Not allowed to lay laminate floor - is there a way round it?

AdrianC

anotheruser wrote: »

Lay the laminate on top of the carpet?

<chuckle> I'd love to see the result of that...

westernpromise

The OP is being grossly, appallingly selfish.

The lease included terms that stipulate you have to have flooring that will not create a noise nuisance to your neighbours downstairs. The reason carpets are normally stipulated is because particularly in conversions, it's not possible to engineer a depth between the ceiling below and the floor above that prevents sound transmission. This leaves carpets as the best sound-deadening option.

You immediately don't feel like observing the contract you signed, having presumably not read it, so you're now looking for ways to evade it.

Meanwhile, if you get your way, your neighbours downstairs will be subjected to the sound of everything that goes on in your flat, which of course with hard walls, floor and ceiling, will be a gigantic echoing boombox. If they complain, they'll have trouble selling, because of the dispute with a neighbour who doesn't think he needs to honour the lease he signed.

I had to live underneath someone like you and I've never forgotten what a selfish pr+ck he was. He swore he was going to put soundproofing down too, but of course the !!!!! cheapskate used loft insulation which was cheaper and didn't work.

As others have said, if you don't like carpet, don't buy a flat whose lease stipulates carpet. Otherwise, expect your neighbours to flout their leases too. Yours probably bans pets. You'd no doubt be happy if they bought two or three dogs that barked around the clock? How about if they subdivided their flat into single room and let it? (Text removed by MSE Forum Team) How about if your neighbours clutter the common parts with pushbikes and baby buggies?

There are alternatives to carpet that aren't carpet. Google "natural flooring" for examples, eg jute, seagrass.

vansboy

AdrianC wrote: »

<chuckle> I'd love to see the result of that...

The flat above me was refurbished by a first time landlord. The lady that sold it had been in there since it was built in 1970's and much of the place was as it was then. She left the carpets - her original ones - thinking a new resident would appreciate them.

They did. It saved buying underlay, by laying the laminate straight on top! I can still hear any movement through it too!

And they also rewired the flat. As an after thought.

That was fine, the plasterer earned his money twice, as he had already skimmed the walls before they even considered updating the electrics.

Even the bathroom had the old sanitryware remain, tiling and boxing in to disguise it was so dated.

Moneysaving, not quite.

VB

stargirl04

Well, having read these posts I just hadn't realised how bad the noise would be after laying laminate. But I hear you loud and clear! (No pun intended.)

I've already decided I won't use laminate now, come what may. I'd still like to use an alternative to carpet - or anything that resembles carpet - such as a foam backed vinyl with specialist additional soundproof underlay or whatever - or something that won't p**s off the neighbours.

It would be great if I could just find an expert who could say: "You need to buy this, it costs xxxx and it will be as quiet as carpet, or almost as quiet."

I guess I'll just keep asking around. And if it's carpets or nothing then so be it.

beecher2

Might be a good opportunity to introduce yourself to the people who live below, ask them if they hear any noise from the existing laminate and discuss the fact that you want to keep noise to the minimum. Or ask some of the other neighbours for suggestions - good way to introduce yourself.

AdrianC

stargirl04 wrote: »

It would be great if I could just find an expert who could say: "You need to buy this, it costs xxxx and it will be as quiet as carpet, or almost as quiet."

You can. They hide in small shops creakingly full of samples of flooring, but very rarely on big retail parks "as seen on TV"...

stargirl04

Thanks Adrian, I'll do this. Meanwhile, if anyone else knows, or knows someone who does, please do post.

bouicca21

I was serious about asking the management company - if they are property professionals they may well either know the answer or be able to put you in touch with someone who does.

AdrianC

stargirl04 wrote: »

Meanwhile, if anyone else knows, or knows someone who does, please do post.

A rough hint as to where in the country might help...

stargirl04

Bouicca, thanks - I will try that.

Adrian, I'm in SE London.