All Forum Posts by: Carol T.

Thanks Zach,

I thought our areas with humidity were probably safer for bamboo than some other parts of the country since they warn that if humidity is too low you need to artificially add humidity to the room with bamboo. But even in NC it does vary and issue maintaning a constant level is hard to guarantee with power outages and equipment failure. This is stressed for bamboo on the installation page.

I was shocked when i looked at some brands of inexpensive engineered hardwood as it looked like laminate cardboard and all, I could not tell the difference. I thought that a product that looked like real wood- grass all the way through had to be a step up. i have learned along time ago though, when treading in an area where you know nothing, you can really get yourself in trouble. There are mixed reviews on bamboo itself as the way made and qualities vary, parts the country where installed (humidity too low) is an issue, and the difference in the way it must be installed really matters.

NC is certainly humid. What I really would love is someone with personal experience who installed bamboo properly, is in a humid state, had a product with decent warranty, and either had a good or terrible experience.

Experienced Opinions abound on tile, laminate and engineered wood flooring. The reviews are a little short on bamboo. May just have to gamble or if that is too stressful, go back to the laminate flooring (cardboard plan) .

Thanks both of you for input. my choice was not hardwoods for the rental, but regular laminate though as thick as i can get. this bamboo really wasn't planning for kitchen just exploring as easier than tile to lay. the bamboo has a50 year wear warranty, 25 year structural, can be refinished several times in lifetime, is comparable in price to a good laminate from an outlet. supposedly twice as hard as oak. has a13 layer finish that is more water repel ant than wood floors.

The humidity issues they warn you about are the scariest to me and I am ignorant. We are in NC. anyone have bamboo in NC? I am most concerned about the issue of constant humidity as cannot control power outage or heating system failure. We can do the installation properly to allow for the expansion /contraction issues.But worried about it cupping or coming apart.

So the choice in this third floor unit is: for the foyer, den, dining rm, hall and possibly bedroom closets, is use a thicker laminate flooring(not top of the line brand but with a good warranty Pergo) which is basically cardboard and never refinish able.

Or to go with this click bamboo with great warranty that has potential to be refinished if need. I took a razor to a sample and scratched the finish on the bamboo, it left a mark but then I wiped with my hand and mark disappeared.

Bamboo brand is Wellmade.

I found no click engineered hardwood at our price-point that didn't look just like laminate with lots of cardboard.

Perhaps if no one has experience with bamboo over time in rental you might have experience with Bamboo flooring it in one of you own homes?

More input Please!

I

We were planning on porcelain tile in the kitchen, and baths, a thicker laminate in all other areas except bedrooms were I can get very inexpensive carpet replaced between tenants if needed. I surveyed and renters preferred carpet under feet in bedrooms.

I have come across a good deal on a strand bamboo click flooring that looks like engineered wood though not considered such. Has 25 year structural warranty, 50 year finish wear warranty with 13 layers of aluminum oxide finish on it, and could be refinished several times if ever needed it, looks like engineered click flooring for about same price as the laminate.

I know there are installation parameters which do not scare me but the issue of constant humidity issue regulation- power does go out sometimes.We are in NC.

Does anyone have experience with good bamboo flooring in a low end rental that you are keeping not flipping?

With the cost so good 2.14 sq ft need to be convinced if bamboo is a no no. It is only a little higher than a thick laminate would be since we live by the Pergo outlet. It can be installed in kitchens and initially was planning on laminate through the kitchen too till I became educated.

Despite the fact the bamboo is more moisture resistant than wood, I assume in a 40 year old low end rental we might still be pushing our luck by changing and placing this in the kitchen too.

Experience and opinions please.Our first rental and never have had anything but the old type hardwood floors.

Experiences, nightmares or opinions on bamboo please! It does seem that as far as it goes is a good quality product with good warranty for bamboo.

So it is down to whether bamboo is a nightmare in NC or not.

I was told that part of the problem is that because created 40 years ago is under a different set of laws managing HOAs by our Bylaws they cannot increase monthly dues more than 5% per year. We usually have only about a months expenses ahead a lot of cost being water bill which will soon greatly increase in the city if not sub-metered, and plumbing issues costs to main pipes.
They did a special assessment for roofing a few years ago but it took so long to get agreed that there was so much damage and so overdue that it ended up costing more. The leak situation, some of which is mainly bad tenants and lazy owners who do not keep up or report leaks. Because all we do is put out fires, there is no money for upkeep or needed repairs. The main reason they believe we need the water sub-metering besides it being such an HOA cost, would be each unit would be able to be monitored and if a leak was constant or a big problem developing could be handled before 3 floors damaged and before major damage done. HOA insurance is now so high because of major leaks etc that now have to buy from Lords of London and HOA and complex has a $25,000 deductible to common area or pipes that damage unit. So really cannot afford to take care of the usual Condo association responsibilities due to the insurance situation. Even if the HOA would normally be responsible. If sub- metering done we were told that we could get better and cheaper insurance. They are even willing to reduce HOA dues if done. Since less than 23% of owners live on property most of the water bill that is costing so much would only hit renters, and if their water is high they are more likely to tell landlord if something needs attention.
Now you are thinking we made a stupid investment. You would not believe what we paid for this HOA foreclosed unit! They sold to us at such a low cost because we planned to improve and make it safe and be diligent landlords and no problem as some owners are. I am pretty comfortable as we are a 3rd floor unit so no one to leak into our unit. But lucky that though 3rd floor unit only one flight of stairs as everyone else is ground or basement in this building so a good situation. With the present state I would only buy top floor units in this complex due to the hassles till HOA is able to keep up with needed work which there is no money for. My son is able to rent even his basement units there for good rents- that he paid triple what we did for the property.We are choosing to improve more than must to attract an even better tenant.But doing well with the budget. We knew the facts of complex and our son has owned units there so was aware and attended Board meetings. The location will always be in demand due to location and with what we paid-Cash will have a large return on our investment.We bought good insurance and protected ourselves legally.

I am most interested in knowing what would happen if we came under the newer NC condo HOA regulations- What would that mean to us? What are they in NC? I am under the impression that if we sub-meter or became unable to pay HOA expenses we then would be moved into those current NC Condo HOA Regulations and someone take over, make decisions to get HOA solvent, force the hand of owners who will not agree to water sub-metering, that in itself would free up money for upkeep and needed preventative issues and improvements which there is no money for now, and get HOA and complex out of the bind it is in before it gets worse.
BUT! I WANT TO KNOW THE DOWNSIDE OF THOSE REGULATIONS if any! I see other newer more attractive condos with obvious problems, despite low prices, HUGE HOA dues with no amenities, services, pool, park,etc... Many are on the market, but they do not sell, as an investor would not be able to recoup enough rent with such high HOA dues. None are in as prime a location as we are. I assume that these developers must have gone bankrupt to put in this situation.
If we started falling under CURRENT NC CONDO HOA LAWS, owners would still retain thier voting rights, correct? I want to know about the NC Condo HOA Laws. And would love to hear from any experiences in similar situations. Or horror stories if that is situation, or what you have learned from a similar property. anyone know the situation in NCs as now more about those laws in NC. A

Has anyone had an experience with a rental with an HOA in financial trouble? We bought our first condo rental, in a 40 year old complex near a major university. The property is mostly investor owned as rentals are now 78% of property, so potential owner occupants cannot get loans due to the high rental status which has caused investor numbers to go up further.
HOA has had difficulties especially because the old 40 year old condo law it falls under limits increase in dues, with an older property like this plumbing issues started happening and they cannot get everyone to agree to sub metering the water which would cost the renters, not the owners,and reduce cost to HOA. but mainly sub-metering would allow for spotting water leaks quickly, avoiding the large problems that have driven insurance sky high for HOA, etc..
The feeling is that if we cannot get water sub-metering, eventually the HOA will become insolvent.There is certainly no money for decent upkeep on the property till that happens. I was told that HOA cannot go officially bankrupt that a judge would be assigned and that it would probably open us up to more current NC, condo laws.
Has anyone had such an experience and know just what the legalities are in such situations? I am aware of our current issues and rules but know nothing about what more current NC HOA Laws and if we later become subject to more recent HOA laws what that could do to us. I had seen newer condo developments where HOA dues were triple ours although they had no pool, park, water or amenities. I do not know if this was caused just by the complex going bankrupt etc...and of course in these there are plenty for sale for cheap and we avoided with such high HOA dues.