This blog post will answer the question, “How to soundproof a wooden floor?” and cover different types of noises and ways to the soundproof wooden floor, and what are the benefits of soundproofing a wooden floor.
How to soundproof a wooden floor?
We can soundproof a wooden floor in the following ways which will help to reduce noise and enhance the acoustics of your space, both before and after installing wooden floors. It’s considerably easier and less expensive to construct a soundproof room than it is to try to solve the problem after the wood floor has been put in.
Soundproofing before Installation
- By placing a wooden floor underlayment
- Using Carpets and Rugs
- Installing a deck screw
- Attaching the wood to the floor using glue.
- Using a rubber mat
Soundproofing after Installation
- Furnishing for the Walls and windows
- Furniture
To understand how to soundproof wooden floors, we must first understand the types of noises. Generally, Airborne and impact noises are the two types of noises.
Airborne noises
Airborne disturbances are sounds that travel through the air before passing through walls, ceilings, or floors, such as those produced by tv or radio, people conversing, or constant noise. The easiest approach to cope with these noises is to utilize sound-absorbing materials like fibre insulation within floor and ceiling spaces.
Impact noises
When one object makes direct contact with another, it generates an impact noise. Anyone walking or jogging on the floor, or even someone throwing an object on the floor, are both examples.
Because the hit generates tremors in the home’s construction, such as the beams and wooden joists that link the floors, ceilings, and walls, the noise from an impact sound moves differently than airborne sound.
Reduced impact noise is much more difficult owing to the variation in how impact noise travels. Separating the materials that are generally connected is the best technique to lessen impact noise in a home. Placing a flexible and sturdy subfloor underneath the covering is what this signifies in the floor.
The easiest strategy to reduce any form of noise is to get as close as possible to the source. As a result, if wooden floors are in the upstairs portion of your home and you have accessibility to them, fixing the upstairs floor rather than the downstairs ceiling will yield superior results.
I will now elaborate on the methods given above for soundproofing the wooden floor.
Wooden floor underlayment
- Placing a robust underlayment and damping material beneath your wooden floors is one approach to soundproof them. The robust underlayment isolates the building materials and the damping substance aids in sound dispersion.
- When dealing with lower frequencies that an underlay cannot absorb, the damping substance is very critical.
- There are numerous materials to choose from when selecting a robust underlay, including fibre, rubber, foam, and cork.
- A shredded rubber mat is one of the greatest options for sound absorption. Because it is thicker than cork or foam, it has better soundproofing properties.
- You may usually apply the damping material immediately to the current subfloor layer if your subfloor isn’t too thick and is composed of a material that can be screwed into.
- Because the damping compound must exist among two hard floors to function properly, it must have a strong layer above it.
- A cement board is a viable option. Choose a thicker sheet of oriented strand board or moderate fiberboard if the thickness isn’t an issue and you need even more sound insulation.
- When it’s time to put your wooden flooring down on top of the underlay, do so in a floating raft. This implies that no screws, nails, or adhesive will be used to secure the wooden flooring to the layer beneath them.
- You should also allow a space between the floor’s border and the walls. After that, you can use acoustic sealant to close the gap. The gap functions as a sound barrier, reducing the impact noise that travels through the structure.
| Materials Needed | Tools Needed |
| underlayment | Tape rollKnee kickerFurniture marker |
| damping material | |
| shredded rubber mat | |
| fiberboard |
Carpets and Rugs
While underlayment is good for wooden floors which haven’t been placed yet, there are various options for soundproofing wooden floors that have already been placed.
- The most efficient technique to minimize noise on your flooring is to use carpet and padding. The denser your carpet and pad are, the better at reducing noise they will be.
- Noise will be dissipated by the carpet and pad before it enters the building and spreads to other areas of the house.
- Putting a carpet and pad, of course, requires covering your wooden floors. You have a few more choices if you don’t want to sacrifice the beauty of your wood to reduce noise.
- Thick area rugs will help to muffle noise but will not cover your floors.
- Fabric can also be used to absorb undesired airborne noises in other areas of your home, such as fabric wall hangings, tapestry, fabric-covered wallboard, and heavy drapes.
| Materials Needed | Tools Needed |
| carpet | Non-slip area rug padCarpet tapeCarpet Cutter |
| padding | |
| Thick area rugs |
Install a deck screw
- If you have to deal with squeaking noises, a deck screw will suffice.
- A countersink drill bit, a bit driver, and a deck screw are all you’ll require.
- You’ll need to scrap the current carpeting to get to the subfloor if you want to address the squeaky sound yourself.
- This does not have to be done for the entire floor. You might concentrate on the region where the squeaky sounds are coming from.
- Drill pioneer holes for each mark with a drill with a countersink the same size as the screw you’ll be using. The bit, though, should be somewhat smaller than the screw width.
- Place the wooden floor in position and carefully drive the nail through with the sharp point. Continue this process until all of the creaking floorboards are secured.
| Materials Needed |
| deck screw |
Attach the wood to the floor using glue.
- If you can easily remove and replace your wooden floor, a glue solution is another option for soundproofing it.
- Green Glue Noise proofing Compound can be used to reduce noise from both sides of the floor.
- It can be installed by direct connection between two hard floors or on top of the original subfloor. You may also use something between the wooden floor and the underlay.
- Green Glue Noise proofing is simple to use and can reduce noise by up to 90%.
- To apply the compound to the subfloor, underlayment, and wooden, all you need now is a caulking gun.
- Green Glue, on the other hand, can require up to a month to reach its full sound-dissipating ability.
| Materials Needed | Tools Needed |
| Green Glue Noise proofing Compound | caulking gun. |
Make use of a rubber mat
- Rubber mats also serve as soundproofing for wooden floors by absorbing impact noise.
- The rubber mat functions as a shock absorber, absorbing both the impact and the noise.
- Rubber mats are an excellent way to soundproof a fitness room, a pet area, a children’s play area, and etcetera.
- While you would picture a large black mat when you picture a mat, they come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colours.
- One of the benefits of utilizing a rubber mat to soundproof instead of a rug is that it is easier to clean.
- In addition, a rubber mat preserves your wooden floor from excessive wear, which is very important in a fitness area. A rubber mat is a terrific way to keep a room’s theme consistent.
| Materials Needed |
| Rubber mats |
Furnishings for the Walls and Windows
- Fabric wall hangings, blankets, curtains and woven floor rugs can help to muffle a few of the noises that wood floors produce.
- You could also use the fabric-covered wall to consume a lot of the annoying noise that bounces around the room.
- Sound is better absorbed by thick materials like velvet, tapestry, and suede than by lightweight fabrics like linen, cotton, or lace.
- Recommend introducing a thick fabric liner to your thin window drapes to improve soundproofing.
| Materials Needed | Tools Needed |
| Fabric wall hangings | A piece of fabric |
| blankets | |
| curtains | |
| woven floor rugs |
Furniture
- To remove interference, use thick textiles like velvet and corduroy on chairs, couches, ottomans, and mattresses.
- To reduce the noise caused by wooden floors, use plush cushions, back cushions, and heavy bedsheets and tablecloths.
Additional Suggestions
- When stepping on wood floors, think about wearing soft-soled slippers or socks to lessen shoe disturbance.
- If you have dogs, cut their nails to prevent them from scratching the woodwork.
- Cloth fake beams, which are composed of fabric-covered fibreglass and have significant acoustic absorption capabilities, can also be installed over a vaulted ceiling to reduce noise.
Noisy environments are unappealing to most individuals. Unfortunately, many homeowners tolerate this annoyance because they are unaware of the available options. If you’re coping with the noise caused by wooden floors or preparing a new wood flooring construction, we’ve got you covered.
Advantages of soundproofing a wooden floor
Normally, there is a lot of noise. It’s in the outer world if it’s not in your apartment or building. And it eventually finds its way into our homes.
- Soundproofing is the only way to completely block out all undesirable sound. Soundproofing does not have to be difficult or costly.
- With the right soundproofing measures, you can decrease the amount of noise your wood floors make while still enjoying its classic beauty and long life.
- Furthermore, you will no longer have to argue with your neighbours about the sound.
Conclusion
This blog addressed the question, “How to soundproof a wooden floor?” and discussed several types of noises as well as strategies to soundproof your flat before or after installing a wooden floor. The benefits of soundproofing wooden flooring are also discussed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): How to soundproof a wooden floor?
Are wooden floors noisy?
Although wood is a naturally occurring substance, it expands and contracts in response to changes in temperature and humidity. This is quite normal, but if sufficient expansion gaps aren’t provided during the installation procedure, noises like creaking or cracking may occur when walking on the ground.
What is the best way to soundproof a wooden floor?
The best technique to reduce airborne noise between floors is to use DFM acoustic insulation around floor joists. With acoustic floor insulation, you can eliminate airborne sounds between timber floors. Use acoustic floor padding between the floor and ceiling beams to block airborne noises from passing through a wooden floor.
Why does the wood floor make noise at night?
As the Earth moves away from the Sun at nighttime, the temperature outside would drop by 30 degrees or more. Items like wooden floors, construction materials, and furnishings cool down as well, contracting and sliding a little, causing cracking and groaning noises.
Should hardwood floors creak?
A new hardwood floor will squeak at first, but after a few months, it should stop. If any cracking or squeaking persists over a longer length of time or worsens, there is most likely a problem. A creaking floor can be caused by a variety of factors, including unequal subfloors, excess dampness, and faulty installation.
Are floating wood floors noisy?
Floorboards, floating flooring are extremely noisy. A floating floor doesn’t really adhere to the subfloor by design, and it might creak and pop underneath for a variety of reasons, including incompetent installation or inferior flooring components.
Is Velvet a good sound absorber?
When it comes to sound-absorbent textiles, most experts agree that suede and velvet are two of the greatest options. Because these textiles are dense, porous, and have rough surfaces, they may absorb a substantial quantity of acoustic energy.
Is a solid wood door soundproof?
A hardwood door is among the most efficient soundproofing options for the room’s largest aperture. The disadvantage is that it’s the most expensive method of soundproofing a door, therefore those on a tight budget may not be rich enough to afford it. Empty doors are found in the majority of modern residences.
