Condo Flooring Comes with Rules

Condo living is a popular option, especially in South Florida. Unfortunately, there’s no way to know who the neighbors are before moving in. When living in close proximity to others, noise is a major consideration. The good news is that there are numerous laws and ordinances regarding sound that disturbs peace and tranquility, but they differ by city and county.

The downside is that not all neighbors are considerate. They may throw raucous parties, play loud music, leave the TV blaring, or have noisy children. The most common noise complaint – floor to floor – is the sound of footsteps. It doesn’t matter what type of flooring individuals select; every condo comes with a set of requirements for soundproofing. It’s essential to block out neighbor noises emanating from the floor above.

There are a wide range of products that can be used to reduce the amount of noise transmitted between units. They include cork, recycled rubber sheets, insulation, honeycomb sheets, and specially designed membranes, to name just a few. Masonry must meet specific criteria and multiple types of products may be installed in conjunction with each other.

The sound level that people endure from neighbors is closely equated with comfort, privacy, and satisfaction in where an individual lives. The acoustic levels for those living in condos is extremely important and has the ability to disrupt sleep and lifestyles if not adequately addressed. New condo construction must follow existing requirements for soundproofing, but that varies, and older condos may not have been retrofitted.

In the past, carpeting was a popular option for flooring and the material helped in muting sounds from above or below. The trend in flooring now is hardwood floor and tile, neither of which will quiet the click and clack of heels walking across the floor, for example. Since that form of cushioning above the floor is typically missing from today’s condos, soundproofing materials must be installed below the flooring.