What sound insulation is best for the floor in an apartment. Soundproofing the floor in an apartment: technologies and materials. Sound insulation materials

Before answering the question of how to soundproof the floor in an apartment, you should briefly talk about why it is needed. It is generally accepted that these works, first of all, protect your neighbors below from impact noise: the sound of footsteps, rearranged furniture, falling objects, etc. This statement is true, but does not reflect all the benefits received.

Properly performed heat and sound insulation of the floor (and both of these effects are provided by one design) provides you with comfortable living conditions due to the fact that:

1. Prevents the penetration of airborne noise (human speech, music, barking dogs) from the rooms below, which is especially important for apartments located above shops, cafes, bars and restaurants.
2. Muffles impact noise and prevents it from spreading throughout the apartment.
3. Reduces heat loss, providing a “warm floor” effect even without additional heating.

Soundproofing the floor in an apartment with modern materials

Effective floor sound insulation is a cake made up of several layers, each of which performs a specific function. Only a correctly selected and installed structure will provide reliable protection against both types of noise (shock and air), withstand high loads, and maintain its characteristics throughout the entire period of operation.

The composition of such a “pie” necessarily includes the following components:

1. Vibration decoupling. Performed around the perimeter of the room. Prevents the passage of mechanical vibrations from the massive slab of floating screed to the walls. It can be installed using damper tape or strips of mineral wool with a density of 70 kg/m 3 and a thickness of about 10 mm.
2. Sound-absorbing layer. Dissipates a sound wave, converting the energy of mechanical vibrations of air into thermal energy. It is located between the interfloor slab and the massive shell of the floating screed. It is formed by laying dense fibrous material in a continuous layer, without gaps or voids. Floor soundproofing slabs are made from mineral raw materials, do not rot, and are fireproof.
3. Sound reflecting layer. Redirects the remnants of the sound wave back deep into the sound-absorbing material, almost completely eliminating the possibility of penetration of airborne noise from neighbors below. Due to its high density, it effectively dampens the energy of impact noise. It can be manufactured using “wet” (pouring a sand-cement mixture) and “dry” (laying GVLV or high-density gypsum board) technology.

When using “wet” methods, the “pie” is supplemented with waterproofing, placed between a massive slab and a sound-absorbing layer.

Which sound insulation to choose for the floor

I would like to point out right away that there is no such thing as the best soundproofing of the floor in an apartment. Depending on the condition of the room, the nature and level of noise, “wet” and dry technologies can be used for sound insulation. For each type, there are several options for soundproofing the floor using different materials.

Cement-sand screed

“Wet” technologies can be recommended for use in new buildings, when carrying out major repairs or reconstruction of apartments in secondary housing stock. Their distinctive feature is that a massive slab of floating screed is formed by pouring sand-cement mortar. If it is critical to reduce repair time, then a wet mixture (“semi-dry” method) is used, which can significantly (from 10 to 2 days) reduce the drying time.

With the correct selection of soundproofing materials for the floor, “wet” technologies provide high Rw values. Concrete floating screed also copes well with impact noise and significant mechanical loads.

For premises where cosmetic renovations have already been carried out, “wet” processes may not be applicable. In this case, when soundproofing the floor, various options for dry technologies are used.

Sound insulation with prefabricated floating screed

For smooth interfloor floors, a prefabricated floating screed is well suited. It requires minimal labor costs and resists medium and low-frequency airborne noise quite well. The essence of the technology is that a massive screed slab is formed from two layers of GVLV, laid on a substrate made of sound-absorbing fibrous material with a density of at least 70 kg/m 3 . In this case, the thickness of the mineral wool used for soundproofing the floor must be at least 50 mm.

One of the variations of this method is the installation of a floating screed on logs - wooden beams attached to the interfloor ceiling using vibration supports. This method allows you to use mineral wool of lower density, which better copes with high-frequency air noise.

Sound insulation in Knauf dry floors

In old houses, there are often interfloor ceilings that have significant differences in level or various irregularities. In such a situation, the best way to soundproof the floor in an apartment, with minimal labor costs and consumption of expensive materials, is to use KNAUF Superfloor technology. It involves the use of backfill with fine-grained expanded clay, which allows you to quickly eliminate unevenness and differences in height up to 100 mm or more. The absence of “wet” processes ensures high installation speed - about 40 m 2 per shift

How to properly soundproof the floor in an apartment under a sand-cement screed

Work on soundproofing a concrete floor in an apartment by installing a floating sand-cement screed includes the following steps:

1. Removing sagging and other irregularities from the surface of the interfloor ceiling that can damage the sound-absorbing layer.
2. Dust removal - use an industrial vacuum cleaner.
3. Taping the walls around the perimeter of the room with damper tape. The vibration decoupler should protrude slightly above the level of the future finished floor.
4. Laying a noise-absorbing layer. The slabs of mineral fiber material must be spaced evenly, without gaps, voids or deformations.
5. Waterproofing is ensured by laying a polyethylene film with a thickness of 0.25 mm or more. The strips of material are laid with an overlap of 200 mm and an overlap of about 100 mm on the walls.
6. Reinforcement – ​​ensures the strength and long service life of the sand-cement screed. A polymer or metal mesh with a cell size of no more than 150x150 mm is used.
7. Installation of beacons to ensure the horizontality of the formed floor. The supports for the lighthouses are made from the same sand-cement mixture that is planned to be used when pouring the screed.
8. Pouring sand-cement mortar with a thickness of at least 40 mm.
9. Vibration compaction of the poured mixture is necessary to remove air bubbles and ensure uniformity of the mass.
10. Drying the screed – depending on the technology, can take from 3 to 7 days. At high temperatures and dry weather, the surface should be covered with film or a layer of wet sawdust to avoid drying out too quickly, which could weaken the strength of the structure.
11. Pouring the self-leveling mixture, evenly distributing it over the surface using a needle roller.
12. Laying the final floor covering.
13. Trimming protruding parts of vibration isolation and waterproofing.

Materials used for soundproofing an apartment for installing a floating sand-cement floor screed

The following materials can be used for the sound-absorbing layer:

Rockwool Floor BUTTS

Thermosound insulation

Noise stop K2

Noise stop C2

In addition to polyethylene film, membranes can be used to form a waterproofing gasket. Due to their high cost, their use is justified only in cases where it is necessary to further improve the characteristics of a floating sand-cement screed in terms of resistance to impact noise. Some “masters” recommend using a membrane instead of mineral wool, positioning it as thin floor sound insulation. This is mistake. The membrane will not provide effective reduction of airborne noise levels. Thus, the neighbors below will not hear your steps, but you will hear their loud conversations, music, etc. sounds - yes.

Schumanet-100Hydro

Soundproofing

TechnoNIKOL

How to properly soundproof the floor in an apartment using a prefabricated screed

Soundproofing the floor in an apartment using the dry screed method can be done with your own hands if you have certain practical skills and the necessary tools. Installation of the system using sound-absorbing boards with a density higher than 70 kg/m 3 is carried out in the following sequence:

1. Dust and debris are removed from the surface of the interfloor ceiling.
2. Several slabs of mineral wool are cut into strips 10 mm thick, which are laid along the walls around the perimeter of the room to provide vibration isolation. The upper edge of the strips should protrude slightly above the level of the future finished floor.
3. Sound-absorbing material slabs are laid on the interfloor ceiling in such a way that there are no cavities or gaps between them.
4. The sound-absorbing layer is covered with GVLV sheets or OSB boards in two layers so that the upper ones overlap the joints of the lower level. The layers are fastened with self-tapping screws of such length that they do not pierce the sound-absorbing layer. Instead of GVLV or OSB sheets, you can use KNAUF Superfloor boards. They have protrusions for connection, which are coated with glue during installation. On the side of the walls, the projections are cut off. After laying, the slabs are fastened to each other with self-tapping screws, and the seams are sealed with putty.
5. Floor decorative covering is being laid.

The protruding parts of the vibration decoupler are cut off with a construction knife

Materials for prefabricated screed

Noise-absorbing layer

Rockwool Floor BUTTS

Thermosound insulation

Noise stop K2

Noise stop C2

Massive screed plate

OSB board

Knauf superfloor 20 mm

Prefabricated screed on joists

When using mineral wool with a density below 70 kg/m3 as a sound-absorbing layer, it is impossible to lay a massive slab of floating screed directly on it. During operation, the mineral wool will sag, which will lead to deformation of the floor. To eliminate such risks, the design of the prefabricated screed is supplemented with logs - wooden beams that are attached to the interfloor ceiling through a damper tape or using special vibration supports. Sound-absorbing boards are laid between the joists. Otherwise, the installation process is similar to that described above for the prefabricated screed.

How to properly soundproof a floor in the presence of significant unevenness or large differences in floor level

1. Vibration decoupling is done around the perimeter of the room using a damper tape or strips of high-density (more than 70 kg/m3) mineral wool.
2. Beacons are installed on the interfloor ceiling, which determine the level of backfill.
3. The backfill is carried out with fine-grained expanded clay, which is carefully leveled and compacted until a dense horizontal substrate is obtained.
4. Beacons are removed.
5. GVLV are laid in one layer on an expanded clay substrate.
6. A noise-absorbing layer is formed. Mineral fiber boards are arranged tightly, without deformations or gaps.
7. Knauf Superpol panels are installed. At the junction points, the protruding elements are coated with glue and additionally fastened with drywall screws. On the side of the walls, the projections are cut off. The seams between the panels are sealed with putty.
8. A layer of GVLV is laid on KNAUF Superfloor in such a way that the sheets overlap the seams of the lower level. GVLV is attached to KNAUF Superpol panels with self-tapping screws. The seams are sealed with putty.
9. The finishing decorative flooring is being laid.
10. The protruding parts of the vibration decoupler are cut off.

Materials

If there are large uneven surfaces on the floor, the best solution would be to use the KNAUF Superpol system. The procedure for installing sound insulation in this case will be as follows:

Conclusion

It should be remembered that for an unprepared person, soundproofing the floor in an apartment with your own hands can result in unnecessary expenditure of money and time, without a guarantee of obtaining a high-quality result. The amount of work that professionals will complete in one working day may take you a week. In addition, a qualified specialist will be able to accurately determine which sound insulation is best suited for the floor in a particular apartment.

One more tip. Don’t get too carried away with saving space by insisting on subtle solutions. The optimal thickness of floor sound insulation (without taking into account the massive floating screed slab) is 40 - 50 mm. Such a layer of noise-absorbing material can effectively absorb sound waves, which is especially important if the apartment is located above a restaurant, cafe or other commercial facility.

Soundproofing the floor in an apartment is an essential component of the comfort of housing. It is no secret that in an apartment building (especially those built in the era of socialism) the sound insulation indicator leaves much to be desired.

This review presents the best materials for floor sound insulation available on the domestic market. The rating is based on noise-absorbing characteristics, ease of installation, cost and environmental friendliness. The opinions of sound insulation specialists and the successful experience of various owners who used one of these materials to improve their homes were also taken into account.

TOP 10 best materials for soundproofing floors

10 Maxforte Shumoizol

The best ratio of material thickness to sound insulation level
Country Russia

Rating (2019): 4.5

The optimal material for soundproofing a “floating” floor in an apartment is the thickness of “Shumoisol” is only 4 mm. The covering is mounted end-to-end using mounting tape and does not take much time even for non-professional builders. In this case, the canvas is placed on the walls to the thickness of the future screed so that the concrete does not come into contact with them. At the same time, the index for reducing noise transmitted through vibration of the interfloor floors of houses is at least 27 dB - not bad at all for 4 mm.

This material can also be used on top of a screed or wooden floor as a substrate for laminated parquet or other covering. Processing in this way does not have any difficulties at all and can easily be carried out by the apartment owner himself when carrying out repairs. At the same time, the use of the Maxforte acoustic membrane will increase the comfort of housing to the level of luxury homes. In parallel with its direct purpose, sound insulation reduces the level of transmission of building vibrations and has waterproofing properties.

9 Cork

The most natural material for sound insulation
Country: Portugal
Average price: 9160 rub. (10 m², thickness 10 mm)
Rating (2019): 4.5

Cork flooring has high sound insulation characteristics, which allows you to avoid additional work in order to reduce external acoustic vibrations in the apartment. But there is also technical cork, which can be used as a substrate on top of a screed or a regular wooden floor on joists. Being an environmentally friendly natural product (the sheet material is obtained by pressing using balsa wood resins), this material is perfect for residential buildings whose owners suffer from allergic reactions.

The use of sheets 10 mm thick makes it possible to achieve a reduction in impact noise by 20-22 dB, and sound waves are damped in both directions - vibrations coming from the apartment will also be significantly muffled. The advantage of using cork can also be resistance to moisture absorption, high fire-fighting characteristics, as well as the fact that it is not at all a breeding ground for microorganisms and fungal mold. Despite all the advantages, this is far from the most popular material for sound insulation, largely due to its high price.

8 SCHUMANET

Fire resistance. Environmental Compliance
Country Russia
Average price: 3100 rub. (10 m²)
Rating (2019): 4.5

Despite the existing bitumen film layer (at the same time it serves as an excellent protection against leaks), the Schumanet soundproofing material due to the top layer of fiberglass is resistant to high temperatures and humidity. It can be successfully used under a screed to create a “floating” floor and has high levels of noise insulation, allowing you to achieve a comfort class of an apartment not lower than “A” (luxury housing). It is also often used for soundproofing acoustic studios and other rooms in which external sound vibrations should be minimal.

Flooring material has several varieties, but the most interesting is the Schumanet Combo sound insulation, which has an additional sound-absorbing layer (5 mm thick) and better efficiency. Its reduction index reaches 26 dB, which is confirmed by a number of tests. The presence of a certificate of conformity allows you to safely use this material to improve the comfort of residential apartments and private houses.

7 Extruded polystyrene foam

The most popular material. Attractive price
Country Russia
Average price: 1000 rub. (4.9 m², thickness 50 mm)
Rating (2019): 4.6

The properties of this material allow it to be used for completely different purposes. It will also be suitable for arranging sound insulation, and the indicators of suppression of acoustic waves will be far from ordinary. Thus, when organizing a “floating” floor and with a thickness of polystyrene foam board of 20-30 mm, it will be possible to achieve a reduction in noise level to 23 dB (50 mm will increase the figure to 41 dB, however, such sheets are rarely laid in apartments - it is impractical). This figure can be increased by almost half due to the additional use of a sheet substrate with a thickness of up to 5 mm in the design. The thickness of the screed poured on top also matters.

A specialist in the field of sound insulation, who has not only knowledge, but also practical experience, can calculate the required layer size to obtain the best results. In any case, the level of sound insulation efficiency is at least three times higher than stone wool, and the service life is about 90 years (without ultraviolet access).

6 Felt

Affordable price
Country Russia
Average price: 3216 rub. (63 m², thickness 5 mm)
Rating (2019): 4.6

Having long established itself as an excellent sound-proofing material, felt is still successfully used to ensure acoustic comfort, which is especially important in apartment buildings. The particular popularity of this material is due to its low price, environmental friendliness and a number of other technical advantages. This product is made from 100% safe raw materials, and, in addition to the best soundproofing properties, it has the ability to absorb heat and vibration. The feasibility of its use lies in the ability of felt to provide a significant reduction in not only external, but also internal noise.

For the best sound insulation performance of an apartment, special felt with a built-in membrane or acoustic felt, which differ in thickness and release shape, is suitable. It is equally successfully used for soundproofing both ceilings and floating floors. The low cost of the material allows you to increase the number of layers of felt for better noise reduction efficiency.

5 Texound

The most innovative sound insulation
Country: Spain
Average price: 7600 rub. (6.1 m²)
Rating (2019): 4.7

The Texaund membrane is an innovative product on the market of soundproofing materials presented by the Spanish manufacturer Texa. A distinctive feature of this substrate is its increased strength, and at the same time, better elasticity, maintained down to -20 °C. The developers managed to create a material similar in its characteristics to the best natural sound insulator - lead. At the same time, the Texaund membrane is based only on environmentally friendly aragonite with a complex of necessary polymers. This product also has a minimum thickness of 3.7 mm and at the same time the highest specific gravity.

Soundproofing a house with Texound is guaranteed to reduce the level of a wide variety of noise by at least 2 times, which is quite enough to ensure comfortable living conditions in an ordinary apartment. The membrane can be used both for soundproofing walls and partitions, and for flooring under parquet boards, laminate or concrete screed. This material meets fire safety requirements and is absolutely not susceptible to microorganisms.

4 Vibrostack-V300

Better noise reduction performance
Country Russia
Average price: 3200 rub. (10 m²)
Rating (2019): 4.8

Multi-layer sound-absorbing gasket, which is based on type C glass fiber, is characterized by increased resistance to maximum loads. This soundproofing material demonstrates better stability of the declared characteristics, regardless of the degree of mechanical impact and service life. Moreover, despite its small thickness (only 4 mm), this substrate provides impact noise absorption up to 29 dB and is one of the most effective for floor sound insulation.

Vibrostek-V300 can be used as a soundproofing layer directly under the floor covering or under a concrete screed. In the second case, reliable waterproofing should be additionally ensured. Laying this substrate, taking into account all installation recommendations, guarantees not only the best acoustic effect, but also leveling of the surface. This material is produced in large rolls up to 450 m long, which is very convenient for arranging floor soundproofing in rooms with a large area (offices, luxury housing, etc.).

3 Isoplat

Environmentally friendly material
Country Russia
Average price: 790 rub. (3.24 m², thickness 12 mm)
Rating (2019): 4.8

The material has an affordable price and a good sound absorption coefficient, reducing the level of acoustic vibrations by 23 dB. And this is with a thickness of 12 mm (the possible maximum is 25 mm). Perfect for a house or apartment, because it can be laid on top of a screed or wooden flooring. The declared sound insulation parameters are ensured by the material from which the slab is made – small waste from softwood wood processing pressed without adhesive fillers.

Having good sound insulation, isoplat will be the best solution for owners suffering from allergic reactions. Due to the use of paraffins, the sheets are resistant to moisture absorption, while maintaining high vapor permeability properties. Laying on a concrete base allows you to immediately perform two tasks - to isolate the apartment from unnecessary noise from below and to prepare the base for laying the flooring (usually parquet boards). The material perfectly levels out small differences and irregularities, saving the cost of removing these defects.

2 Penotherm NPP LE

High environmental friendliness
Country Russia
Average price: 2813 rub. (10 m²)
Rating (2019): 4.9

This building material for floor soundproofing comes in rolls and has different thicknesses, from 6 to 10 mm. The degree of noise insulation, which varies from 20 to 22 dB, is directly dependent on this indicator. Representing foamed propylene foam on a foil base, Penotherm NPP LE is suitable for concrete floors of apartments and floors along joists (second, third floor of a private house). It can be used as a substrate for flooring (laminated parquet, boards, etc.), which greatly simplifies the installation process and reduces the cost of soundproofing apartments.

A distinctive feature of the material is its high environmental friendliness - Penotherm NPP LE does not contain fluorine or chlorine-containing hydrocarbon groups at all. Its service life is at least 50 years, during which the noise insulation properties remain unchanged.

1 Technoelast Acoustic

Best sound insulation performance with thin material thickness
Country Russia
Average price: 1890 rub. (10 m²)
Rating (2019): 5.0

Modern composite material for sound insulation is made in the form of a multilayer “pie” consisting of a metal film, fiberglass and a bitumen-polymer binder. Excellent for soundproofing both concrete floors and flooring on joists. Its distinguishing feature is ease of installation - Technoelast Acoustic is supplied in rolls and is excellent for organizing “floating” floors or heated floor systems.

In addition, it additionally performs the functions of waterproofing, which will be completely useful for housing in apartment buildings. Overlapping laying and a good adhesive base provide a durable and airtight layer. As for the main properties, Technoelast Acoustic ensures a reduction in the impact noise level by 27 dB. The metallized film as a screen reflects a significant part of the acoustic waves, providing high levels of sound insulation with a relatively small thickness of the material.

Sound insulation is in great demand among residents of high-rise buildings and one-story buildings with several apartments. The reason for the popularity of soundproofing systems is that the partitions between apartments are small in thickness, as well as the tight articulation of all parts of the building, which contributes to excellent sound conduction throughout the building. This is why floor sound insulation is so popular today.

It should be emphasized that for reliable protection from unwanted sounds, soundproofing materials for the floor (linings, dampers) must have an impressive thickness. In turn, thin elements cannot provide complete sound insulation. To increase the thickness of soundproofing materials, additional space is needed, which can be obtained by combining sound protection with insulation.

The highest quality insulating material contains several options for noise damping: using felt pads, empty sections, etc. However, when choosing a method, it should be taken into account that the surface will be under quite high pressure, and therefore the material used must have high strength, or be located in a certain way way (see photo).

Types of insulation and its organization

First you need to understand that there are two most well-known methods for making sound insulation:

1. Throughout the entire area, under the final coating, a special material is placed that is capable of damping sound waves;
2. Flooring materials for sound insulation are installed in combination with a special design that allows noise to be distributed in such a way as to avoid the occurrence of resonant vibrations with other parts of the building.

Types and principles of manufacturing materials for sound insulation

When it is necessary to choose a floor covering, sound insulation and its quality play a very important role.

Soundproofing floor coverings are created taking into account the following features:

• Professionals often do not advise using homogeneous or thin materials. The reason for this is the fact that high-quality insulating materials are created from fairly dense components attached to a soft and porous base. The material, which has high strength, is capable of blocking most sound vibrations, acting as a so-called “shield,” while the porous surface protects against residual sound waves and other various noises.
• Soundproofing materials for the floor must have several layers that complement the advantages and compensate for the disadvantages of each other.
• In addition, it must be said about the existence of insulators capable of absorbing sound vibrations using their special shape (for example, similar to honeycombs or small tubercles). For these purposes, it is often customary to use forms designed for storing eggs.
• Particular attention should be paid to various types of insulation, because their composition provides excellent sound insulation, and as a result of some modification they can become very effective. Thus, insulation is often capable of performing the functions of a gasket that neutralizes various types of noise.

It should be noted that combined options, which offer the integrated use of a variety of materials, ensure the achievement of the most reliable result. This is precisely the reason for the frequent need to combine insulation with sound insulation. In addition, special complex soundproofing materials offered by leading companies can be used.

The material from which the floor in the building is made is also of great importance when choosing insulation. For example, if the floors are wooden, then it will be sufficient to use standard insulation and insulation with a minimum thickness (more details: ""). Cement floors, on the other hand, require more attention as well as some technical skill. There are also various options for creating so-called “floating” floors.

Construction ideas

• If there is a need to provide good protection from various sounds on a concrete surface, a soundproofing floor covering can be combined with the creation of floating floors.
• The meaning of such a construction solution is to create a coating that is not connected to the surface of the floor and walls. Thus, the resulting sound vibrations will be neutralized before they are transferred to other objects.
• The method of producing such floors is quite simple. You just need to place a waterproofing film on the floor, overlaid with soundproofing material that has a small thickness. Read also: "".
• Then you need to install the insulation. It is important to know here that floor sound insulation, as well as additional necessary materials, cannot be attached to the surface, while the distance from the finished layer to the walls must include free space, organized using pads.
• Sometimes experts install a special so-called damper tape on the walls, which helps both organize excess free space and is a kind of compensator that neutralizes waves directed to the sides.
• The upper surface of the insulation must be covered with a film that performs a waterproofing function.
• Absolutely any material can be laid on top of this film, the cost of which allows it to be used as a final coating. Meanwhile, professionals prefer to screed the floor using cement, and contact with the plane of the walls should be completely eliminated (read also: " ").
• The final floor covering is installed in the same way. At the same time, in places close to the baseboards you need to be very careful, because this material is installed at a distance of 2-3mm above the plane.
• Taking these aspects into account, it is necessary to fix the skirting boards, and then place a backing under the free space that appears.

It should be noted that this method of installing floors with a high degree of waterproofing is the best due to the fact that it includes more than one method of protection from unwanted sounds.

We also note that a material such as balsa wood perfectly absorbs noise, therefore the final coating made from it can both decorate the interior of the room and provide reliable sound insulation. Quite often, soundproofing the floor in an apartment under laminate is done with a cork underlay.

1. Each product is equipped with a special operating manual or instruction, which indicates both the properties of the material and describes the installation sequence. It is necessary to follow these instructions as different soundproofers require specific installation.
2. During the formation of the waterproofing layer, you need to ensure that it is airtight, since this property greatly affects its effectiveness.
3. Sometimes it is better to buy complex material at a higher price than to make several layers yourself from improvised materials.
4. There are a number of ways to create so-called floating floors, therefore it is necessary to start by studying them, and then make a choice depending on the materials used and the characteristics of the operating conditions.
5. If it seems to you that there is no noise at all, this does not mean that it is actually absent. It is possible that the hearing simply adjusted to certain sound waves.
6. When setting the volume of certain sounds, you need to use a specially made instrument.

So, there are several methods for establishing sound insulation, which differ depending on the degree of protection, that is, you need to choose one or another option very carefully.

We can also conclude that there is no ideal material that provides sound insulation with a 100% guarantee and at the same time has a small thickness. The level of noise protection will directly depend on the size of the layer of insulating material.

When you come home from work, you want to be in silence, and not listen to the noise of your neighbors, or the rattling of entrance doors or the noise of cars. To avoid unnecessary noise, insulation is done. Soundproofing can be done on the ceiling, wall or floor. Many building materials can fulfill this role. Unfortunately, the sound insulation included in the construction of a house is not always enough. But it can be strengthened. To do this, you need to seal all the cracks and holes and thickening of the floor.

Very often, sheets of fiberboard or drywall are thrown onto the floor. They isolate extraneous sounds well. You can also combine some types of building materials. The best option for sound insulation is to use the following materials:

• polyurethane foam board;
• fibreboard with magnesite;
• perforated plasterboard sheets;
• sound and vibration absorbing mastics;
• roll vibration-damping material;
• fiberglass laminated board;
• soundproofing floor panel system;
• vibration-acoustic sealant;
• soundproofing underlayment made of multilayer fiberglass;
• soundproofing tape gasket;
• underlay for finishing floor covering;
• rolled material from impact noise.

Floating floor for apartment

In order to make a soundproof floor in your apartment, you do not need to hire a construction crew. It is enough to read or ask around and find out about the characteristics of a particular substance that may be useful. There are several methods for soundproofing a floor. With their help, you can easily do everything yourself.

The most popular method is the floating floor method. For this you need the following materials:

1. Vata:

• glass;
• basalt.

1. Polymer foam material

How to make a floating floor:

• Seal the cracks and level the base.
• Lay down a layer of material. Particular attention should be paid to the joints. If they are poorly glued, then when you use mineral wool, moisture can get inside and this disrupts the thermal insulation.
• Above the level of the screed, a dividing layer is placed vertically along the entire perimeter, which should consist of an insulator.
• Remove everything that is unnecessary.
• Place a layer of material, cotton wool, horizontally over the entire surface of the floor. At the same time, hot pipes, if any, need to be covered with insulators.
• Apply a ball of polyethylene film.
• Install the beacons and fill the screed with cement mortar and wait until it dries.
• Lay the finishing layer of coating by making cracks near the walls. The gaps must be covered with plinth. The plinth must be attached either to the wall or to the floor. There are no options here.

Pros of a floating floor:

• high level of sound insulation;
• deprivation of mechanical attachment that can transmit sounds;
• if you use material with low thermal conductivity, you will get good thermal insulation;
• saving time and money on materials;
• does not require special equipment.

Wooden floor and its sound insulation

Wooden floors transmit extra sounds very well. To insulate them, you can use a floating floor, but you will have to install it a little differently. To avoid the appearance of a bridge that will transmit noise, insulation is placed in the spaces between the joist and the floor beam. They are not attached to anything. They can be attached, but then you need to remove the fastening.

The sound insulator is placed over the entire space that the beams create. Another insulator is placed on the joists. It is recommended to use foamed polymer or roll plugs. You can also use synthetic felt, but this may cost you. An OSB board is laid on top of this, which needs to be attached to the joists.

The slab should not reach the very edge to the wall. There should be a gap that can be covered with a baseboard.

On top is the finishing layer of the floor.

Dry screed technology for wooden floors

The dry screed method is very popular among owners. The secret is that it does not take much time and it is very easy to do everything yourself.

Technology for laying dry screed for soundproofing floors:

• Scatter the dry mixture on the floor and distribute evenly;
• place slabs or fiberboard on top;
• then the floor is laid. The joints should be easily attached to each other;
• fasten the joints with self-tapping screws and glue them.

This method of soundproofing a floor is available to everyone.

Using insulation as a sound insulator

If you look hard enough, you can find heat insulators that act very well as sound insulators.

Among these insulation materials, the most popular are:

• mineral wool;
• expanded polystyrene;
• expanded clay;
• perlite

In first place, of course, is mineral wool. It does not burn, does not evaporate allergens, does not shrink during installation and insulates well.

The main areas of use of mineral wool:

• insulation of air noise in the frame partition;
• limits impact noise in a floating field;
• in a sound-absorbing structure - wall cladding.

One type of mineral wool is ecowool. This material insulates well and insulates from unnecessary sounds. It also protects against condensation. It needs to be sprayed using special blowing machines and fill the voids. This creates a continuous wall of sound insulation. For the full effect, you need to use sound reflectors and sound-absorbing materials. Such materials can be double plasterboard or concrete screeds.

Stone wool will help achieve the same effect. It is very easy to install:

• Mount the frame posts every 500-600 millimeters.
• Place mineral wool slabs between the posts to cover the gaps. The thickness of the slabs should be 50-100 millimeters.
• Cover the frame with heavy material (for example, drywall).
• Plaster the seams.

Underlays under laminate for sound insulation

Laminate is not the quietest flooring material. He makes unnecessary sounds even when walking. Luckily this can be fixed. You can use laminate underlays for additional sound insulation.

Main functions of substrates:

• leveling the floor surface and shock absorption;
• floor soundproofing;
• moisture insulation;
• thermal conductivity.

Any one should perform the function of alignment. Laminate cannot be placed on an uneven floor surface. Such linings compress and stretch in places of imperfections, thereby creating a smooth surface. In addition, it provides some cushioning for the laminate. He makes a quiet noise.

If the screed has not dried well, then sooner or later moisture will appear in the house. It can ruin the laminate.

To avoid this, you need to use a film made of polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride or polyisobutylene. The film thickness should be 200 microns. But there are substrates that are made with an admixture of this film, then there is no need for it.

Laminate underlays are a very good heat insulator. This is very good if there is no heated floor. Such a substrate will not allow heat to pass through from under the floor, so heating will not have the desired effect.

Substrates that can be used as sound insulators come in several types:

• polyethylene foam;
• cork;
• expanded polystyrene;
• combined;
• insulation boards;
• felt-coated cardboard.

Polyethylene foam substrates come in the following types:

• ordinary;
• made from chemically cross-linked polyethylene foam.

Unfortunately, they don't help very much. All they can do is drown out the stomping of feet, conversation or noise from door slams.

Contains cork wood. It is first crushed and then pressed. With such a substrate, the neighbors below will never again complain about noise and stomping. But in the apartment itself you will still be able to hear everything happening outside.

Expanded polystyrene backing is ordinary polystyrene foam made using improved technology. It can be found in two types - in rolls or sheets. Copes very well as a sound insulator.

The combined substrate consists of two polyethylene plates. Expanded polystyrene balls are filled in between the plates. Copes well with sound insulation and thermal insulation.

The insulation board is made from natural wood fiber materials. This type of insulation is called professional. High density provides high level of sound absorption

Felt-coated cardboard is considered a professional insulator. It cannot be used in rooms and areas with high moisture.

How to sound a cement screed

The best way to sound a cement screed is to remove it completely, dismantle it down to the floor slabs. Then you need to make a new one with floating technology. You need to start by taking a thick cellophane film and covering all the slabs. This is done so as not to flood the neighbors when installing a new screed. For sound insulation, it is best to use polystyrene foam. But not the first one you meet.

There are a number of requirements for foam plastic for sound insulation:

• it should have maximum density, you can use polystyrene foam;
• the thickness should be 50 millimeters, for polystyrene 30 millimeters.

Thin polystyrene pads need to be laid along the walls to separate the screed from the walls. After this, you need to install the beacons and fill in a new screed, but using a slightly different method, namely:

• Beacons must be installed using a special adjustable mount. This is due to the fact that the foam can sag in some places and disrupt the integrity and evenness of the coating; moreover, cement does not stick to the foam.
• The thickness of the screed must be more than 50 millimeters, otherwise the screed will crack after drying.
• You need to wait until it dries completely. If the screed is not dried well, then under load the foam will bend and the screed will crack.

This soundproofing process takes a lot of time, but it will qualitatively soundproof the entire room and give you the opportunity to enjoy the silence.

Do-it-yourself soundproofing under linoleum

Very good floor covering. But it also needs to be soundproofed. One of the methods of soundproofing linoleum is a membrane insulator. It delays high-pitched sounds and cuts off vibrations that appear as a result of the spread of structural sounds.

The most popular models of membrane sound insulator:

• Texound;
• Vibrating table;
• Schumann.

Due to the high density and weight, they ideally hold out extraneous sounds and are suitable for any rolled floor material

How to make sound insulation in sheathing

If you level the floor with special slabs, you need to install a sheathing. For greater effect, it is better to install it from wooden beams. They are attached to the floor with regular dowels. To prevent vibrations and structural noise, place a layer of texaund in the gap between the dowel and the beam.

Under the sheathing, you can put any material on the floor, both rolled and tiled. It is placed between the sheathing. The only negative is that you need to buy material for the floor a few centimeters longer so that it fits tightly to the beams. If you use plywood, it is better to throw a noise insulation ball.

On top of the sound insulation you need polyethylene or polypropylene. After this, you need to make a plywood frame. There are screws with soundproofing pads. They should be used to attach the slabs to already attached joists. Now you can lay linoleum on the floor. You can do all this yourself.

Video: floor soundproofing

Soundproofing the floor is a salvation for those who have children and problematic neighbors downstairs. This will protect the nervous system. And if you use a heat insulator as a sound insulator, you can save money on heating your home.

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In modern living conditions, it can be difficult for the majority of the population to isolate themselves from the outside world in an apartment in an apartment building. This is due to the fact that during the construction of apartment buildings the issue of sound insulation is not in the first place, since the use of new technologies and materials that can absorb external noise leads to higher construction costs. Often you have to deal with soundproofing your home yourself. Soundproofing the floor in an apartment, features of the device for different bases and types of floor coverings, a review of prices for the most popular ones, as well as leading manufacturers of the materials used - the topic of this article in the online magazine HomeMyHome.

For high-quality sound insulation, it is necessary to think through this issue at the stage of construction work in relation to all enclosing structures (walls, interfloor ceilings, etc.)

Sound insulation (noise insulation) is measures that reduce the level of noise penetrating from the outside into the interior of a room, structure or vehicle, through the use of special materials - both during the manufacture of the product and the performance of construction and installation work, and upon their completion during the repair period .

Currently, three types of materials are used to soundproof floors: soundproofing membranes, roll and slab products.

Important! When using any of the soundproofing materials when performing installation work, it is necessary to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on the method of their application and installation, which will ensure the specified protection against the penetration of external noise into the interior of the insulated room.

Soundproofing membranes

The following materials are used as a soundproofing membrane mounted on the floor base:

The most widely used of the above materials as sound insulation are felt and special membranes. Their advantages are:

• small thickness, allowing to slightly reduce the internal volume of the room where they are installed;
• high density;
• ease of use (cutting, laying);
• elasticity;
• There are modifications equipped with a self-adhesive layer, which simplifies the installation process;
• can act as a heat-insulating material;
• long service life.

Among the disadvantages of membranes, the following should be noted:

• high cost;
• the need to carefully carry out preparatory work to create a flat surface of the base on which installation is being carried out.

Rolled version of soundproofing material

In the form of rolls, manufacturing companies produce the following types of soundproofing materials:

• "Vibrostek-V300"– made on the basis of class “C” fiberglass and can be used as a substrate when installing floor coverings;

• "Maxforte"– can be installed under the finishing coating and under the screed, and also act as waterproofing;

• "Zvukoizol" is a bitumen-polymer material that can also act as waterproofing.

Metallized sound insulation - roll, two-layer

Plate materials

The most popular in this group are:

• mineral wool– characterized by versatility of use and non-flammability. Negative properties include hygroscopicity;

• cork panels and tiles– they are environmentally friendly products, but require care when performing installation work, as they are easily destroyed when exposed to “tearing”;

• expanded polystyrene– a fairly popular material, due to its relatively low cost;

• fiberglass panels "SCHUMANET";

• Isoplat– insulating panels made from wood processing waste.

Expert's point of view

Dmitry Kholodok

“As selection criteria when choosing a soundproofing material, it is necessary to take as a basis the operating conditions for a particular room (humidity, fire hazard), as well as the service life and availability of the material itself, both in terms of ease of transportation to the construction site and its cost.”

Related article:

Leading manufacturers of soundproofing for floors

On the domestic market of building materials in the segment of soundproofing products, products of foreign and Russian companies are sold, the most popular among users are:

• "MaxForte", "TechnoNikol", "TechnoSonus" and "AcousticGroup" (Russia);
• "WolfBavaria (Germany);
• "Texdecor" (France);
• "Rockwool" (Denmark);
• "Mappy" (Italy);
• "IsoverEcophon" (Sweden - Finland);

Features of soundproofing the floor in an apartment from neighbors below in accordance with the flooring material

Depending on the type of flooring, one or another soundproofing material is selected, therefore different types of such products are installed in different ways.

Soundproofing floors under laminate

Laminate is a floor covering made from a wood fiber base and requires a flat surface for installation.Before laying the laminate, a backing is always laid, which conceals the remaining unevenness on the surface of the base and helps distribute the loads over its surface.

The substrate can also perform the function of sound insulation, therefore, in this capacity, as a rule, cork materials and Isoplast are used, and when laying in wet rooms - “Zvukoizol”.

Soundproofing floors under linoleum

When using linoleum as a finishing floor covering, various types of soundproofing materials can be used, and the main condition for their use is their strength and ability to withstand mechanical loads.

The most popular for this type of coating is “Zvukoizol”, which is due to its physical properties (moisture resistance and strength), as well as its small thickness.

The best sound insulation for floors under ceramic tiles

Porcelain tiles are usually used as flooring in bathrooms and shower rooms, as well as in the kitchen and other rooms where there is a high level of humidity.

Zvukoizol, Maxforte, SCHUMANET and Vibrostek-V300 are usually used as soundproofing materials for ceramic tiles.

For your information! Extruded polystyrene and expanded clay can be used as sound insulation when laying porcelain stoneware. After filling them, it is necessary to fill the leveling screed.

Soundproofing a wooden floor

The choice of sound insulation when laying a wooden floor depends on its design and the height of the ceilings in the room where the work is being carried out.For low ceilings, the same materials can be used as for laminate insulation.The most common option, if there is sufficient headroom, is to use mineral wool laid between the joists on which the wooden floor is laid.

Expert's point of view

Dmitry Kholodok

Technical director of the repair and construction company "ILASSTROY"

“When using mineral wool, it is necessary to follow the technology of its installation, which requires the presence of layers of vapor and waterproofing.”

Related article:

Optimal sound insulation for different types of base

The choice of material used as sound insulation is influenced by both the finishing flooring, as described above, and the type of base on which it is laid.For different types of foundations, noise insulation schemes vary, so they should be considered separately.

Soundproofing the floor in an apartment under a “floating” screed

For your information! A floating screed is a special method of laying flooring without rigidly fixing the materials used to the enclosing building structures (walls, ceilings).

The floating screed is made on top of a soundproofing layer, which can be used as the following materials: special types of membranes and mineral wool, cork products and polystyrene foam.

The diagram of the “floating screed” device is shown in the following figure:

Expert's point of view

Dmitry Kholodok

Technical director of the repair and construction company "ILASSTROY"

“When installing a “floating screed”, it is necessary to take into account the technical capabilities and load-bearing capacity of the floor: the specific weight of such a structure is quite large, which is due to the thickness of the screed with the reinforcing layer.”

Soundproofing the floor in an apartment on a dry and cement screed

In some cases, soundproofing the floor in an apartment can be done by installing a dry screed.With this option of performing work, the use of water and aqueous solutions is excluded.

Perlite, expanded clay or vermiculite are used as sound insulation, poured onto the surface of the interfloor ceiling, and plywood or other slab material is laid on top of them.

For your information! When performing dry screed, other roll and sheet materials can be used as sound insulation.

The dry screed pattern is a “pie” laid in the following sequence: base → vapor barrier layer → sound insulation layer → leveling layer (plywood and the like) → waterproofing → floor covering.

When installing a screed using cement mortars, this option for performing the work is called a semi-dry or wet screed.In this case, materials that are resistant to moisture are used to construct a soundproofing layer: expanded clay, expanded polystyrene or “Zvukoizol”.

Related article:

It will help in solving the problem of crooked floors. Pros and cons, reviews, price of this type of coating, installation features and recommendations from specialists are in this material.

Soundproofing of frame floors on joists

As already written above, wooden floors are mounted on the joists. In this case, various types of slab, roll and sheet materials laid between the joists are used as sound insulation.

The design of such a cake also includes steam and waterproofing, a leveling layer (plywood) and finishing.

How to soundproof a floor in an apartment

It is better to entrust the work of installing sound insulation in an apartment to professionals, however, if desired, you can do it yourself.

When performing floor soundproofing work with your own hands, you must:

1. Decide on the type of soundproofing material used and calculate its quantity required to complete the work.
2. Prepare the necessary tools and equipment.
3. Prepare the basis for the work.

Important! The base on which it is planned to install sound insulation must be cleared of construction debris and dust, and, if necessary, leveled.

To perform work with different soundproofing materials, different tools are required, so the list of tools is determined individually in each specific case.

Expert's point of view

Dmitry Kholodok

Technical director of the repair and construction company "ILASSTROY"