Types of flooring allowed in new flats?

Jonbvn

BTman wrote: »

It's probably because the builders used the cheapest materials and fitted no sound proofing..
Good luck with your new build flat, I expect you will become used to hearing your neighbors most intimate moments and enjoy listening to them on the loo...

All builders have to comply with quite strict building regs regarding sound and heat insulation. Of course I understand that such ideas cannot enter into your blinkered "BTL & New Build is evil" world.

BTman

dmg24 wrote: »

You are taking a very negative view. I have no doubt that there are flats like you have described

Yes, and it sounds like the OP's new build will be as I have desribed...
So my negative blinkered anti BTL, new build blah blah blah (don't forget to polish your shoes and suit EA) viewpoint is probably well founded ...

Most new build's are absolute !!!!!!..
I know a few people who build new builds, they tell me most are of a very, very poor standard.

Jonbvn

BTman wrote: »

Most new build's are absolute !!!!!!..
I know a few people who build new builds, they tell me most are of a very, very poor standard.

Thank you for this purely anecdotal evidence (which is about as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike)

I also know a guy who won the lottery, so I am now considering selling my house and buying a serious amount of lottery tickets!;)

milkydrink

superspudking wrote: »

I have recently bought a new build flat with my gf. It is due to be completed october time. We have been told by the estate agents that we ear not allowed certain floorings like ceramic tiles and laminate. They suggested Amtico but that seems a little too expensive. Can anyone suggest any other types of flooring for a bathroom type area?

What about a really good lino/vinyl, you can get ones now that really look like wood, especially in a smaller area like a bathroom.
Warmer & less slipperey than tiles & easier in a bathroom than laminate.

Sapphire

superspudking wrote: »

I have recently bought a new build flat with my gf. It is due to be completed october time. We have been told by the estate agents that we ear not allowed certain floorings like ceramic tiles and laminate. They suggested Amtico but that seems a little too expensive. Can anyone suggest any other types of flooring for a bathroom type area?

Linoleum is a lovely surface for a bathroom. It's environmentally sound (made of various plant materials and biodgradable), unlike Vinyl. I have it in my bathroom and it is quite soft and warm, unlike tiles and wooden floors. It's available in lots of good colours nowadays.

Tiles are in fact very cold - I had them in my last place.

You may not be allowed to have tiles or laminate because of potential noise problems.

dmg24

BTman wrote: »

Yes, and it sounds like the OP's new build will be as I have desribed...
So my negative blinkered anti BTL, new build blah blah blah (don't forget to polish your shoes and suit EA) viewpoint is probably well founded ...

Most new build's are absolute *****..
I know a few people who build new builds, they tell me most are of a very, very poor standard.

Please can you amend your language. I see no need for it.

You can get poor quality in any field, but equally you can get others that are of a very high quality. Just like buying a tv really ... just considerably more expensive!

Doozergirl

If you are having carpet in all other ares then I say go for what you want in the bathrooms.

You are rarely going to be wearing shoes in the shower(!), and the freeholder is not going to do spot checks! The clause is there because hard flooring is a problem in older conversions especially, and people have an issue with noise. It doesn't mean it exists in your property. Common sense and respect would suggest that you don't have hard flooring in the living areas of flats but your bathroom is going to make no difference.

The fact is that sound proofing regs are more stringent than they have ever been and the assumption that older houses were built better has very little standing. We have modern materials, whilst not strictly natural, are engineered to work effectively. Building Regulations are very difficult things to get through. Your downstairs neighbours should hear very little.

Do what you want in the bathrooms. Unless you spend a lot of time in there walking in stilettos

olly300

BTman wrote: »

It's probably because the builders used the cheapest materials and fitted no sound proofing..
Good luck with your new build flat, I expect you will become used to hearing your neighbors most intimate moments and enjoy listening to them on the loo...

This is not true for floors, ceilings and external walls of flats that were build or converted after 1992. After that strict regulations came in because lots of houses that were converted into flats in the 80's during the last housing boom where done on the cheap and had loads of sound problems.

The only reason I know this is:
1. I have a relation who lives in upstairs flat whose downstairs neighbour moved the rooms around in the flat below so the kitchen upstairs is over a bedroom rather than the kitchen. As this was done before 1992 both owners are liable to pay for the sound proofing if it is done. (Yes solicitors have been involved thanks to the actions of the tenants who use to live downstairs. The tenants were encouraged to move at the end of their contract.)

2. A friend rented a converted flat which didn't have planning permission as it is on the edge of the green belt in the South East. To comply with building regulations the owner of the building, who was a friend of theirs, had to but sound proofing in the floor and ceiling of all the flats in the building. Before that time the other tenants in the other flats kept leaving. The owner was able to get planning permission after complying with building regulations and with the fact that there were a few new build properties down the road.

The walls in between the rooms of new build properties can be thin but the external walls are not allowed to be again due to building regulations as the walls need to be insulated.

BTW lots of leases in flats don't state what flooring you can/can't use but do have clauses involving noise and nuisance. I know someone else who got tenants removed because although they all have hard floorings, which is allowed under the lease, the tenants decided to walk around in shoes in the night thus causing a noise nusiance.