RENOVATIONS | palermo-apartments

Flooring

Replacing old carpet with new carpet

If you are replacing your current carpeted areas of your lot, with new carpet, this does not require a formal application.

When selecting your underlay, remember that you need to comply with Palermo's By-Laws in regards to noise. It is strongly recommended that you select a good quality underlay that will not result in noise transmission to units around yours. Noise complaints could mean that the owners corporation raise the matter in NCAT and seek orders that would require you to install additional / new underlay to prevent noise from your lot disturbing the peace and enjoyment of others.
When you have selected your new carpet and underlay, let Building Management know the date your carpets will be installed. Book the lift protection pads for your lift to help prevent damage. Building Management will let your neighbours and those below your unit know and to expect some noise on the day of installation.
All old carpet, underlay, off-cuts etc. MUST be removed from Palermo and not discarded in the common garbage room. Council will not collect carpet as part of the bulky good collection each fortnight, and Palermo is then required to pay a contractor to remove the carpets. If this occurs, the owners corporation will seek to recover the costs of disposal from the lot owner in line with special by-law 19.
Ensure common area hallways, lift etc are clean after installation and removal of old carpets.

Replacing carpet with floorboards (wooden, vinyl etc.) - No tile removal.

If you are replacing carpeted areas of your lot, with floorboards / hard surface then this requires a Special By-Law 11, Minor Renovations application.

An acoustic test is required to be submitted with your application. Contact Building Management to help arrange this with neighbouring units.

The acoustic test will use samples of your planned flooring and underlay to check the noise generated from it in neighbouring lots. To minimise noise impact from the installation of any non-carpet flooring, acoustic testing needs to be conducted post installation according to the requirements of ISO 140-7:2006 and 717-2:2004. The LnTw value must be 40 or less post installation (6 Star rating) to achieve compliance and ensure that noise transmission equates to that of medium pile carpet with underlay. This sets a high standard for noise insulation but one that is achievable using the best materials and installation techniques.

Applications for installation of hardwood / vinyl flooring will not be considered without an acoustic report

3. Minor Renovations Approval Process

3.1 Minor Renovations Require Approval

You may carry out, or permit another person to carry out on your behalf, minor renovations with the approval of the owners corporation or strata committee.

3.2 The Approval Process

3.2.1 If you wish to carry out minor renovations you must make an application to the owners corporation in order to seek its approval of the minor renovations.

3.2.2 The application must be in writing and sent to the strata managing agent of the owners corporation or, if there is no strata managing agent, to the secretary of the owners corporation.

3.2.3 Your application must contain:

(a) your name, address and telephone number,

(b) your apartment and lot number,

(d) drawings, plans and specifications for the minor renovations,

(e) an estimate of the duration and times of the minor renovations,

(f) details of the persons carrying out the minor renovations including the name, licence number, qualifications and telephone number of those persons,

(g) details of arrangements to manage any resulting rubbish or debris arising from the minor renovations.

3.2.4 The owners corporation may request further information to supplement the information contained in your application but it must not act unreasonably when doing so.

3.2.5 The owners corporation may engage a consultant to assist it review your application.

3.2.6 The owners corporation may:

(a) approve your application either with or without conditions, or

(b) withhold approval of your application (but it must not act unreasonably when doing so).

3.2.7 You must comply with any conditions which the owners corporation issues as part of its approval and the conditions contained in this by-law.

Review Special By Law 11 - Minor Renovations here

Replacing carpet with floorboards (wooden, vinyl etc.) -Removing floor tiles (entry way, kitchen etc.)

If removing any tiles to replace with carpet or hard flooring (such as kitchen floor, entry way tiles etc.) this is a Major Renovation (Special By-Law 12) as they are connected to the cement slab, which is 'Common Property.

An acoustic test is required to be submitted with your application. Contact Building Management to help arrange this with neighbouring units.

Applications for installation of hardwood / vinyl flooring will not be considered without an acoustic report

Major Renovation application can only be considered and voted on at a General Meeting of the owners corporation (example AGM). If passed by owners, a new by-law is then registered relating to the renovations. The cost of registering this by-law is passed to the lot owner.

Review Special By-Law 12 - Major Renovations here

For Minor Renovation Application form - click here

For Major Renovation Application form - click here