Soundproofing Solutions

Soundproofing Floors for Renters

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Jacqueline from Bellow Falls, USA wrote

I need soundproofing for the floor of one room in my apartment. I am awaiting on details of the floor from my landlord, but it is a hardwood floor, and there is a basement apartment below. The people below are not loud, but the sound is constant. I don't hear conversations, but I do hear furniture moving and the base from they're sound system, so it's more low frequency. This wouldn't be such an issue except the sound is constant, at all hours of the day and night, I don't think they ever turn they're sound system off. Originally when I looked at the apartments available in this building I was shown the basement apartment and remember it did have very high ceilings unlike mine which are dropped. So there isn't much between me and them. Please send me your recommendations for solution. Thank you, Jacqueline


Jacqueline,

The sound problem you have described is very common, especially in wood frame buildings. Low frequency noise gets into the structure and travels freely to other parts of the building. Since you are renting this apartment and do not own it, there are limitations as to what you will want to spend if the landlord is not paying for it.

One solution that we offer is the use of our Dura-Son underlayment laid directly on the hardwood floor with our Noise-Blok barrier installed on top of it. The floor would then be finished with carpet wall to wall.

What you will end up with is a sound barrier material that is decoupled from the structure. This increases the performance and controls the amount of the sound that is transmitting through the floor. A note of caution however - although this treatment will control some of the low frequency sound that is passing directly through the floor-ceiling assembly, there can be residential sound breaking out of walls and other flanking path surfaces.

If this sounds like something you could put in place, call or email with the room size and I can give you some further information.

Regards
Don Wilkinson
Partner