Acoustic Floors

Airborne acoustic damping (Upto 25db)

For effective methods of damping airborne acoustic noise, a combination of various materials can be used, all offering a varying degree of damping properties. When combined the total effect can be approximately 25db.

First acoustic mineral wool can be utilised under the boards, this normally comes in a thickness of around 100mm and of sufficient density to offer around 12db of damping to airborne acoustics. It is laid directly onto the top side of the ceiling acting like an insulator.

Second an acoustic plasterboard can be used, fixed to batons by acoustic mastic, offering a spring type action to the plasterboard to prevent radiant acoustic energy passing into the board. Either single or double plasterboard can be used in order to cut down further and improve damping around 5db to 8db.

Finally, an acoustic membrane can be utilised draped across the whole floor and fixed in place to floor joists, before refitting floorboards. The addition of the acoustic membrane can offer 4db – 5db of additional protection.

Once all flooring has been replaced, acoustic mastic is used to seal all gaps in between floor boards to ensure there are no gaps where noise injection can take place. The total solution offers a damping of around 25db, if all materials listed above are utilised.

Impact acoustic damping

In addition to airborne noise solutions, there are a number of solutions available more directly targeted at damping down impact sound caused by vibrations in the buildings structure. Whilst ambient noise can be confronted by using methods of damping the noise, impact noise can be a more serious issue. Typically damping is ineffective against impact noise, with the only true solution being separation from the buildings structure.

Impact noise is created when heavy vibrations in the buildings structure occurs, either through impact of objects against the buildings structure or the floor (doors, nearby construction), or by conversion of airborne noise into the buildings structure (bars, pubs, clubs). Whilst the two causes are both different, they are cause the same issue, vibrations in the structure carried through the building via radiant energy.

Floating Floor Hangers (Upto 20db)

The first of two solutions to create a floating floor, hangers offer a good solution to impact noise, with the added benefit of some protection against airborne noise too. Hangers are placed on each joist, sitting on an acoustic strip to create a cushion that counter acts the vibrations past through the joists. Acoustic plaster board can then be applied, sitting on the hangers to offer a further protection against airborne noise. On top of the plasterboard, the original floor may be re-fitted, using acoustic mastic between each board to prevent leakage of airborne noise.

This offers a great solution to impact and airborne noise, approx 20db of acoustic damping can be achieved whilst ensuring you do not raise the original floor by too much. This is the perfect solution for a floating floor in areas constrained by the height of the floor.

Floating Floor Joist Strips (Upto 20db)

Whilst hangers are a good solution to a floating floor, giving you the ability to re-use your old floor boards and reducing height of your new floor, they can be very labour intensive. A more simple solution is to utilise joist strips, these can be laid on the joists to create the cushion required to stop vibrations, simply and easily.

Due to the nature of joist strips, giving no flat surface to lay your floor boards, it is recommended to fit a new one piece floating floor, instead of re-using your original boards. This solution is quicker than using hangers, but also results in your new floor gaining more height. Where height of your new floor is an issue, hangers would be recommended over this solution.

Acoustic Mats

For a more cost effective solution to floating floors, a range of acoustic mats is available. These offer a simple solution to impact and airborne noise damping, and when used in conjunction with such things as acoustic plasterboard and acoustic mineral wool, become a nice cheap alternative to floating floors.

Due to the nature of acoustic mats, being laid on top of existing floorboards, height can become an issue, increasing the height of your floor considerably. In addition to this, it is recommended to only use acoustic mats alongside other products. Mats alone will not be sufficient for preventing acoustic noise.