Reducing sound under hardwood floors?

[Admiral Blue]

Has anyone used a vinyl or rubber layer underneath hardwood with any success in blocking impact sounds traveling to the room below? I am trying to prevent footsteps, heel noises, etc., from being heard in the rec room by putting a layer of something under the hardwood in the living/dining room above it.

I was thinking of a 1/4" rubber may similar to gym flooring. Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Jeff

[Blue 92]

Not hardwood but every laminate floor I've done had an underlayment of a dense foam put down first. It was recommended by the manufacturer.

[Poog]

You might try calling or shooting an email to the customer service department of the flooring manufacturer(s) you're thinking of using.

[Grey Ghost]

Is there insulation between the joist ?

[ApexOversteer]

Dynamat!

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb164/ApexOversteer/20112121742.jpg

[erickpl]

Is this a floating hardwood floor or one nailed down? The floating floors sound like you're in a double wide. Sounds bad.

We used a felt vapor barrier on our floor (we have a crawlspace house). It can still be noisy, but only if you walk like an elephant (our daughter does). If you double up the vapor barrier stuff, that may help, but if it is a floating floor, you may be S-O-L.

[Brett K]

I wouldn't recommend anything other than roofing paper if you are nailing or stapling it down.. Using anything thicker, especially something that is soft may cause it to allow the floor to move up and down and your staples or nails may work loose.

[vtelvr]

Not hardwood but every laminate floor I've done had an underlayment of a dense foam put down first. It was recommended by the manufacturer.

When I put down our laminate flooring, I doubled up that styro/plastic barrier...and we are on a slab. I have been in houses with laminate, and you are right...it sounds like crap. We still have that same sound, as we came from having carpet, but it is not as bad, and doesn't resonate like laminate. It is a much deeper sound. Plus, I am one of those kinds of people that I do things the right way the first time. The next owner of this current house will appreciate people like me.

[Admiral Blue]

Is there insulation between the joist ?

There will be insulation and soundproofing below. But I wanted to attack it from above, too.

We are doing a nailed-down hardwood, not floating. Unfortunately, we already installed a new 3/4" tongue-in-groove subfloor so nailing through any rubber or cork sounds like it will be pointless. Noise will go right through the nails into the joists. It sounds like, from a noise perspective, I am best using glue for the hardwood instead of nails, but I don't like the idea of it not being nailed down for long-term movement.

[C5Nate]

Is there insulation between the joist ?There will be insulation and soundproofing below. But I wanted to attack it from above, too.



Good soundproofing insulation between the joints should be all you really need.

[Admiral Blue]

In my old home, I *only* had R-25 with acoustical ceiling tiles below a hardwood floor. It did a good job with tv sound and music, but I recall the heels still being bad. This lower level will have much more than that! :seasix:

[Frizzle]

Good soundproofing insulation between the joints should be all you really need.

:iagree: