disclose those.
Should you decide to go the way of vinyl, I suggest in the strongest possible terms that your spec. to anyone from whom you obtain quotations includes a requirement for the combination of their vinyl product and underlay to have an “impact noise rating” (Ln,w) that’s at least equivalent to the 30-35 achieved by carpet / underlay over a 200mm concrete raft slab; that’s entirely achievable by a supplier who knows what they’re doing!
(Oh, and when you have time, perhaps read this from earlier forum discussions on the topic).
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