When it comes to installing an acoustic or soundproofing underlayment for engineered wood floors, there are a few special considerations to keep in mind. To ensure that the underlying layers are effective in reducing impact noise, it is important to acoustically test the base with floor covering. This is because not all underlying decals are created the same way, so you cannot assume that a 5 mm underlay will work the same as another. To short-circuit the impact noise, it is best to use an acoustic floor layer and cover the entire floor.
This will prevent structural sound from passing through the entire ensemble. In addition, due to its tendency to stain and bleed, an acoustic floor layer is often used as a base to provide sound insulation. It is important to meet the requirements of the strata when installing floors, as not doing so can have very costly repercussions. If the finished floor would normally be installed loose, then the base can also be installed loose.
When specifying new flooring materials, there are many factors to consider, such as floating floors, carpet pads, and sound-insulating subfloors. These can greatly improve the ICC rating of a flooring system. WPC floors offer great acoustic benefits, especially when it comes to mitigating impact noise, such as high foot traffic. Other options include the Regupol range of rubbers and Dunlop's “Aquacoustic” coatings, which offer 5- and 6-star acoustic protection in addition to other advantages.
Floating floors do not require glue or nails during installation and “float” on top of the subfloor. Both metrics are important for comparing acoustic floor materials and choosing the subfloor and final flooring that best suit the specific application of your building. The base is not included under the tread and nose of the ladder for safety reasons. The price per square meter generally increases with the number of AAAC stars a subfloor has.
A good quality floor base can be installed on all hardsurface floor finishes, including laminate floors, vinyl floors and hardwood floors, in addition to masonry finishes, such as ceramic, porcelain or marble. A flooring contractor can explain all the factors you need to consider so that you can choose the material that best suits your building's specific needs while taking into account your budget. Finally, there is also waterproof film with a 2 mm foam composition which works to protect floors from moisture and movement but does not offer significant “acoustic” protection.
