Hard flooring in strata apartments: acoustic rules explained

Hard floors transmit footsteps to the apartment below far more than carpet does. That's why most NSW strata schemes have a by-law covering hard floor installation, and why the underlay you choose matters as much as the boards.

Check your by-laws first

Before choosing a floor, get a copy of your building's by-laws from your strata manager. Many require written approval from the owners corporation before installing hard flooring, and some set a minimum acoustic performance for the finished floor. Requirements vary a lot from building to building, so don't assume what applied at a friend's place applies to yours.

What the approval usually asks for

• The flooring product and its specification sheet.
• The underlay or acoustic system and its test report.
• The installer's details and insurance.
• Sometimes, a post-installation acoustic test by a consultant.

We provide product and underlay documentation for strata applications as part of the quote, so you can lodge it with your strata manager before work is booked.

Choosing floors for apartments

Engineered timber glued over a tested acoustic mat is one of the quietest options and feels solid underfoot. Floating laminate and hybrid floors can also comply when paired with the right acoustic underlay. The key is that the whole system — board plus underlay plus your slab — meets what the by-law asks for.

Practical tips

• Leave the perimeter gap free of skirting contact so vibration doesn't bypass the underlay.
• Use felt pads on chair and table legs.
• Rugs in living areas reduce both impact and airborne noise.
• Book noisy removal work within your building's permitted trade hours.

We regularly install in apartment buildings around Epping, Ryde, Strathfield and Parramatta.