Concrete floors

[Mike Seward]

Houses built here normally have a concrete slab foundation. An appraiser friend was completing an FHA appraisal on a newly constructed house. The buyers plan to paint the concrete slab in most rooms instead of installing floor covering.
My friend called the Atlanta HOC and asked if the grey concrete slab flooring would be acceptable. To my surprise, they said "yes".
The HOC rep went on to say that wood subflooring would not be acceptable, but concrete salb was acceptable.
Has anyone heard anything like this?

 

[RSW]

Yes, it is acceptable.

 

[Mountain Man]

Slab is okay... and so is plywood subfloor as long as the carpet tact strips are not not in place as a puncture hazard.

Mortgagee letter 05-48
BTW, I have this confirmed in a face to face meeting with HUD at the last AI meeting.

 

[Tom Woolford]

It is not a health or safety issue, and stained and sealed concrete floors are gaining acceptance in many markets.

 

[Lobo Fan]

I attended a training session at the Denver HOC last year and they made a point that floor coverings were not required at all. If they were a health or safety hazard then it was a problem. I am seeing more and more concrete floors with radiant heat. The first time it was a new house and I thought it was just not finished,

Some of the stains and colors are actually quite appealing.

 

[claireryder]

Acid washed and stained/painted concrete floors are very popular. See them alot here in Denver in new contemporary homes and lofts. I like em.

 

[liberated]

Acid washed and stained/painted concrete floors are very popular. See them alot here in Denver in new contemporary homes and lofts. I like em.

That depends on how cold the room is. :new_smile-l:

 

[Sulago]

floor coverings were not required at all.

I've had the same experience. No cover required, too bad bars don't have to follow FHA standards. *hicc*

 

[Mike Seward]

Thank you all. I learned something today.

Just to be clear; I re-read Mortagee Letter 05-48 that states that (4150.2) "paragraph 3-6 C referencing bare floors, badly soiled carpeting, cracked plaster and sheetrock is no longer applicable."

I then went to 4150.2, 3-6 C, which begins with "Conditions that do not ordinarily require repair include 'any surface treatment'...."

The examples on the next page don't mention concrete slab floors, but the Mortagee letter uses the term "bare floors" and 3-6 C says "any surface treatment."

That and with what some of you have been told by FHA representatives is enough for me to say that bare concrete slab flooring is OK with FHA.

Is it safe to assume that Fannie and Freddie agree with that?

 

[Michael Tipton]

Are finished floors required for a certificate of occupancy in your local market? Does you lending client have flooring guidelines? FNMA/FHLMC are more concerned with market reaction and acceptance. We must remember that FHA only insures loans, they do not fund loans.

Finished flooring techniques and materials are a quality of construction issue in my thoughts. Adjustments would be based on market acceptance.