Reduce Sound with the Right Flooring

Reduce Sound with the Right Flooring can be hard subject to know where to start. In this article we have explained a few options you may wish to consider. Whenever a hard surface such as tile or stone, is affected by dropped objects, furniture, hard-soled shoes or even claws of animals, sound gets transmitted. If there is nothing to absorb, the sound can get very distractive through amplification and echoing. A large room having hard polished floors and high ceilings can emit a lot of sound even through simple activities such as walking. Fortunately, there are certain flooring materials which possess properties that dampen the effect of sound. Let us discuss some of them.

Reduce Sound with the Right Flooring

Laminate

If a quality underlayment can be added, laminate flooring can be a considerably good choice for reduction of sound. Besides absorption of sound, the underlayment can make the floor solid and diminish the hollow percussive reverberation that can occur when one walks on a laminate floor that has no underlayment. Through this procedure, the laminate floor is padded, which renders a kind of insulation and additional comfort.

Cork

Cork is great for sound reduction since it not dampens the sound. It also absorbs sound creating a sort of serene atmosphere. Due to this striking property, cork finds use in the walls of recording studios for soundproofing. Clear soundtracks can be produced without the interference of any kind of background noise. Owing to the porous nature, sound waves get embedded within the cellular arrangement of the cork. Apart from bringing down the effect of sound, cork flooring also adds warmth to the rooms. An added bonus is it prevents accidentally dropped objects from breaking.

Carpet

As we all know, there is no hard, echoing surface, so far as carpet is concerned. The carpet along with the underlay it absorbs and deflects sound waves. You can even use a thicker underlay to enhance the sound absorption level. Moreover, carpet is also cheaper to use. The only problem is that carpets are difficult to clean and might trap dust and allergens leading to increase in allergy. However, with proper cleaning equipment’s, this issue can be easily handled.

Vinyl  – Reduce Sound with the Right Flooring

Quality vinyl flooring comes with foam backing and also possesses a surface that is flexible and cushioned, making it a popular selection amongst sound reducing flooring materials. Over the existing floor, any kind of tile can be installed and the rate at which sound will be absorbed depends upon the quality of the material of flooring. If the vinyl is of top quality, it will nullify this factor, which leads to a surface that is more or less devoid of sound. Again, the surface also becomes springy, which in turn enhances the comfort.