What type of subfloor do I have? Quail Hill - Ambridge

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IrvineMonkey_IHB

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Hello everyone! I'm new here and have a question that I thought someone on here could answer for me... Maybe BK or USC... I'm not sure what category this post should go on... Sorry about that in advance...



I own a condo in Quail Hill's Ambridge and I live on the second floor. I'm looking to replace my carpeting with engineered wood flooring. I pulled up the carpet edge to see what type of subflooring I have and the subfloor seems to be a brittle dirty white stuff like concrete, but not nearly so solid. Is this just an extra layer placed over the wood subfloor or is it a concrete subfloor?



I'm hoping some of you would have some knowledge about the construction of these condos.



Thanks for the help!!!



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The gypcrete is a light weigh concrete to prevent squeaky floor and also dampen your foot noise for the neighbors below you. Lyon took an extra effort to make sure sound attenuation is achieved between floor.
 
[quote author="IrvineMonkey" date=1256080247]So BK can I nail the wood boards or do I have to use a glue down application for the wood flooring?</blockquote>
Nail them into what, the gypcrete?
 
I'd check your HOA rules before you put down any wood flooring. Some condo's require carpeting in areas above another person's living space. This is to deaden sound and help with the sound-proofing between floors. My friend's place in Yorba Linda was like this. They could not install wall to wall wood flooring because of those rules.
 
[quote author="QHBruin" date=1256088866]I'd check your HOA rules before you put down any wood flooring. Some condo's require carpeting in areas above another person's living space. This is to deaden sound and help with the sound-proofing between floors. My friend's place in Yorba Linda was like this. They could not install wall to wall wood flooring because of those rules.</blockquote>


Good point. Some specify further that you can not have any kind of "natural" flooring, meaning wood or stone, because of the noise transmission, but allow engineered floors that include sound dampening.
 
[quote author="IrvineMonkey" date=1256080247]So BK can I nail the wood boards or do I have to use a glue down application for the wood flooring?</blockquote>
You want to use Bastik's Best adhesive to glue down the engineering flooring, you only use nail if the sub-floor was plywood. That is exactly what I used both for my downstairs and upstairs. Go check out Simple Floors in Orange or Lumbar Liquidators for the best prices of the flooring.
 
[quote author="QHBruin" date=1256088866]I'd check your HOA rules before you put down any wood flooring. Some condo's require carpeting in areas above another person's living space. This is to deaden sound and help with the sound-proofing between floors. My friend's place in Yorba Linda was like this. They could not install wall to wall wood flooring because of those rules.</blockquote>


Make sure you do get the approval of the Association and the homeowner below. If you install it without thier approval they will make you tear it out if there is something in the CC&R's against this. Fines and a lein to sell the property ususually forces the homeowners who do not get the proper approvals to do the right thing...
 
I think my fellow IHB posters have answered all of your questions and more.



Real and fake wood floor transmit noise to the units below. Although gypcrete will dampen the sound but it is best to check your CC&R for rules.



I have always advocate not to buy a condo despite of 10% saving over a detached condo. The extra footage in the condo does not add to actual livability but just excessive and stretched circulation space connecting to rooms dictated by the limited window walls.



Detached condos was invented as an alternative to condo/town house living and not a formula to glorified McMansion living.
 
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