Timber flooring in a Sydney apartment can be done, but the building decides much of the scope before the product does. Most strata schemes require the owner to obtain approval before replacing a floor covering, and the by-laws may set acoustic, underlay, working-hour and access conditions. Design Timber Flooring installs timber floors in apartments once that approval is in place and the chosen product and system suit the slab and the building's requirements.
Design Timber Flooring is a mobile, owner-operated business working across Greater Sydney. Jimmy visits the apartment for a free on-site look, checks the slab and the existing floor, and talks through which products and installation methods are worth putting to the strata committee. This page focuses on apartments; our main timber floor supply and installation service covers houses and the wider installation process.
What apartment timber flooring involves
An apartment floor is installed over a shared concrete structure, with neighbours directly below and beside you. That changes the job in a few ways compared with a house:
- Approval comes first. The owners corporation, through the strata manager or committee, usually needs to approve a change from carpet or tiles to a hard floor. The owner applies for that approval, not the flooring installer.
- Sound transfer matters. Hard floors carry footfall noise into the unit below more readily than carpet. Many buildings set an acoustic requirement, and the underlay or acoustic system has to be chosen to meet it.
- The slab sets the method. Most apartment floors are concrete slabs, which suits engineered timber that is glued down or floated over an approved underlay. Solid hardwood can also be possible on a suitable system, depending on the building.
- Access and hours are controlled. Lifts, loading docks, parking and noisy work are often restricted to set times, and some buildings require lift protection or a booking.
Strata approval and by-laws
Every building is different, so the first document to read is your own scheme's by-laws, along with any flooring policy the owners corporation has adopted. Typical things to look for:
- Whether hard flooring is permitted, and on which levels or rooms.
- Any acoustic performance the floor must meet, and how compliance has to be shown.
- Whether the committee wants product data, underlay specifications or a test report before approval.
- Conditions on working hours, noise, rubbish removal and use of common areas.
- Whether a report or testing is required after installation.
We can provide product and underlay information to help you prepare the application, but we do not apply on your behalf, and we do not state that any system will meet a particular acoustic requirement in your building. Results depend on the slab, the ceiling below, the product, the underlay and how the room is built. If your by-laws call for a specific rating or test, that requirement, and any testing, sits with the owner and the building. Ordering timber before approval is confirmed is a risk we would rather you did not take.
Acoustic underlay and installation systems
The underlay is often the part of an apartment floor that matters most to the neighbours. Common approaches include:
| System | How it works | Points to check |
|---|---|---|
| Floating engineered over acoustic underlay | Boards click or glue together and sit on the underlay, not fixed to the slab | Underlay type the by-laws accept, flatness of the slab, expansion gaps at walls |
| Direct-stick engineered with acoustic membrane | An acoustic layer is bonded to the slab, then boards are glued to it | Adhesive and membrane compatibility, moisture in the slab, product approval for that method |
| Solid hardwood on an acoustic system | Hardwood laid over a suitable acoustic layer or batten system | Floor height, door clearances, building approval for the system |
| Hybrid or laminate over integrated or separate underlay | Rigid boards with an attached or loose underlay | Whether the building accepts the product, and the underlay specified |
The right system depends on what the building allows and what the product manufacturer permits. For more on construction and product choice, see our pages on engineered timber flooring and laminate and hybrid flooring, and our guide to glue-down versus floating engineered timber.
When apartment timber flooring suits, and when it does not
It usually suits when:
- The by-laws permit hard flooring and the owners corporation approves your application.
- The slab is sound, dry enough for the product, and flat enough or can be made flat.
- There is enough height at doors, entry thresholds, balcony transitions and kitchen kickboards for the new build-up.
- You are prepared to plan around the building's working hours and lift bookings.
It may not suit, or may need a different approach, when:
- The by-laws do not allow hard floors, or approval has not been granted.
- The building's acoustic requirement cannot be met by a system that fits the available height.
- The slab has moisture issues, cracking or level changes that cannot be resolved before installation.
- Fixed joinery, entry doors or fire doors leave too little clearance and cannot be adjusted.
How Jimmy assesses an apartment floor
During the on-site visit Jimmy will:
- Look at the existing covering, whether carpet, tiles, vinyl or old timber, and what is under it where that can be seen.
- Check the slab for flatness, cracks, old adhesive and visible signs of moisture, and recommend moisture testing where the product requires it.
- Measure heights at doorways, the entry, balcony sliders, wardrobes and kitchen kickboards.
- Discuss the building's by-laws and any flooring conditions you have been given.
- Talk through lift access, parking, working hours and where materials can be stored.
- Suggest products and underlay systems that are worth putting forward for approval.
Our guide to timber flooring in Sydney apartments covers these questions in more detail, and the preparation side is explained on our subfloor preparation page.
The process
- On-site assessment. Jimmy inspects the apartment and talks through options, constraints and the likely scope.
- Written quote and product information. You receive a written quote and the product and underlay details to support your strata application.
- Strata approval. You apply to the owners corporation and confirm any conditions, such as hours, lift protection or testing.
- Booking the building. Lift, loading dock and parking bookings are made with building management.
- Removal and preparation. The old covering is removed, the slab is cleaned and prepared, and any levelling or grinding is done to suit the product.
- Installation. Underlay or membrane is laid, the boards are installed, and transitions, trims and skirting details are completed.
- Handover. We walk through the finished floor, care instructions and any curing or settling time the product needs.
What affects timing
There is no single timeframe for an apartment floor. The main factors are:
- How long strata approval takes in your building.
- Lift availability, permitted working hours and how far materials have to travel from the dock.
- The existing covering, especially tiles or glued carpet that take longer to remove.
- How much slab preparation or levelling is needed, and drying or curing times for compounds and adhesives.
- Product lead times and the number of rooms, doorways and transitions.
We confirm the sequence once the building's conditions and the scope are clear.
Preparing for the work
- Have your by-laws, any flooring policy and the approval letter ready before booking.
- Tell building management the dates and confirm lift and parking bookings.
- Clear furniture from the rooms, or agree in advance what needs moving.
- Let neighbours know the dates, especially for the louder removal days.
- Plan where you will stay or which rooms you can use during removal and installation.
Our guide to preparing your home for a floor install has a fuller checklist.
Apartment flooring checklist
- By-laws and any flooring policy read
- Strata approval received in writing, with conditions noted
- Acoustic requirement and how compliance is shown confirmed with the building
- Product and underlay system approved for the method and the slab
- Door, entry and balcony heights checked
- Lift, dock and parking booked
- Working hours and noisy-work times confirmed
- Furniture moved and neighbours told
Apartments across Sydney
Jimmy works in apartment buildings across Greater Sydney, from the Eastern Suburbs to the North Shore. See the full list of areas we cover. If you are weighing up species for an apartment, our pages on European oak and blackbutt are a useful place to start.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need strata approval to install timber flooring in my apartment?
Most Sydney strata schemes require approval before you change a floor covering, especially from carpet to a hard floor. Check your by-laws and ask the strata manager. The owner obtains the approval; we can supply product and underlay information to support the application.
Will timber flooring meet my building's acoustic requirements?
That depends on your building's requirement, the slab, the ceiling below, the product and the underlay or acoustic system. We can suggest systems to put forward, but compliance and any testing are set by the building and remain the owner's responsibility.
Can solid hardwood be installed in an apartment?
Sometimes. Engineered timber is more common over slabs, but solid hardwood can be possible on a suitable acoustic system where the building approves it and there is enough floor height.
Can you install timber over existing tiles in an apartment?
In some cases, if the tiles are sound, flat and well bonded and the building accepts it. Height at doors and transitions is often the deciding factor. Our guide to timber flooring over tiles explains the checks.
What happens if the slab is not level?
Many slabs need some preparation. High spots can be ground and low spots filled with a suitable levelling compound to meet the product's flatness requirements. Jimmy assesses this on site and includes it in the written quote.
Can you work around my building's working hours?
Yes. We plan the job around the permitted hours, lift bookings and any noise restrictions in your by-laws, and confirm the sequence before starting.
Do you handle the removal of old carpet or tiles?
Removal of existing coverings can be included in the scope. Tiles and glued coverings take more time and preparation, which we discuss during the on-site assessment.
Start with the by-laws
Send your suburb, the building's flooring conditions and a few photos through our online quote form, or call Jimmy on 0404 906 432 to book a free on-site look at your apartment.