Wooden floors are among the most cherished parts of London homes – thanks to their ever-green appeal. However, for a resident of a Victorian property converted into a flat, wood floors also bring one major issue along with them i.e., noise!! Be it air-borne noise from partying in the flat upstairs or the impact vibrations from the footsteps, wood floors aren’t that great at absorbing them.
And that’s why, one of the best ways to deal with them is to soundproof your wood floors. Soundproofing helps block the sound from reaching your wood floors and prevents the noise from passing further. There are multiple ways to soundproof wood floors – from surface additions to structural changes. Read to know how you can make your floors soundproof to get a more serene living space.
Top 5 Ways to Soundproof Wood Floors in Your Home
1. Placing Carpet & Rugs
The simplest yet primary approach to soundproof wood floors is to use carpeting or rugs. It is your best bet if you don’t want to alter your floor’s installation and still have a good solution that’s enough to minimise noise through your hardwood.
Acting as soft floor coverings, carpets, and rugs aren’t just made to add comfort underfoot but also to absorb much of the noise in your space.
You can prefer to install wall-to-wall carpeting or thick, plush area rugs over your wooden floor to help soundproof them. Ensure to choose thick and dense underpads for them to improve sound absorption and create a quieter space. The denser they are, the better the soundproofing.
2. Sealing With Green Glue / Acoustic Sealant
Another way to minimize sound through your wood floors is to use acoustic sealants.
Acoustic sealants like green glue are latex-based glue-like products used to fill gaps and join different layers of wood flooring. They are dense and flexible, which makes them a great choice for sound absorption & soundproofing wood floors.
You can use them in two scenarios.
- Gluing while installation
First, if you are about to install/re-install your wood floor, make sure to use acoustic sealant to glue down your wooden floor over the subfloor. Using such sound-proofing glue between your floor’s layers will help absorb the sound, preventing it from passing it to the ceiling of the flat below it.
- Filling gaps and cracks
Second way is to use green glue or acoustic sealant to fill any gaps in your floor. Know that your wood floors might also be leaking noise if they have any major cracks or gaps in them. You can reduce noise levels by repairing those gaps in your wood floors by filling them up with green glue. This will help soundproof wood floors while restoring its durability at the same time.
3. Soundproofing Mats & Underlayments
Going one level above the surface approaches of gap filling or carpeting, you can use acoustic underlayments to soundproof wood floors in your home.
Such underlayments are an additional layer between your wooden flooring and the subfloor. Similar to them comes the acoustic mats or panels. These work by bearing the impact noises and blocking them from passing onto the subfloor.
You can choose from a variety of underlayments like those made up of cork, fiber, foam, or rubber. The thicker and denser they are, the better soundproofing they’ll offer.
When going for underlayments, you get a few more benefits besides soundproofing.
- Underlayments provide good thermal insulation to prevent heat loss through your flooring.
- They also prevent damage and excess pressure on your subflooring due the foam layer.
- It prevents your floor from damage from dampness.
- They provide cushioning under your wooden floorboards to provide comfort and reduce wear and tear.
With floorboards with tongue and groove settings, you can easily install an underlayment by yourself or ask a professional to do it for you.
4. Installing Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV)
Similar to underlayments, but with better sound insulating ability, Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) is also a great way to soundproof wood floors, especially for floors in a flat that face impact noise.
Mass Loaded Vinyl is a thick and bulky material that is made up of sound absorbing components to reduce noise levels. MLV sheets can be placed/installed beneath a hardwood floor to add an absorption layer to minimize both air-borne and foot traffic noise. Most sheets are easy to install and you can DIY them as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
5. Acoustic Joist Insulation
If you are looking for a comprehensive solution to fully soundproof wood floors, acoustic joist insulation is the best way to go. This is often a more advanced approach than others but offers the maximum sound insulation for wood floors.
This includes installing a soundproofing material in between the foundational joists of your floor under the subfloor. There are many materials available for insulation like fiberglass, mineral wool or rock wool. Covering the void between the floor joists, such soundproofing insulation provides maximum noise blockage for complete peace of mind.
To install such an insulation under your floor, you will need the assistance of reliable experts providing wood floor soundproofing. Most of them don’t require lifting of the entire floor to fit the insulation underneath. Using the right techniques and materials that suit your flooring type, professionals will ensure proper acoustic insulation that offers maximum soundproofing of your wood floors.
Summing Up
Soundproofing wood floors has many ways to go. It depends on the noise levels you want to block and how severe your noise-proofing needs are. For regular and primary levels of soundproofing, you can prefer to use carpeting and area rugs with dense pads. Fixing any gaps or cracks on your floorboards can also prevent noise leaks and reduce noise levels.
For even better soundproofing, you can use acoustic underlayments or MLV sheets underneath your wood floors. The noise-absorbing materials will help block sound to a great extent. Lastly, for complete sound cancellation in case of a heavily noisy environment, you can have acoustic joist insulation installed by a flooring professional.
With either of these wood floor soundproofing options or a combination of them, you can help minimize noise through your floors and ensure a peaceful space for yourself and your neighbors living under you!
You Can Also Read: How To Protect Your Newly Sanded Floors From Scratches And Dents?