Floorboards in apartment

Hi dj_siek

Good on you for finding out the best means of minimising the noise.

I am a person who both owns property, and has rented in several different kinds of apartment buildings, so I have an understanding from both sides of the fence.  Try to remember that all that separates one person from their neighbours in an apartment building is a floor, ceiling or wall. 

Your  neighbours are going to hear some of your conversations.  They are going to hear your food processor when you are having a healthy early morning breakfast on Sunday when they are trying to sleep in.  They are going to hear some of your tv or stereo when they are wanting to get lost in watching their own choice of film for the evening.  Depending on the nature of the plumbing, they may hear every toilet flush in the middle of the night, or their walls might vibrate when your washing machine is on spin cycle.  Apartment living is stressful enough in terms of noise, without adding to it with floorboards.  While you might be doing all you can to minimise the noise, ask yourself if there will be any noise at all.  If you are honest with yourself, the likely answer is yes.  And it doesn't matter whether the people are awake just trying to have a peaceful conversation or trying to sleep while you are walking around on your floorboards.  It's tough enough living in such close quarters with others.  Why would you add to the tensions that will already exist in apartment life?  There's a reason floorboards aren't welcomed in apartment buildings.  Sorry matie, can't  say I support your desire to install them.

jac

I Know it dosent help to get your floorboards however there are some very good vinyls out there now that look as suave as floorboards- vinyls have come a long way.  might make life a little easier than arguing with body corporates which from my experience can be very painful and frustrating

My parents have lino which looks like floorboards.  It looks great, feels great underfoot, and gives the house a peaceful feel (because you can't hear everybody's footsteps )  If you're planning to cover your floorboards with rugs anyway, there probably isn't much difference, aesthetically, of whether the flooring that pops out under the edges is floorboards or lino.

Something to keep in mind is that if you ever do rent the property out, you might have a terrible time getting your tenants to step quietly on the floorboards.  Who could be bothered receiving constant complaints from the body corporate about your own tenants being noisy.  Too much hassle.  Carpet or Lino I say

Another argument against floorboards is this:  not sure if there is an apartment above yours or not.  However imagine if the upstairs apartment had some plumbing trouble and it leaked down to your place.  I am guessing your lovely floorboards would rot quite quickly?  Lino is a plastic I think?  I'd imagine that would mean it would hold up much better under such a situation.  I have a feeling linos and carpets would also be easier and cheaper to replace, whether it be entirely, or just a section of if.