OVERVIEW
Case Study: Soundproofing an Existing Floor
Project Overview
Client: Jamie Carter, owner of The Sportsman's Arms, a highly acclaimed hotel and restaurant
Rooms: Floor separating guest bedrooms
Objective: Reduce noise transmission between two bedrooms, targeting both impact and airborne noise
The best way to soundproof a floor separating bedrooms
Identify the type of noise
Determine whether you need to address impact noise (footsteps, moving furniture) or airborne noise (voices, music). This will help you select the appropriate soundproofing materials and methods.
Final Flooring
Different floor soundproofing solutions are better suited for different types of final floor finishes. When choosing the most suitable option, consider not only the noise you want to block but also the type of final floor finish you plan to use.
Acoustic Insulation
Add acoustic insulation between floor joists prior to installing the floor soundproofing. The bedroom at The Sportsman's Arms hotel already had acoustic insulation within the joists, so no acoustic mineral wool was needed to be added in this instance.
Preparation
Clear the room of all furniture and existing floor coverings (in this instance carpet).
Sealing Gaps and Cracks
Identify and seal all gaps and cracks in the subfloor using an acoustic sealant, which will help prevent sound leakage.
Perimeter Edging
Add carpet gripper rod risers around the perimeter for carpet final floor finishes.
Soundproof Solution
Choose the most effective soundproofing solution for your individual situation. SoundMat 3 Plus is the most popular soundproofing solution for timber floors and carpet final floor finishes. A high performing direct to floor soundproofing mat, sometimes referred to as an underlay mat.
Seal Edges and Perimeters
Use acoustic sealant to seal the edges where the soundproofing meets the walls, ensuring no sound leakage through these joints.
Final Flooring
The final floor finish of choice is carpet and SoundMat 3 Plus will also act as a luxury carpet underlay.
Timber floor soundproofing solution: SoundMat 3 Plus
SoundMat 3 Plus is an exceptional soundproofing mat specifically designed to minimise unwanted impact and airborne noise. Ideal for carpeted final floor finishes, this thin (only 15mm thick) and highly effective floor soundproofing significantly enhances the soundproofing capabilities of existing floors and was the perfect choice for the timber floor separating the two bedrooms at The Sportsman's Arms.
SoundMat 3 Plus achieves superior soundproofing results for timber floors
Key Features of SoundMat 3 Plus
System components when installing SoundMat 3 Plus
The materials used when installing the SoundMat 3 Plus on a timber floor at The Sportsman's Arms:
SoundMat 3 Plus - High performing floor soundproofing solution to help block impact and airborne noise.
9mm Gripper Rod Soundproofing Riser - Designed for use under standard carpet gripper rods and used with the SoundMat 3 Plus. Risers are constructed with mass-loaded vinyl to enhance soundproofing around the perimeter. Featuring a wooden layer for securely fixing carpet gripper rods and a foam edge to create an airtight seal against the wall.
When used with the 15mm Floor SoundMat 3 Plus system, the gripper rod risers add mass to the perimeter's weak points, blocking airborne noise. Additionally, they raise the carpet gripper rods to the optimal height for gripping the carpet correctly.
Acoustic Sealant (900ml) - A specialist sealant used to fill any small gaps between floorboards prior to laying the SoundMats and also used to seal around the perimeter of the SoundMats. This helps to prevent any air gaps through which sound could travel through.
Jumbo Sealant Applicator Gun for 900ml Tubes - A heavy-duty applicator gun designed to dispense acoustic sealant smoothly and accurately whilst helping to ensure the precise application of sealant along seams and edges.
High Tack Tape - Used to tape over the joins of the SoundMat 3 Plus to prevent any movement once the SoundMats are laid in place.
Acoustic Mineral Wool - Acoustic mineral wool is designed to improve acoustic performance and reduce reverberation within cavity spaces. It is added to the cavity space underneath the floorboards prior to laying SoundMat 3 Plus. Acoustic mineral wool wasn't added in this situation because there was already insulation within the joists.
Easy DIY installation of SoundMat 3 Plus
Jamie had never installed any type of soundproofing before and quickly and easily installed the SoundMat 3 Plus.
By following these steps, you can easily and effectively reduce noise transmission between rooms, creating a quieter and more comfortable living environment.
Step 1: Preparation of the base floor:
Step 2: Installation of Gripper Rod Risers:
Step 3: Laying SoundMat 3 Plus:
Step 4: Secure the SoundMats:
Step 5: Sealing with Acoustic Sealant:
Jamie followed the above process and was able to easily install SoundMat 3 Plus on the bedroom floor.
Results
Footsteps which were very loud and clear before the soundproofing have been dramatically reduced. Music which was played before the soundproofing was also very loud and very clear and is now muffled and much harder to hear.
(The lower the value the better)
(The higher the value the better)
A reading was also taken with the dB reader with no noise being played and when the room was silent. The reading was 35 - 36dB. The reading with the noise playing following the installation of the soundproofing was only a couple of decibels over the background silent noise level, which is a fantastic result.
SoundMat 3 Plus client testimonial
Jamie, with no prior experience, effortlessly installed the soundproofing and was thrilled with the results. He also found the SoundMats 'remarkably easy' to lay down.
According to Jamie, “The product is absolutely great; installation was much simpler than I’d anticipated. The SoundMat’s manageable sections made it easy for me to fit myself - it was a simple job.”
Jamie continued, "We're due to have the carpet fitted tomorrow and the carpet fitter came and was really impressed with the job that we'd done. The gripper risers are in place and it means that the carpet fitters can just come in and lay the carpet straight down."
Expressing his satisfaction, Jamie added "We're really pleased with the results, we've had customers in the room directly below and people working in here and I'm really impressed with the amount of sound it's stopped. A really successful project and really really happy we've worked with you on it".
Conclusion
This case study demonstrates that soundproofing an existing floor between bedrooms can be easily achieved through the use of a high-quality, tried and tested soundproofing solution. By addressing both impact and airborne noise, Jamie's DY installation of SoundMat 3 Plus made a significant improvement in noise reduction between the two rooms. An excellent result meaning a quieter and more peaceful environment for guests to enjoy during their stay.
Whether you’re a hotel owner, or a homeowner, SoundMat 3 Plus offers an exceptional and efficient soundproofing solution. Designed to minimise unwanted impact and airborne noise. Ideal for carpeted final floor finishes, it offers a slim profile (only 15mm thick) while significantly enhancing soundproofing capabilities. Whether you’re dealing with footsteps from guests in a hotel, noisy neighbours, or ensuring privacy between floors within your own home, SoundMat 3 Plus is the ideal solution.
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