Flooring

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to outline the guidelines and restrictions regarding the installation and maintenance of hard flooring in individual units within the condominium complex. This policy aims to balance the aesthetic preferences of unit owners with the need to minimize noise transmission and maintain the structural integrity of the building.

2. Definitions

  • Hard Flooring: Refers to any flooring material other than carpet, including but not limited to hardwood, laminate, engineered wood, tile, stone, and luxury vinyl plank (LVP).

  • Sound Transmission: Refers to the transfer of noise from one unit to another through floors, walls, or ceilings.

  • Impact Insulation Class (IIC): A rating system that measures a floor/ceiling assembly's ability to reduce impact sound transmission.

  • Underlayment: A layer of material installed beneath hard flooring to reduce sound transmission and provide cushioning.

3. Approval Process

  • Prior Approval: Unit owners must obtain written approval from the Condominium Board before installing or replacing hard flooring.

  • Application: Unit owners must submit an application that includes the type of hard flooring, manufacturer, product specifications, and details about the underlayment.

  • Sound Testing: The Condominium Board may require sound testing to be conducted by a qualified professional to ensure compliance with sound transmission requirements.

4. Flooring Requirements

  • Sound Transmission: All hard flooring installations must meet a minimum Impact Insulation Class (IIC) rating of 55 or a Delta IIC rating of 15 when tested in accordance with ASTM E492 and ASTM E989 standards.

  • Underlayment: All hard flooring must be installed with an approved underlayment that meets the minimum sound transmission requirements.

  • Moisture Barrier: In areas prone to moisture, such as bathrooms and kitchens, a moisture barrier must be installed beneath the hard flooring.

5. Maintenance and Repair

  • Unit Owner Responsibility: Unit owners are responsible for the maintenance and repair of their hard flooring.

  • Noise Complaints: If noise complaints arise due to hard flooring, the unit owner is responsible for addressing the issue and may be required to take corrective measures.

6. Non-Compliance

  • Violation Notice: If a unit owner installs hard flooring without approval or fails to meet the requirements of this policy, they will receive a violation notice.

  • Corrective Action: The unit owner must take corrective action to address the violation within a specified timeframe.

  • Fines: Failure to comply with the violation notice may result in fines or other penalties as outlined in the condominium bylaws.

7. Grandfathering

Existing hard flooring installations that were approved prior to the implementation of this policy will be grandfathered in, provided they do not cause excessive noise transmission or pose a safety hazard.

8. Amendments

This policy may be amended or updated from time to time by the Condominium Board. Unit owners will be notified of any changes in writing.

9. Effective Date

This policy is effective as of [Date].