Whether you live in a house or a flat, the noise that comes from footsteps, kids playing or pets hurtling around can add an unwanted distraction to the ambience of your home. Not only that, but if you have other people living above or below you, the noise that you have become accustomed to may in fact be causing them a great deal of annoyance!
Luckily there are soundproofing options available that can help you reduce the volume and allow people to live in a much more comforting environment.
In this blog, we look at how soundproofing your floor is possible.
Where is the noise coming from?
Before investing in new flooring or looking at complex methods to drown out the sound, you might need to know the types of sound you are looking to block.
Impact noise
Impact noise is the one you associate with flooring. This would be footsteps, furniture being moved or anything else that comes into contact with the flooring surface.
Airborne noise
Airborne noise is the sound that comes from your TV, your conversations, music or sounds from outside. Basically, it’s any sound that travels through the air rather than coming from any form of impact.
Depending on the layout of your room, you could find that both types of noise are contributing to the noise. Certain wall types don’t do much to absorb airborne noise for example, but the addition of furniture can soak up a little of it. Impact noise can come from the movement of a chair but can be further worsened by it bouncing around a bare room! With this in mind, you should look to tackle both types of noise to deliver a more harmonious environment.
How can I soundproof my floor?
There are plenty of options you could investigate and much depends on your budget, your desired style, the room size and the flooring type.
Acoustic underlayment
An easy addition to any floor is an acoustic underlayment. Placed directly underneath the flooring this cork, rubber or foam underlay does a great job at absorbing impact noise. It also provides great sound absorption for any airborne noise too, especially if you opt for foam.
Carpet or rugs
It sounds obvious that either of these would be a choice, but there seems to be a distinct lack of people shopping for carpets these days. Natural wood, luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) or stone seems to be the way people are going. However, the addition of a rug can do wonders to add a little more sound absorption. If you already have carpet installed or are planning a new carpet, look at adding an acoustic rug pad underneath. This will further enhance the soundproofing that carpet naturally offers.
Mass loaded vinyl
With the option to be combined with other materials, mass-loaded vinyl (MLV) can offer fantastic soundproofing when it teams up with another soundproofing method. By itself, it is still an incredible asset to use against excess noise. Provided as a dense, flexible sheet it can be laid on subfloors, over underlay and even applied to walls.
Floating floors
Floating floors are a popular choice for soundproofing. They create a gap between the existing floor and the layer of soundproof flooring. This space, combined with an acoustic underlayment helps reduce the amount of noise being transmitted. A great option for combatting both airborne and impact noise. Laminate or LVT flooring is a great option for this as it can simply sit on top of the underlayment and “float” above the subfloor.
Damping compound
If you are starting from scratch and installing a subfloor, you could use a damping compound between layers. This helps create a more soundproof surface that can combat both airborne and impact noise.
Soundproof mats
In some rooms, perhaps the kitchen or laundry room, noise levels can reach quite high levels. Think of the washing machine on its spin cycle or the dishwasher running through its programme. It’s a noise you can do without. Putting soundproof mats underneath such appliances can greatly reduce the sound these items make through their vibrations and movements. If you’ve already installed some of the options we mentioned above, there is certainly no harm in adding a mat underneath each appliance to add a little more soundproofing.
These options provide you with some of the best soundproofing choices for your floor but choosing the materials you use is also important. Let’s take a look.
What materials are best for soundproofing a floor?
Different floor types help with soundproofing in different ways. Some offer much better protection against airborne noise while others are exceptional at tackling impact noise.
Cork
Cork provides you with an affordable and effective method of sound insulation. It is often chosen for those looking to reduce the level of impact noise. Simply lay it on the subfloor with your chosen flooring type over the top.
Rubber
Like cork, rubber offers another great way to reduce the level of noise coming through the floor. An excellent option for tackling both airborne and impact noise.
Foam
A quick-fix choice but one that may not offer sufficient sound absorption in rooms with heavy low-frequency sounds.
MLV
The mass-loaded vinyl we mentioned earlier is among the best materials to choose from. Excellent for both types of noise, it can be used on walls or floors and alongside a host of flooring types.
Carpet padding
If you have carpet or rugs in place, adding carpet padding under them can add a further level of sound absorption.
How much will it cost to soundproof a floor?
Much depends on how far along the flooring journey you are. If you have settled on a floor, had it installed and then decided you need to add soundproofing, the costs will be much higher than if it was installed initially. Likewise, the simple addition of a rug or some carpet can be fairly inexpensive and won’t require flooring being pulled up!
You should then also look at what else your chosen flooring type provides. Is carpet suitable or is it going to be susceptible to spills and staining? Do you want something that looks great but may take a lot of care to look after? Do you want durability and safety to be factors (especially if you have children in the home)? Do you want classic or contemporary? Take considerations like these into account before settling on a flooring type, you can then factor in the soundproofing options and have them installed when your floor is laid.
