When it comes to installing new laminate floors, investing in a suitable underfloor is essential. Ideally, you'll want to look for one that can reduce sound by 20 to 30 dB or more. Generally speaking, the thicker the laminate flooring boards, the quieter they will be. This is because they contain more high-density cores and allow for less sound transfer.
Sound-insulated floor layer options from specialized manufacturers represent a major improvement over standard products. They are designed and tested to minimize impact sound by creating a resistant layer that stops sound waves. Impact sound usually occurs when someone walks on the floor surface, especially on hard surfaces such as tiles, laminate and wood. It also comes from the movement of furniture or objects that fall or are thrown to the floor.
The result is that sound waves are transmitted through the material on the floor surface, the subfloor (whether concrete or wooden boards) and the ceiling, until they reach the room below. Most floor layers are resilient materials, making them the most effective against impact sounds. The material absorbs and reduces medium and high frequency sound waves. Resilient materials are not very dense or thick, but they introduce a decoupling effect that will help dissipate the sound energy that propagates through the structure of your home. For example, rubber, foam, fibers and cork are resilient materials. Quietfloor PLUS is one of the most effective acoustic bases on the market for reducing noise on floors.
It is fast to install and remarkably cost-effective. The use of this product increases aerial acoustic insulation and reduces the transmission of impact noise to such an extent that it is not necessary to install false floors; this not only increases the minimum ceiling height, but also considerably reduces labor and material costs. QuietFloor PLUS is the easiest way to reduce noise levels with minimal interruption and replaces the normal base of carpets. While it's a quick solution and dramatically reduces most household noise, noise reduction can be improved by also using an acoustic quilt or AMW in the hollow space. This is the preferred and recommended solution. Floors created with LVT (luxury vinyl tiles), ceramic tiles, vinyl sheets, stone, Flotex and marble can use a base designed to reduce sound transmission.
Ideal for new construction, conversions and remodeling when it is necessary to improve the aerial soundproofing capabilities of floors. In this case, you would need to lay a 12 mm hardwood layer on the soundproofing base before laying the tiles. However, as one of the toughest flooring options available, laminate floors tend to generate slightly more noise than softer flooring alternatives such as vinyl or carpet. We always recommend placing a minimum layer of 6 mm of hardwood on the soundproof base before placing the laminate or vinyl to obtain a flat and stable base. If you use Quietfloor PLUS as an acoustic base under a carpet, perimeter packaging strips must be installed around the edges of the floor next to the wall. For example, when you are going to soundproof the floor of an apartment, you will usually have to select an acoustic base with an AAAC rating of five or more to ensure that the floor meets the relevant acoustic standards established in the National Building Code. Being made of high density foam, it will rectify any imperfections in the subfloor and help create a level surface on which to place the laminate.
The subfloor plays an important role in thermal insulation since it absorbs irregularities and in soundproofing of floors in front of noises. When advertising a carpet base, major retailers usually offer a range of products based largely on different levels of comfort: The more you pay, the more luxurious the rug will be. In the case of other soundproof rugs, it is necessary to place them under underfloor heating due to their mass and material from which they are made. The soundproof floor base you'll need depends on whether it's airborne noise, impact noise or a combination of both. Although projects differ in terms of purpose and budget, a good rubber-based base has been shown to create a fantastic acoustic barrier for wooden floors. In theory, if you place a lower layer on a floor it means that you have to stack another layer of floor (laminate, vinyl etc.).Soundproofing your laminate floors can be achieved with specialized underlays that absorb impact noise while providing thermal insulation benefits as well.
These underlays come in various thicknesses and densities depending on your needs and budget. They can be used with carpets or other types of flooring such as LVT (luxury vinyl tiles), ceramic tiles, vinyl sheets, stone, Flotex and marble. The best way to ensure maximum noise reduction is by using an acoustic quilt or AMW in combination with Quietfloor PLUS as an acoustic base under your laminate floors. This combination will provide superior soundproofing capabilities while also creating a level surface for your laminate floors. No matter what type of flooring you choose for your home or office space, investing in quality soundproof underlay will help reduce impact noise while providing thermal insulation benefits as well.
