Soundproofing bedroom floor

[aderbyshirelad]

Hi All,

Recently moved in to relatively new house, built 30 years ago or so. It was obviously done to a pretty high standard and most of the place is absolutely rock solid. Oddly, the last extension added some 20 years ago is of the same build quality apart from the sound transmission from the bedroom into the living room below. You can really hear footsteps and even someone using the en-suite.

To make matters more complicated, before we moved and discovered this, we had hoped to rip up the carpet and underlay in the bedroom and paint the floorboards. We’d still like to do this, so, is it possible to remove the carpet, maybe retain the underlay and then board over the top of this (possibly with a product with sound deadening qualities) then lay new floorboards on top? Obviously there would be an issue with the thresholds into the en-suite and the landing, so is there a way that could be dealt with as well?

Not worried about how complicated this might be as the carpet has to go one way or another and we’d really, really like to avoid using carpet again.

Thanks in advance,
J

[Lotobear]

You need to add a resilient layer for impact sound and/or density for airborne sound.

Ideally you would take up the existing flooring and install some dense mineral wool between the joists. Any air gaps, no matter how small, should be filled to reduce airborne sound - this should also reduce the transmission of impact sound but ideally to do that you would need a resilient layer between the flooring and the joists.

Or, a good quality dense carpet underlay can make a significant difference


https://pinksinsulation.co.uk/product/resonate-res...

[Chainsaw Rebuild]

I would lift the boards and put sound insulation in between the joists like this https://www.rockwool.com/uk/products/sound-slab/

Then you can put cork strips between the joists and the floor boards to reduce impact noise.

make sure the boards are tight to each other, using wooden strips if required.

Use acoustic sealant around the perimeter - ie where the sound could go around the floor boards/skirting and downstairs.

[aderbyshirelad]

Thanks guys, I hadn’t even considered taking up the existing boards and ‘sound proofing’ that way. I also seem to recall our surveyor suggesting we add more insulation into the ‘attic / void’ in the sitting room below as there is an access hatch, so I’m guessing that would make a difference as well?

[AC43]

aderbyshirelad said:

Thanks guys, I hadn t even considered taking up the existing boards and sound proofing that way. I also seem to recall our surveyor suggesting we add more insulation into the attic / void in the sitting room below as there is an access hatch, so I m guessing that would make a difference as well?

When I did a complete refurb on one house I had;

1. sound deadening material in the ceiling voids
2. floor boards
3. ply boarding
4. sound deadening underlay
5 engineered oak

That lot really worked although I didn't have to worry about threshold levels as this was done over the entire floorspace.

[Little Lofty]

Not using carpet (and underlay) will make things worse, it’s why many blocks of flats don’t allow hard floors. Fitting Rockwool rwa45 in between the joists helps but don’t expect miracles, especially if you don’t refit carpet and underlay. I’ve just done a HMO to a high spec, 2 layers of acoustic insulation, acoustic plasterboards etc, it all helps but it’s not soundproof.

[POIDH]

You can of course go up from below - take down ceiling and stuff with sound deadening soft insulation, then you can suspend ceiling below on some rubber or install a sound proof membrane. Ain't no-one going to hear your guests getting down to brass tacks then....

I have used these folks products on walls before, and they were superb at stopping noise.

https://soundstop.co.uk/pages/ceiling-soundproofin...

[BunkMoreland]

I have this stuff

https://www.soundservice.co.uk/quietfloor_plus.htm...

I bought my flat some years ago, it had wooden flooring and Id planned to keep it to cut costs. . But even when we were decorating the downstairs (retired couple) grumbled about "the sound of the ladder"

As I like to be "not a dhead" all the flooring came up, back to the concrete (70s so crap really) and we installed a layer of that stuff in the living room. Then got a carpet put on it. Its not hard to do. Remember that any doors will need to be removed and have the bottom trimmed by about 25mm ish as you are raising the floor slightly.

I know that I can control my noise levels. I dont play loud music, dont jump up and down etc. I got rid of my 5.1 surround system as I didn't want the bass going around the place. It seemed to be worth it for my piece of mind at least. I've heard its still good, but less effective on wooden floors. But I guess so long as the wooden floors are totally attached and have no gaps to create "bounce" it will have a good effect

So much so that a few years later I bumped into my downstairs neighbours in the communal area and they were surprised to see me as they thought the flat was empty constantly! It also works as a reasonable heat insulation. I dont think I've ever heard my next door neighbour. SO clearly the walls are ok, its just the floors and ceilings

POIDH said:

You can of course go up from below - take down ceiling and stuff with sound deadening soft insulation, then you can suspend ceiling below on some rubber or install a sound proof membrane. Ain't no-one going to hear your guests getting down to brass tacks then....

I have used these folks products on walls before, and they were superb at stopping noise.

https://soundstop.co.uk/pages/ceiling-soundproofin...

Interesting. My upstairs neighbours do not share my approach to "not being a dhead"

But I fear the costs of 50square metres of ceiling soundproofed to the max by experts is going to be tens of thousands. And it may not be 100% effective, plus if I had that money spare, I'd probably be better off having them killed by a hitman moving away anyway!