Replies

1. 
   Stray | Sep 10, 2002 10:06pm | #1

   Hi David

   I don't have an answer for you. but just curious about the carpet-alergy issue. I'm a landlord myself, and one reason I don't allow pets is that the pet dander will stay in the carpet and cause alergies for the next tenants (even after steam cleaning).

   I don't understand the issue with an alergic tenant and NEW carpeting though. Is the tenant worried about alergic reactions to offgassing of the new carpet? Or just that carpeting holds dust in general? I would think if the tenant vacuumed religiously, there would be no issue.

1. 
   romary1 | Sep 12, 2002 12:39am | #3

   Yes, to all the above. She is concerned about off-gassing (for both her and her toddler). She also likes to be able to just sweep the wooden floors. She doesn't even own a vacuume.

1. 
   archyII | Sep 12, 2002 02:24am | #4

   There are some "green" carpet choices http://www.metrokc.gov/procure/green/carpet.htm

   You could also install natural fiber like sisal (tough on the little guy).  Sweeping is one of  the worst thing your tenant can do if she really has allergies (lets spread all of the dust, mold spores, dust mites, etc. with with a bunch of straw (either organic or man made).  A hepa vacuum is the only way to go.  As far as impact sound transmission pergo on a sound mat  (not the pergo foam) will reduce the some of the sound transmission.

   Good luck

1. 
   Stray | Sep 12, 2002 05:02pm | #5

   David,

   Sounds like you are having to make a tough call to keep tenants happy.

   Do you spend big $ to deaden sound for downstair occupant while pleasing upstairs occupant's concerns? Only you know how important keeping these tenants is (ie would you be able to rent it tomorrow if the upstairs resident left today?). Remember, this is a business decision (unless the tenant is you sister in law!).

   You might lay out the options to the tenat above. Show them the price difference for a decent carpet and thick pad vs the Pergo with sound deadening mat. If they want to stay in the apt for a long time, they may be willing to pay a little higher rent to cover some of the offset. Or sign a 2-3 year lease, etc... They may not have a clue how much their request is going to cost you.

   Cork is pricy, but would be sweepable (assusming sealed properly). It's also billed as hypoalergenic by the manufacturers. Seems like a 1/4"-1/2" layer of cork would deaden sounds pretty well.

   Edited 9/12/2002 11:07:31 AM ET by Stray

1. 
   Piffin | Sep 12, 2002 07:44pm | #6

   I'm having a hard time believing that someone with allergies doesn't even own a vacumn. That is the first thing they coach you on when teaching you how to deal with allergies. You took a carpet out that had apparently been abused ( By her not being clean????) Wow!!!!!!!

   I like the cork idea.

   The other thing I was thinking is whether you have the room in your elevations to add 1/2" of Homasote and then lay the engineered wood floor. Most of these now require a slip layer of pad laid or have it built in on the backs. The two of these together should dampen the transmitions substantially.

   My hat's off to you for being a decent landlord. I used to do a lot of repairs for rentals and most landlords could care less about something like this. But watch your bottom line too!Excellence is its own reward!

2. 
   romary1 | Sep 15, 2002 08:11pm | #7

   Hey, I can't explain the vaccume issue either but I really don't care to try and understand everything. Anyway, I pulled up a carpet that had to go because of age as much as anything else. She never lived in the apt. with the carpet so any damage was before her time. The upstairs and downstairs tenants currently seem to be working it out as well so hopefully I have some time to come up with a reasonable solution for my budget as well.

2. 
   JohnSprung | Sep 11, 2002 02:37am | #2

   You might test a small patch of Pergo to see, but I doubt that it would help much.  It could just be lying loose for the test.  A new ceiling downstairs supported by new joists completely independent of the upstairs floor joists would be about the best you could do, but again, very pricey.

   -- J.S.

3. 
   markjrogers | Sep 16, 2002 04:55am | #8

   Try a product ...R.c.-1 or R.C.-2.... these are a metal sound tranmissision product... RESILIANT CHANNELS.    They are installed on the ceiling between the framing members and the sheet rock.perpindecular to the framing... Also if you are going to go to the trouble to install this product, you might consider a good r-11 sound batt insulation with it.     You might also find ,that a good blow in insulation might be all  that is needed.....Mark

4. 
   4Lorn1 | Sep 16, 2002 11:58am | #9

   For almost 100 years the standard solution has been cork laid between the finish floor and the subfloor. In some areas it was, I have hear in some locations it still is, required when an upstairs tenant replaced carpet with hardwood.

   Tracks under the existing ceiling, when properly sealed, also helps.