What is a good sound reducing underlay?

What is a good sound reducing underlay?

This entry was posted on May 2, 2014 by Chris Elliott

It is recommended that an underlay is used to either help with sound reduction or thermal insulation when installing an engineered wood floor. An underlay is a cushioned material which is fitted in between the subfloor and the chosen floor covering. It can help to reduce sound, loss of heat, drafts and dust particles as it acts as a protective barrier. Hardwood floors can create a space between the subfloor and the hardwood floor, allowing echoes to be heard. A sound reducing underlay will not only help to reduce the noise in the room itself, but will also reduce any transference of sound to the rooms below.

 

Sound Reducing Underlays

Sound reducing underlays are recognised by their decibel (dB) rating. The higher the dB rating, the more sound reduction they will provide. Sound proofing relies on the impact sound rating, measured in decibels; the colour or thickness of the underlay does not make any difference. Different underlays with different dB ratings are recommended for either engineered hardwood flooring or carpets:

• For hardwood floors, a good quality sound proofing underlay would have a rating of around -25dB, compared to a standard underlay which would be about -19dB.

• For carpets, a good quality sound reducing underlay would have a rating of approximately -46dB, while a standard or budget underlay would be around -39dB.

 

It is important that underlays are not used for the wrong purposes. They should not be used to level out an uneven subfloor or to create a barrier against moisture. Distinct products, such as floor levelling compounds and Damp Proof Membranes (DPMs) are available to overcome these problems. 

 

What options do I have?

We would recommend:

Silver Bam Underlay

 

Cush N Wood Underlay

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