Kitchens
Dishwasher leaks, fridge-line failures, small sink spills — the #1 source of water damage in apartments. Waterproof flooring contains it before the unit below ever sees it.
Manhattan Apartments · Co-ops · Condos
New York apartment living comes with a unique flooring rulebook — the 80% carpet rule, building code waterproofing in wet rooms, and co-op/condo house rules that can catch new owners off guard. We install code-compliant waterproof flooring (COREtec and similar) throughout Manhattan and the five boroughs, plus ship product anywhere in the US.
Flooring in a Manhattan apartment — especially above the ground floor — is never just about what you like. Three very real pressures push every flooring decision: your co-op or condo’s house rules, NYC Building Code waterproofing requirements for wet rooms, and the practical risk of a leak damaging the unit below. The good news: modern waterproof flooring (COREtec in particular) was purpose-built for exactly this kind of environment.
Not a city law — but in most co-op and condo house rules. Most NYC buildings require that 80% of floor area (excluding kitchens and bathrooms) be covered with carpet or area rugs to reduce sound transmission to neighbors below. Failure to comply can result in fines, mandatory remediation, and in extreme cases has been upheld as grounds for eviction in court.
Where we help: custom-bound area rugs and runners that let you keep beautiful hardwood or COREtec visible around the edges while satisfying the 80% coverage requirement. Any carpet, any size, any shape, 30+ binding colors.
Custom Area Rugs →NYC Building Code (BC 1210) and the Multiple Dwelling Law require bathroom floors to be waterproof with approved materials, with waterproofing extending at least 6 inches up walls (except at doors). Shower and tub walls must be waterproofed even higher — typically 6 feet above the floor or 70 inches above the drain.
Where we help: COREtec and similar engineered waterproof vinyl plank meets the letter and spirit of these requirements for bathroom and kitchen installations, with the right underlayment and perimeter detailing.
See COREtec →If you’re above another unit, your flooring assembly has two jobs: keep your footsteps quiet and keep any water that lands on the floor out of the ceiling below. Most co-op and condo boards require a documented Impact Insulation Class (IIC) underlayment rating for any new flooring install, plus a waterproof membrane in wet rooms.
Where we help: proper acoustic underlayment selection, documented product specs for your board, and waterproof membrane installation in bathrooms and kitchens.
COREtec is a rigid-core engineered vinyl plank that is 100% waterproof from top to bottom — not just the wear layer. For a Manhattan apartment, that matters in five ways:
Dishwasher leaks, fridge-line failures, small sink spills — the #1 source of water damage in apartments. Waterproof flooring contains it before the unit below ever sees it.
Code-required waterproofing paired with a realistic wood or stone look. No more cold tile underfoot.
Salt, snow, rain-slick shoes in winter. COREtec handles the NYC commuter-foot-traffic reality without the swelling laminate gives you.
Steam-heat buildings leak. A lot. Waterproof plank around radiators prevents years of creeping water damage.
In-unit washer/dryer installations need a waterproof floor underneath. COREtec is the cleanest solution.
Pair waterproof plank with custom bound area rugs for the perfect balance of modern look + 80% carpet rule compliance.
Most NYC co-op and condo boards require an Alteration Agreement (sometimes called an Alt-2) before any flooring install. Typical requirements: licensed contractor, proof of insurance naming the building, a detailed scope of work, product specs with Impact Insulation Class (IIC) ratings for any underlayment, waterproofing specifications for wet rooms, and work hours restricted to weekdays 9–5. We regularly navigate this process for customers and provide every piece of paperwork the board asks for.
Disclaimer: this page describes general practices under NYC Building Code, the NYS Multiple Dwelling Law, and common co-op/condo house rules. Your specific building and unit may have different or additional requirements. We are a flooring installer, not a law firm — always verify rules with your managing agent and board before starting work.
New Jersey & NYC/Manhattan. Mobile Store to Your Front Door® residential sales, measure, and installation across all 21 NJ counties plus Manhattan.
Ships nationwide. COREtec and other waterproof product drop-ships anywhere in the United States. (Material only — local installation not included outside NJ/NYC.)
Coast to coast. We service large commercial clients (LA Fitness, Nike, IKEA, GAP, Old Navy, etc.) anywhere in the country. Contact us for commercial rollouts.
No — it is not a city law. It is a near-universal rule in co-op and condo house rules because it protects neighbors from noise. It is enforceable through your lease or proprietary agreement, and courts have upheld building enforcement when noise complaints are documented.
Yes — but most boards require a waterproof membrane in kitchens and bathrooms regardless of what you install in the rest of the apartment. We often install hardwood throughout and COREtec in the kitchen/bath as a combined solution.
In most cases no — COREtec is a floating click-lock system and installs faster (and cleaner for board noise rules) than glue-down products. Specific assemblies may vary by building.
Yes. We provide product specs, IIC ratings, insurance docs, and installer licensure information in the format your managing agent will accept. We’ve been through this process with many Manhattan buildings.
Board approval for an Alteration Agreement typically takes 2–4 weeks. Start conversations with your managing agent early — we’ll have paperwork ready within a few business days of our measure visit.
Yes — residential in-home service covers all of NJ plus Manhattan and the other four boroughs on a case-by-case basis. COREtec product ships anywhere in the US.
We have installed waterproof flooring in Manhattan apartments across pre-war co-ops, post-war condos, modern doorman buildings, and walk-up rentals. Call us and skip the guesswork.
