Flooring Insulation

​Benefits of Insulating Your Floors

If you don't live alone, you're probably aware that the noise made in one room by one family member can be heard throughout the house. Hearing noisy stereo systems, the washing machine and dryer, or children who refuse to go to bed seeping through your flooring and into the rooms below is much worse. Overflowing noise in your home can be remedied, and one of the best ways to do so is with floor sound insulation.

What Is the Best Place to Install Floor Insulation?

It may appear self-evident that floor insulation should be applied. Isn't it evident that this isn't rocket science? There's a little more to it than that, though. The best time to install floor insulation is during the building process. You have the option of using the same fiberglass insulation that has been used on your exterior walls, ceilings, and attic. Cork or rubber-based floor insulation can also be installed at this time.

The materials can be placed between the layers of flooring thanks to the sound barrier established during construction. Between the floors are joists that support a plywood base and then more sub-flooring. Adding insulation here allows you to utilize heavier materials that may improve soundproofing.

Noise reduction is possible even if your house is already built. If you're replacing a carpet or other sort of flooring or need to repair the flooring in a given space, now is the right time to do it. The results of many home improvement projects will be better if some non-visible changes are performed at the same time as obvious ones. One example is the installation of sound insulation to the floor.

After removing the current floor coverings, new floor insulation can be put immediately on top of the sub-flooring. This can be utilized under a variety of floor coverings, including carpet, vinyl, wood, and ceramic tile. It makes no difference what sort of flooring is laid on top. What counts is the sort of soundproofing insulation you apply.

Most effective will be a material that is self-contained, meaning it is as compact as possible while still having excellent noise reduction properties. The loose pink or yellow fluff with a paper backing is fiberglass insulation. It's suitable for use on walls and ceilings. The most long-lasting flooring underlayment is made of rubber or cork insulation. It will also not radically elevate flooring, allowing materials like vinyl to lie down gently.

Why go to such lengths?

Like the creaks and groans in an old body, a house seems to get noisier with age. The more stable the floors are, the less noise they will absorb from the rooms above, but they will also assist quiet down loud floors where screws have come loose or the boards have warped over time.

Think of soundproofing as an investment in your home. As the quality of noise control improves, the value will rise.

Interested in investigating soundproofing in greater detail? Give us a call so we can talk about what's feasible!