Floors

The UK's Most Trusted Floor

Soundproofing Provider

High performing, DIY floor soundproofing solutions. For noisy neighbours, studios & Part E Building Regulations


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SoundMat 3 Plus on a bedroom floor
Soundproofing Store timber floor soundproofing

The UK's Most Trusted Floor Soundproofing Provider

High performing, DIY soundproofing solutions. For noisy neighbours, studios & Part E Building Regulations


Talk To An Expert

What type of floor are you soundproofing ?

Timber Joist Floor

SoundMat 3 Plus
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Solid Concrete Floor

SoundMat 2 Plus
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Top 3 Soundproofing Solutions for Timber Joist Floors

How to soundproof a floor

To achieve the best results when soundproofing a floor it is important to limit the transfer of impact noise (the likes of footsteps or dragging furniture) by using a soundproofing solution which adds a cushioning layer to absorb impact vibration. Proven acoustic insulation solutions like SoundMats act like a floating floor, which help to absorb impact vibration before it enters the structure of the floor.

For timber floors it is also important to reduce the amplification of sound within the sealed cavity between the floor joists and ceiling below by adding acoustic insulation such as mineral wool between joists. 

The addition of mass to the floor also helps to create a barrier to block sound waves. e.g. 300mm of concrete will naturally block more sound than 10mm of timber. Using different types of mass also helps to block different frequencies of sound.


How to soundproof a floor

The 3 main principles of soundproofing:

Insulate Cavities

 

Add acoustic mineral wool within cavities. This helps to prevent sound resonating and amplifying within cavities

Cushioning

   

Absorb impact vibrations at the source before they have chance to enter the structure

Mass

 

Increase the mass of the floor to block unwanted airborne noise. Use different types of mass to block different frequencies of sound

Considerations when soundproofing a floor

3 criteria to help determine the correct soundproofing solution:

Final Floor Finish

 

Different solutions are more suited to different final floor finishes. Choose the most suitable solution depending not only on the noise you are trying to block, but also your final floor finish

Noise Issue

   

 Is the unwanted noise impact vibration (e.g. footsteps) airborne (e.g. talking) or a combination of both? This will determine which soundproofing solution is most suited to your individual situation

Noise Source

 

Where is the noise coming from? Is the noise coming from above or below? If it's coming from above, do you have access to the floor above? It's always easier to soundproof at the source of the noise before it enters the structure

We don’t expect you to become an overnight soundproofing expert, that’s what we’re here for.

Ian Baker, The Soundproofing Store
Phil Lyons, The Soundproofing Store
Frankie Fyfe, The Soundproofing Store
Ian Manning, The Soundproofing Store
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Timber Joist Floor FAQs

  • How effective is timber floor soundproofing?

    Soundproofing a timber floor will reduce impact noise, airborne noise, or both. 

    All our acoustic floor solutions are designed to exceed the UK Part E Building Regulations for the passage of sound.

    Different systems offer different levels of noise reduction depending on the level of noise needed to be blocked and the current construction of the floor and the final floor finish.

    No soundproofing will offer 100% reduction, however installing soundproofing will dramatically reduce noisy neighbour noise.

    *dB results will vary depending on several factors.

    Please see our dB blog on why dB results may vary


  • Does timber floor soundproofing work both ways?

    Soundproofing a timber floor will block impact noise (footsteps) travelling from the room above to the room below. 

    Timber floor soundproofing can also block airborne noise travelling from below to the room above or from the room above to the room below.

  • Do I need to soundproof the whole timber floor?

    The short answer is YES as soundproofing is like waterproofing and is only as good as the weakest point. (As sound can travel through very small gaps).

    If you were to soundproof just part of the timber floor you would be wasting your money. 

  • How thick is timber floor Soundproofing?

    Floor soundproofing for timber floors varies in thickness from 12mm to 28mm depending on the type and level of soundproofing required. Our best-selling SoundMat 3 Plus is just 15mm thick and performs exceptionally well against both airborne noise and impact noise.

  • Do you offer an installation service for timber floors?

    Please see our dedicated installation page for more details on different installation options.

  • Once installed on a timber floor, can I put any type of final floor finish down?

    Yes, however, the best final floor finish for soundproofing is carpet. Thin hard floors such as laminate and vinyl can also be fitted on top of soundproofing, but some systems may need a 6mm hardboard first to provide a flat stable base. Our Reverso SoundMat is unique in that in the majority of cases no further hardboard layer is needed.

    Engineered wood floors can also be fitted on top of soundproofing providing it is 18mm or thicker.

    Bathroom, and kitchen tiles will normally need a flat stable base on top of the soundproofing, depending on which floor soundproofing system has been selected.

    For specialist flooring (including certain LVT and Vinyl) a self levelling screed or overboard may be needed to meet the manufactures guidance. Please speak to the flooring manufacturer to check.

    Solid and hard floor finishes will reduce the amount of impact noise reduction achieved by the base layer of soundproofing by up to 5dB.

Visit the Knowledge Hub for more in depth info about how soundproofing works

Knowledge Hub
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