What Is Soundproof Flooring?

Soundproof flooring is the intentional design, or materials created to minimize the transmission of either airborne or impact caused noises from transferring through your floor and into your room, condo, or apartment. This type of problem is very common in high rise condo or apartment buildings where your neighbors may or may not even be aware that they are a distraction to you. Whether it is the foot steps of the unit above you or the sound of the television from the apartment below you, the constant commotion can be very stressful, especially if it occurs during your regular sleeping hours.

Types Of Soundproof Flooring

If you are constantly bothered by the noise transmitted through your walls and floors, the best time to make adjustments with soundproof flooring is during construction, or remodeling. If you are planning to replace your flooring anyways, the most cost effective soundproofing materials are installed underneath the flooring of your choice. In reality, there are very few actual soundproof flooring materials, but rather types of materials that can be applied beneath your floor to help reduce unwanted noise.

• Mass Loaded Vinyl – One of the most effective and inexpensive soundproof flooring materials on the market is called mass loaded vinyl. Weighing more than 2lbs per square foot being only ¼ inch thick, it is an extremely dense material that is most effective blocking airborne sound such as neighbors talking, televisions, dogs barking, or busy roads. Products like Quiet Barrier have an STC rating of over 30, and for every 10 SCT you can expect a reduction in sound of 50%.
• Impact Barrier – Impact barriers are a great soundproof flooring product to use below hardwood floors, or laminate flooring to help reduce the impact noise of footfall or movement on your flooring for your neighbors below. As an added bonus they also extend the life of your carpet, and make your floor much more comfortable to walk on. With the cost of impact barrier being only slightly higher than mass loaded vinyl, and considering it also blocks some airborne sound as well, it can be a great investment.

Which Soundproof Flooring Is Right For Me?

Your soundproof flooring solution will be dependent on what problem you are trying to solve. If airborne noise from neighbors is keeping you up at night, installation of a simple mass loaded vinyl material should reduce the noise to a tolerable level If you are more concerned about disturbing your neighbors with your foot steps, then an impact barrier will reduce the transmission of vibrations through the floor, as well as eliminate some airborne noise.

What if soundproofing flooring materials aren’t enough? If you still suffer from outside noises even if you’ve attempted to remedy the situation, you may need to consider using sound isolating construction methods such as resilient channels and stud beam isolators which will stop impact sounds at their source. Whichever method you choose, soundproof flooring will be most affordable if implemented before construction, or during a remodel.