Soundproofing a Floor: Walk Silently!
Soundproofing a floor is a great method to increase your home’s quality and comfort. If you’re starting a new remodeling project, now is the ideal time to replace your floor soundproofing materials and prevent unwanted noise from detracting from your lovely new floor. There are ways and materials that may make your hardwood or laminate flooring not only look wonderful but also sound terrific, whether for new construction, existing building, or even an apartment unit.
This article will teach you the fundamentals of soundproofing a floor with the best materials to decrease unwanted and annoying noise generated by footsteps, music, conversations, and other sources of noise.
When Should Soundproofing a Floor Be Considered?
Because each room is unique, soundproofing a floor may or may not be needed. If the room is on the first level of a house or structure and there is no basement, soundproofing the floor may not be necessary. You could add one or two layers of a temporary solution, but anything more would be overkill.
It’s more important to soundproof a floor if you have rooms below it. It not only helps people record, but it also improves the comfort level of people in other parts of the house or building. Most people are aware that sound from below is not as audible as sound from above. In the recording studios, it still makes a difference, but soundproofing a floor is as much about safeguarding everyone else as it is about aiding with sound recording.
If a room is going to be used for a lot of recording and it’s in an apartment, soundproofing the floor might help you avoid being evicted. There will undoubtedly be several complaints from neighbors if a room is far too noisy. The soundproofing techniques may be sufficient to keep someone from getting evicted from their property.
How To Soundproof Your Newly Constructed Floors?
It’s a great time to implement a soundproofing plan for your floors because it’s simple to fix the subflooring, apply underlayment, and install insulation where needed beneath the floorboards. If you’re repairing or remodeling, and the work calls for new flooring, it’s a close second to new construction surroundings for adopting soundproofing methods.
You might be wondering how to soundproof a new building floor. Here are some of the most common types of main flooring alternatives, as well as the factors to consider while soundproofing new construction:
1. Laminate and Hardwood Floors  |
Hardwood, in particular, may be a difficult material to soundproof. This is due to the fact that it has a hard surface that can magnify impact noise. Furthermore, because hardwood does not absorb sound efficiently, even airborne sounds can be amplified with this type of flooring. So, how can hardwood flooring be soundproofed? It all comes down to how the floor is set up. To begin, we recommend laying down an impact barrier underlayment to assist deaden any noises caused by footfall. Underlayment aids in the creation of a space between the subfloor and the actual hardwood floor you install, allowing the hardwood floor to “float” above the subfloor, relieving strain on it when a force is applied. |
2. Ceramic Tiles  |
Ceramic tile floors, like hardwood and laminate flooring, are soundproofed entirely by the underlayment. When dealing with tile and stone, however, you must pick an underlayment that is meant to be laid beneath mortar, as opposed to a more typical underlayment that you would use for hardwood and laminate. Sound deadening is aided by a proper underlayment. It will also assist to avoid cracking, which can occur following ceramic tile installation. |
3. Carpeted Area Rugs  |
Because of its soft, thick nature, carpet is one of the easiest flooring materials to soundproof, since it better absorbs both impact and airborne sound. It features built-in soundproofing as a result of these characteristics. However, there are a few things you can do to improve the soundproofing of your carpet. One, you may make sure you’re using a thick, high-quality pad below it. Carpet padding not only provides a softer walking surface, but it also acts as a sound barrier. Second, you may put an extra flooring underlayment below the cushioning if you truly want to boost your soundproofing efforts. |
Video: How to Soundproof Floors in Apartment: Do-It-Yourself in 3 Easy Steps!
Soundproofing a Floor in Easy and Inexpensive Ways
It’s far easier to create a barrier between the rest of the living space and the floor than it is to create a barrier between the walls and the ceiling. Anything will decrease sound to some extent, but what does the best job? Consider these low-cost options for soundproofing a floor.
1. Carpet  |
Many people prefer hardwood flooring in specific spaces, but if sound is coming from below, it may merely be leading to noisier regions. The carpet will assist to mask the noise and keep it from reaching people in the vicinity. It may take some time to get used to the notion, but there are plenty of carpet options to choose from if one so desires. For those who don’t want to do anything to their hardwood floors over time, there are floor protection solutions. |
2. Sound-Deadening Rubber Floor Mats  |
This is for those who already have carpet but are still bothered by noises from underneath. Most people only use them in severe cases, but because they’re getting cheaper, it’s worth checking right away just in case. Rubber mats first gained popularity as a result of the shock absorption they give and the fact that they do not slide. As a result, many mats may be seen in gyms and other high-traffic locations. They became highly popular for people wanting to drown out any noises almost by accident. Those who are capable of installing their own carpet can consider starting with these rubber mats. There are no restrictions in this regard because they are reasonably priced. |
3. Green Glue  |
Many individuals like the soundproofing properties of Green Glue (official website) alone. It’s a polymeric substance that muffles sound and makes overall circumstances more bearable. In order for it to operate properly, it must be placed between two soundproofing materials. Green Glue does have one disadvantage: it might be difficult to apply for beginners. The chemical may be used on a variety of materials, but it must be applied properly to be effective. |
4. Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV)  |
This is arguably the best sound-deadening solution among all the inexpensive ones. This material is extremely thick and acts as a sound barrier. This will be used on floors, ceilings, and walls by many people. While it is sometimes sufficient to handle everything yourself, a combination of Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV), floor mats, and carpet may significantly reduce noise. MLV is unique in that it must be hammered or screwed into the floor, despite the fact that it is quite inexpensive to add. For individuals who do not own the home in which they reside, this might be an issue (read more about MLV on soundproofliving.com). |
5. Multi-Use Mats  |
These mats aren’t especially designed to block out noise, but they do the job just as well. Instead of being placed throughout the floor, certain floor mats function better when placed in high-traffic areas. A carpet or rug is not required to cover these multi-purpose mats. Rather, they perform admirably on their own. They may appear out of place in some places, but it’s a small price to pay for ultimate portability. The two most typical reasons for installing this sort of flooring are for a playroom or an exercise area, like using a quiet treadmill for apartments. Some of these floor mats come in little puzzle-like pieces that can be picked up and replaced in a couple of minutes.This is useful in smaller spaces where this sort of flooring might not be desired all of the time. |
6. Subfloor  |
All of the following solutions are low-cost, easy to implement, and sufficient in most instances. Few people, on the other hand, want professional soundproofing, which can’t be achieved with simply some mats and carpet. The most effective technique to soundproof a floor is to layer it properly. Although this is unlikely to be permitted by a rental property, many people who own their houses have done so. To begin, the old floor must be removed. It could be possible to reinstall it, but any substantial modifications will need work beneath the top layer of flooring. This entails removing everything down to the subfloor and working from there. |
Video: Soundproofing a floor using Green Glue
Which of These Methods Is the Most Effective?
It’s vital to consider how significant soundproofing a floor is while deciding on the best solution. It’s definitely a bit too much of a pain to go through the full process of breaking up a floor if it’s only a temporary solution. Pricing is no more an issue in today’s world, since costs have decreased dramatically in the previous several years. Many various DIY soundproofing have benefited from video websites like YouTube, since witnessing the process makes it so much easier.
There will always be limitations depending on a person’s home, but if it’s a recurring problem, look for a long-term solution. Taking care of problems once will provide a person with the peace of mind they require in the future.
In Conclusion
When setting down your soundproof flooring, keep in mind that you don’t have to stick to just one type of material. To get the best possible soundproofing, carpet padding, underlayment, and interlocking pads should all be used together. Make sure there are no spaces between your soundproof flooring and the walls to decrease sound transmission. If you want to be extra safe, you may have your carpet pad or underlayment come up the wall a little so that it’s level with the top layer of carpeting, then use a compound to bond the mat to the wall.
Finally, while some of these procedures are simple enough to complete on your own, it is definitely in your best interest to seek the help of a friend for this DIY project. It will simplify the process and reduce some of the frustrations associated with working alone. It takes a lot of time and work to soundproof your floor, but it is well worth the effort!
