Investors take note: avoid floors of hard knocks
Changing the flooring in your unit is one way to greatly increase the value of your investment. Hardwood, floating and tiled floors are some of the most attractive options but they can present noise issues for unit owners if they aren’t installed with correct insulation.
Blogger: Grant Mifsud, Archers Body Corporate Management
Many unit owners have experienced noise transference – it’s one of the most common complaints bodies corporate receive and can be a huge bug bear for unit occupiers.
The proximity of neighbours in strata means there’s a lot more to consider when picking your ideal flooring. Most body corporate schemes have by-laws which dictate the standards around hard floor installation to avoid noise disputes. If you’re considering investing in hard flooring, consider these two key steps to prevent any issues:
1. Check with your body corporate first
Most schemes have by-laws which state the standards hard flooring must adhere to. This will specify a number of conditions regarding installation. For example your scheme by-laws may require an acoustics test to be carried out, which will identify noise levels or it may detail which areas of the unit hard flooring may be installed.
In most cases you will require body corporate approval to make major changes to your unit so it is best practice to keep the body corporate informed of your plans to ensure your alteration conforms with the scheme by-laws.
2. Get professional advice from a reputable installer
While many investors like to DIY, it is best to get professional advice and engage a reputable installer to do the job and avoid any headaches. Professional installers will ensure your renovations comply with all required regulations and are installed with the correct insulation and soundproofing materials to prevent noise transference.
Once you have your flooring installed correctly, you can follow the tips below or pass them on to your tenant to prevent excess noise:
• Attach felt pads under the legs of furniture to prevent scraping
• Install soft closers on cupboard doors, particularly in the kitchen and bathroom
• Lay down floor rugs and carpets, with insulated backing
• Be conscious of neighbours and try to minimise noisy activities like loud television and music where possible
• Get to know the neighbours and their expectations regarding noise and be sure to share yours too.
About Grant Mifsud
Grant Mifsud has more than 12 years’ experience in the strata industry and has been a senior body corporate manager at Archers Body Corporate Management since 2007. Currently Grant manages a portfolio of clients in the Brisbane region with a focus on providing financial and strata legislation advice. Grant is a practitioner member of Strata Community Australia (SCA).