How To Soundproof A Floor
There are many reasons why you might want to soundproof the floors within your home. Perhaps your little ones are heavy-footed and haven’t quite mastered walking without stomping. Or maybe you have butterfingered neighbours who drop countless items daily.
No matter the reason, there are plenty of benefits to be had by soundproofing your floor.
In this blog post, we will discuss some of the key benefits that come with soundproofing and how you can do it. A peaceful abode is only a few materials and a bit of know-how away.
Key Benefits of Soundproofing Floors
Before we get into the specifics of installation methods and how to soundproof a floor, let’s take a look at why it is advisable to install insulation in the first place.
Floor soundproofing gifts homeowners with a more peaceful lifestyle – a sounder night’s sleep, home working without distractions and generally feeling more rested and relaxed day-to-day.
Although principally designed to dampen sound, the majority of sound insulation solutions and soundproofing material will also help to reduce heat loss – a welcome benefit given the current financial climate.
Types of Noise
Sound transmission can come in many forms; be it thumping music, the slow hum of next-door’s TV, the whirring of a washing machine or the sound of your neighbour snoring – adding insult to injury when you are struggling to catch the z’s yourself!
So before you go ahead and source materials for your soundproofing project, it is important first to identify the source of the noise. Does the noise originate from outside or inside the room?
If it is coming from outside, then you need to look at window treatments and door seals. You can also install a door sweep underneath the door.
If it is coming from inside, you’ll need to invest in sound-absorbing materials. In this case, we recommend using acoustic insulation slabs from brands like Rockwool and Knauf, or noise-cancelling devices.
The source of the sound will ultimately determine what category of noise it falls under. Let’s explore the two most common types of noise: airborne and impact noise.
Airborne Noise
Airborne noise is essentially sounds which are transmitted between rooms via flanking elements.
A flanking element is any building component or structural pathway that can inadvertently transmit sound from one room to another. These elements are not the primary path for sound transmission, like a direct opening or a door, but they can still allow sound to “flank” around barriers designed to block noise. Flanking elements can effectively bypass the primary soundproofing measures in place and allow noise to spread through indirect routes.
To put it simply, airborne noise is noise which travels through the air.
Impact Noise
Impact noise, on the other hand, is noise which is transmitted throughout a property when an object meets another object. A common example is footsteps on a wooden floor.
How To Soundproof A Floor
Now that we have established why soundproofing your floors is a smart choice, we can get into the ‘how’ side of things.
Airborne Noise Insulation Solutions
To reduce the transmission of airborne sound through wooden floors, we suggest insulating between floor joists using soundproofing materials. Glass mineral and rock mineral are the two most popular choices for insulation that can reduce noise pollution in your home. Knauf Acoustic Roll and Rockwool RWA45 Slabs are among the most popular acoustic insulation products that we sell.
If you don’t want the hassle of lifting floorboards, another method is to apply a high-density mass-loaded vinyl sheet. These mats are very effective at reducing airborne sound (and increasing airborne floor sound insulation) and are also easy to lay, requiring no real expertise.
Acoustic underlays mitigate airborne and impact sound when applied to timber or concrete sub-floors. We suggest using an amalgamation of vinyl sheets and soundproofing foams.
Impact Noise Insulation Solutions
When residents of the property above you apply a certain degree of weight on their floor, it creates impact noise. This can affect not just one room but multiple rooms – even your whole apartment. As this type of noise moves through the floors, it will slowly lose energy and sound as it travels.
To soundproof floors against unwanted noise, sound and vibration absorbing materials are key to reducing impact noise. You can achieve this by installing a floating floor system or an acoustic ceiling system.
Here are just a few methods you can use to reduce impact noise:
- Lay down carpets and paddings
- Lay down underlayments
- Make use of a durable soundproofing compound
- Construct a drop ceiling
How To Soundproof Concrete Floors
Wooden floors are a lot easier to soundproof than concrete as you’ll have a few more options available to you. Once laid, concrete floors cannot be lifted or modified.
To soundproof concrete floors, you will need to apply materials on top of them. This can be done by laying a thick carpet and/or utilising soundproof mats as a way of preventing impact noise.
Another method is to employ a medley of types and thicknesses of high-impact absorption foam. A durable layer will need to be applied over the concrete and below the final floor finish.
Cheapest Soundproofing Materials – How To Soundproof a Floor on a Budget
If the area you are soundproofing is only small, such as a child’s playroom or a home office, interlocking floor mats will do just the trick. Not only are they highly convenient in their design but they are also one of the cheapest options available on the market.
This low-cost does come (ironically) at a higher cost, in that they are not completely effective at deadening sound. To achieve this, you might want to use interlocking floor mats in conjunction with other floor soundproofing solutions such as floor underlayment and the laying of carpet.
What Are The Best Soundproofing Materials Available On The Market?
Now you know how to soundproof a floor, you’re probably wondering what the best materials for the job are. There are many products available on the market that are reputed for their soundproofing credentials (particularly rubber mats or underlay solutions), however, as is always the case with any type of insulation, there are always solutions that triumph over others.
But which is best? This, of course, is entirely dependent on your application and the type of noise you are dealing with. In these cases, there is no one-size-fits-all material or method, each property is different and needs to be treated as such.
Whichever method and material you end up adopting, all work will have to comply with building regulations in order to be deemed safe – if you’re unsure, we advise that you seek professional advice. Improper installation should never be risked, especially in applications as fundamental as flooring.
However, to give an answer to ‘what are the best soundproofing materials’ we recommend using the following materials:
- Thick carpet
- Cork flooring
- Wood plastic composite (WPC) flooring
- Rubber flooring
- Vinyl tile
Conclusion
In conclusion, soundproofing a floor is an effective strategy to enhance the comfort and privacy of any living or working space.
Through the strategic application of materials like underlayments, acoustic mats, insulation, and sound-deadening floor coverings, you can significantly reduce the transmission of both impact and airborne noise.
Remember, the effectiveness of your soundproofing efforts will largely depend on the thoroughness of the installation process and the quality of the materials used.
It’s also crucial to consider the structural aspects of your building and consult with professionals when necessary, to ensure that any modifications do not compromise its integrity.
