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Restoration & Refurbishment

Soundproofing wooden floor but retaining floor boards

Anonymous user 28/02/2024 - 3.36 PM

Hi, I have a first floor flat which was badly converted pre building regs. I am trying to improve the sound insulation of the floors. I don't want carpet in the hallway/kitchen/bathroom. If I install a floating floor it means any future work done inside the floor cavity (plumbing/electrics) would mean ripping the flooring up which i'm keen to avoid. One problem is that the rafters run across from my flat to the flat next door so when i look into the cavity i can see through to under their floor which is floorboarded (not carpeted). There is no dividing wall, or anything obstructing the sound/smells between the 2 flats. Could i block these cavities up with something? Acoustic plasterboard? Mass loaded vinyl? Acoustic mineral wool? If i put mineral wool between all the rafters does this affect the electrical wiring that is there? I'm worried about heating it up and causing a fire. I've also looked at the GypFloor Silent system which uses joist isolating strips that you mount plasterboard on and create another ceiling layer underneath your floorboards. Does anyone have any experience of using this? I'm looking for someone to potentially help me with this. Thanks!

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1 Answer

Mark-William: Lanahan

Rating: 5 out of 5

Ringwood

I think the simplest solution would be the mass loaded vinyl laid over the existing floor with a new floor covering over that. The gyproc system requires all the boards removing which tends to become a can of worms in itself. If you are getting smells from nextdoor, I'd suggest siliconing the joint between the vinyl and the wall. Sound reduction is best addressed with layers of differently performing materials which disrupt the audible sound frequencies i.e. a sealed unit comprising 4mm glass, air gap and 6mm glass performs better than using 2 sheets of 6mm. All the quoted performance figures on products are barely achievable under lab conditions let alone a site. You also need to address 'flanking' noise which comes over ceilings if the walls only go up to them rather than through them, and the same goes for floors which run through under the walls. Then there's gaps and service penetrations which all allow sound pollution. Like I say, its one of those jobs that you can spend lots of money on but achieve little result due to the above. Good luck with your project.

Answered26 March 2018