Sound Insulation Flooring

[Rich_W]

Looking at installing some sound absorption panels under my new carpet in a bid to reduce noise transfer from myself to others. (Mainly the people below me, who are serial complainers) Obviously looking to reduce Airborne noise more than Impact noise. Since I don't plan to hold any tap dancing competitions and my concern is TV/Music noise. I accept there is a limit to what I can achieve without spending thousands on every surface.

Thought I'd nailed it to Quietfloor Plus



2 Layers of rubber matting, with a foam centre. It's heavy and the manufacturers claim "up to" 51db reduction. (note the quotes for up to )Nice little video with a box lined with the stuff here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBcwTHh1nvA

There's a sound proofing company local to me, they sold an equivalent to QF+ but when I said I as looking to reduce Airborne noise, the sales guy said "That's no good for what you want. You want this..."

"This" turned out to be Phonestar

http://www.acaraconcepts.com/soundproofing/ (UK Importers)



Which is 2 layers of Hardboard, Corrugated Cardboard and filled with very fine sand. Rated as "up to" 36db Airborne reduction, which is obviously less



He did a similar demo in the shop to the one above, little but very noisy siren in a box lined with this Phonestar panels. He kindly gave me a sample to take away. It's very rigid.


Anybody have experience of either or both of these? TBH I'm struggling to understand how hardboard panels (regardless of the sand) can actually do anything other than enhance noise, like a laminate floor would be noisier.


Price is not massively different between the 2 options. (Circa £750ish for materials) And they both have additional installation costs (I'm DIYing it but there's various consumables needed)

Cheers

Edited by Rich_W on Wednesday 16th March 21:32

[Evolved]

Or just tell the serial complainers to fk off? Save yourself some coin.

[Monty Python]

It's the combination of materials that does the trick. Laminate flooring is solid wood, so vibrations pass through it more or less unhindered. When you have internal structures and materials of differing densities you get all manner of reflections and absorptions taking place.

[ian996]

I have the Phonestar boards as one component of my wall sound-proofing, I think it's pretty effective stuff but it can be a bit messy as, when you cut it to size it opens a line of channels and all the sand in those channels comes out. Not a huge problem as it's a one-time issue when you are installing, but it does make the job a bit more involved than using more traditional materials.

It's possible that I'm suffering from some settling of the sand, reducing the insulation at the top of the wall as, subjectively, the sound reduction is not quite what it was three years ago when I installed it. Having said that, even if that was the case, it shouldn't be an issue when the panels are laid flat as floor insulation.

Overall, I'm happy with the results, but I have rock-wool, mass-loaded vinyl, phonestar and acoustic plasterboard layers, so I can't really say how much each contributes.

So the short answer is: A bit messy, seems fairly effective.

[paralla]

I wanted to improve the sound insulation between us and the downstairs neighbour when I bought my flat.

I removed the skirting boards, put acoustic sealant into all the gaps between the boards and around the edges.

I laid two 2.5mm layers of mass loaded vynl taping all the joints then got the best carpet underlay and plush carpet.

This was all relatively cheap and easy, if time consuming. I think it's all I could do short of pulling up the boards so if she complained downstairs I could point her to a isolated celing solution which would be her cost, not ours.

We haven't heard a peep from her downstairssince we moved in so it must be working.

[Rich_W]

Thanks for the replies.

I spoke to Sound Service in Oxford and subsequently ordered the Quietfloor plus slabs/panels. Also ordered the Acousic sealant to go round the edges (and their small batons to raise Carpet Grippers up to the new slightly higher height. Should be with us before Easter so I can attack it over the 4 days.

I'll update after it's been fitted

[paralla]

I'm sure it will make a massive difference.

I think soundproofing is often overlooked and it adds so much to the enjoyment of a home not having to worry about the noise disturbing others.

[Rich_W]

paralla said:

I'm sure it will make a massive difference.

I think soundproofing is often overlooked and it adds so much to the enjoyment of a home not having to worry about the noise disturbing others.

I agree. Although I haven't moved in yet, I'm really conscious of the noise of me walking around in the target room for insulating. Currently has crappy laminate flooring. I hate that feeling. It's something heading towards paranoia that the people will keep coming up to complain about it!

Hopefully once it's sorted I'll never hear or see them again!

[Esseesse]

I've had/having new carpet fitted in my house as I work my way round renovating.

I've gone for Tredaire Colours Red underlay partly because of it's supposed sound absorption. I don't know how it compares to other new underlays (other than on paper it's better than just about anything else), but I know it makes a massive difference over the (rather old) fairly standard Duralay that was down before...

Apparently 46dB sound absorption.

http://www.interfloor.com/underlay/colours-red/

[paralla]

How did you get on?

[Rich_W]

paralla said:

How did you get on?

Sorry for the properly late reply!

Quick answer? So Far so Good

Longer. I took pics on a phone, but I'm damned if I can find them now! There's someone else write up at http://www.reviewmylife.co.uk/blog/2012/03/12/inst... Which gives you a clue with the pictures.

Well we pulled up the wooden laminate flooring, there was loads of tacky glue residue so we swept it as best possible. Then screwed the gripper risers (basically 9mm thick strips of wood around the edge of the room. With a gap for the carpet to be tucked into. Then we placed down the "slabs" of the insulation. They say glue it down, but we didn't bother as it was another cost and its not like its going anyway! It's not too heavy, but just the fact its butted up against the batons and has carpet on top means its stable. Laid out the other slabs and cut as according. I used a new blade in a Stanley it makes a bit of mess but cuts easy enough. In a sort of brick pattern. Ran the wide insulation tape over all the joins. Squidged loads of silicone "Insulation" sealant (its just normal stuff I'm om honest!) into the gaps between skirting and the gripper risers.

Few days later had the carpet installed by the aholes at Carpetwrong (will endeavour never to use those rip off tts again!) And I haven't seen or heard from my neighbours below since. Which given they used to badger the previous occupants weekly must be a good thing. I certainly cant hear them.

I also have small subwoofer attached to my PC. I made a little platform from 2 off cuts of the stuff and then placed some carpet on that. Then sat the woofer on that, granted I'm not thumping it away like a nightclub. But it seems ok at the moment. Did try the same with my TV subwoofer, but I'm not comfy with that as much. May need to make a taller platform out of more layers. For the time being I don't have that connected.

[plfrench]

Esseesse said:

I've had/having new carpet fitted in my house as I work my way round renovating.

I've gone for Tredaire Colours Red underlay partly because of it's supposed sound absorption. I don't know how it compares to other new underlays (other than on paper it's better than just about anything else), but I know it makes a massive difference over the (rather old) fairly standard Duralay that was down before...

Apparently 46dB sound absorption.

http://www.interfloor.com/underlay/colours-red/

It's not sound absorption, but a reduction in impact noise transmission. This product would do the square root of not a lot for airborne sound insulation.

[paralla]

plfrench said:

It's not sound absorption, but a reduction in impact noise transmission. This product would do the square root of not a lot for airborne sound insulation.

This is the problem with sound insulation, people with opinions but no facts. It's expensive and you are never quiet sure how effective It will be. Saying something will be as useful as the square root of nothing after the OP has said it has made a notiicable difference adds nothing to the conversation beside making you look like a dick.

[plfrench]

paralla said:

This is the problem with sound insulation, people with opinions but no facts. It's expensive and you are never quiet sure how effective It will be. Saying something will be as useful as the square root of nothing after the OP has said it has made a notiicable difference adds nothing to the conversation beside making you look like a dick.

Actually, I have a diploma in acoustics and noise control. I was pointing out that the terminology used was wrong. I wasn't saying that the solution didn't work, but that for it to have worked, his original problem must have been one of structure borne impact noise and not of airborne sound.