- Read your bylaws first. Many BC stratas have a flooring bylaw with a sound rating and an approval process.
- Get approval in writing before the floor is ordered, not after it's down.
- Ask about work hours, elevator booking, parking and disposal. These decide your install day.
- If you skip approval, the strata can ask you to remove the floor at your cost.
We've done a lot of condo floors around the Lower Mainland. The ones that go wrong almost never go wrong because of the flooring. They go wrong because nobody read the bylaws.
Step 1: get the documents
- The bylaws (and any amendments). Search for "floor", "flooring", "sound" and "alteration".
- Any rules the strata council has passed. Rules about move-ins and contractors often live here.
- Your property manager can send current copies. Ask if a flooring application form exists.
Step 2: what the bylaw usually asks for
| Common requirement | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Minimum IIC / STC rating | Your floor plus underlay must meet a number. How ratings work |
| Approved underlay | Sometimes a specific product or thickness |
| Written application | Product spec sheets and the sound test report, submitted before work |
| Field sound test | Some buildings test after install. Ask who pays |
| Hard floors limited to some rooms | Older bylaws sometimes require carpet in bedrooms |
| Contractor insurance | Proof of liability insurance before move-in |
Step 3: the practical stuff
- Work hours. Many buildings limit noisy work to weekdays and set hours.
- Elevator booking and protective pads for moving materials and old flooring out.
- Parking for the crew and a spot to unload.
- Disposal. Old carpet and underlay can't go in the building's garbage.
- Neighbours. A heads-up note to the units beside and below goes a long way.
Things people miss
- Door clearances. A thicker floor can stop suite and closet doors from swinging. Trimming may be needed.
- Concrete flatness. Condo slabs are often out of flat. Levelling adds time.
- Heavy items. Kitchen islands and built-ins over a floating floor need planning.
- Original flooring. In some buildings the strata insures the original floor. Ask whether that changes anything for you.
We're happy to help you put together what your strata asks for. Send us your bylaw page and floor plan.
Common questions
Do I need strata approval to change my flooring in BC?
Often, yes. Many BC strata corporations have bylaws that require written approval before replacing flooring, especially carpet with hard flooring, and set a minimum sound rating. Check your strata's bylaws and rules before buying materials.
What happens if I install hard floors without strata approval?
If the bylaws required approval, the strata can enforce them, which can include fines or requiring the flooring to be removed or corrected at the owner's cost.
What sound rating does my strata require?
It depends on the building. Your bylaws will state the minimum IIC and sometimes STC rating, and whether a field test is required after installation.
Who's writing this: Rose and Thorn Flooring is a flooring company in Surrey, BC. We install floors for a living, so yes, we'd love to do yours. But nobody pays us to say nice things about a product, and we don't earn commission from any brand. If something here is wrong or out of date, text us at 604-716-4160 and we'll fix it.