There are plenty of features you may be looking for in a new flooring material, such as water resistance, durability, or specific aesthetic qualities. Sound reduction can often be overlooked as a beneficial feature, despite being an attractive quality for many reasons.
Flooring with good sound reduction can help to minimize sound transmission between rooms, giving a greater sense of privacy, and for multi-level homes, reducing the sound that travels between floors can also be desirable. This is particularly beneficial for apartments, reducing the noise that transmits from one unit to another.
Certain rooms in the home can also benefit from sound-reducing flooring, such as home offices, and children’s bedrooms or playrooms. For rooms where high-quality sound is important, like home theaters or music rooms, flooring with good sound reduction can reduce echoes and reverberations, helping to enhance your experience.
The worst flooring types for sound reduction
Generally, hard flooring types should be avoided if sound reduction is a priority (although there is one exception – more on that later).
Flooring tiles are usually smooth and reflective, meaning sound waves can easily bounce off their surface, increasing noise. Both hardwood and engineered wood flooring offer poor levels of sound reduction, while laminate can also be less than desirable for reducing noise.
If one of the above is your preferred flooring type, all hope is not lost! You can enhance the sound-reduction qualities of most flooring materials, although it’s important to note this still won’t compare to naturally noise-reducing options. Certain underlays (or grout in the case of tiles) can enhance sound reduction, and opting for thicker flooring boards can also offer some improvement.
Your choice of installation method for wood and vinyl floors can also impact the noise-reduction properties of the flooring. Floating floors, or other installations where the material is not directly attached to the subfloor, tend to reduce sound better than flooring that is nailed or glued down.
The best flooring types for sound reduction
It’s probably no surprise that the ideal flooring choice for sound reduction is carpet. Its fibers absorb sound, trapping and dissipating airborne sound waves, and due to its soft surface, carpet naturally dampens impact noise. Different types of carpet fiber offer varying levels of noise reduction, with natural fibers like wool offering the best solution, although polyester is a great synthetic option at a more cost-effective price point.
Despite being the best option for sound reduction, carpet doesn’t suit every household’s lifestyle. If hard flooring is preferred, then vinyl is the most suitable solution for minimizing noise. Many vinyl products are engineered with acoustic properties that enhance their sound reduction, and as mentioned above, certain underlays and installation methods can improve this even further.
Identifying a product’s sound reduction
When shopping around for your new flooring, keep an eye out for two specific ratings on the product: STC and IIC. A sound transmission class (STC) rating indicates a product’s effectiveness at reducing airborne noise, such as talking or sound output from a TV; and an impact insulation class (IIC) rating shows its ability to reduce impact noise, like footsteps or items being dropped onto the floor.
If you’re unsure of the best sound-reducing flooring for your requirements, consult a professional flooring installer. They will be able to advise you on the best material choices for your needs, and the most suitable enhancement methods if necessary.
Always have your flooring installed by a professional to extend its lifespan and ensure maximum safety.
Powerhouse is a full-service home and commercial services company based in Texas, specializing in flooring, including hardwood, vinyl, carpet, and tile flooring for homes and businesses.