How effective is timber floor soundproofing?

Soundproofing a timber floor will reduce impact noise, airborne noise or both. All of our acoustic floor solutions are designed to exceed the UK Part E Building Regulations for the passage of sound. (43dB or higher for airborne noise and 64dB or lower for impact noise). Different systems offer different levels of noise reduction depending on the level of noise needed to be blocked and the current construction of the floor. No soundproofing will offer 100% reduction, however installing soundproofing will dramatically reduce noisy neighbour noise. *dB results will vary depending on several factors. Please see our dB blog on why dB results may vary

Does timber floor soundproofing work both ways?

Soundproofing a timber floor will block impact noise (footsteps) travelling from the room above to the room below. Timber floor soundproofing can also block airborne noise travelling from below to the room above or from the room above to the room below.

Do I need to soundproof the whole timber floor?

The short answer is YES as soundproofing is like waterproofing and is only as good as the weakest point. (As sound can travel through very small gaps). If you were to soundproof just part of the timber floor you would be wasting your money.

How thick is timber floor Soundproofing?

Floor soundproofing for timber floors varies in thickness from 5mm to 28mm depending on the type and level of soundproofing required. However, our best-selling SoundMat 3 Plus is just 15mm thick and performs exceptionally well against both airborne noise and impact noise.

Do you offer an installation service for timber floors?

There are two main options for installing our DIY soundproofing solutions: DIY Installation All of our systems have been designed to be DIYable - saving you any unnecessary installation expense 80% of customers install the systems themselves - we've made DIY installation an easy option We supply simple and comprehensive step-by-step installation guides and videos - for fuss free installation Our technical team are on hand to answer any questions and provide installation support - we're here every step of the way Using a local tradesperson You're well on your way to noise free living. If installing the system yourself isn't an option, then simply use a local tradesperson We take away any stress of installation by speaking directly to your tradesperson throughout the process

Once installed on a timber floor, can I put any type of final floor finish down?

Yes, however, the best final floor finish for soundproofing is carpet. Thin hard floors such as laminate and vinyl can also be fitted on top of soundproofing, but some systems may need a 6mm hardboard first to provide a flat stable base. Our Reverso SoundMat is unique as (in most cases) no further hardboard layer is needed. Engineered wood floors can also be fitted on top of soundproofing providing it is 18mm or thicker. Bathroom, and kitchen tiles will normally need a flat stable base on top of the soundproofing, depending on which floor soundproofing system has been selected. For specialist flooring (including certain LVT and Vinyl) a self-levelling screed or overboard may be needed. With all hard floor finishes, install as per the manufacturers guidance. n.b. Solid and hard floor finishes will reduce the amount of impact noise reduction achieved by the base layer of soundproofing by up to 5dB.

Timber Joist Floor Soundproofing Solutions

Soundproofing Store timber floor soundproofing

The UK's Most Trusted Timber Floor Soundproofing Provider

High performing, DIY soundproofing solutions. For noisy neighbours, studios & Part E Building Regulations

The UK's Most Trusted Timber

Floor Soundproofing Provider

High performing, DIY soundproofing solutions. For noisy neighbours, studios & Part E Building Regulations

How to soundproof a timber joist floor

The 3 main principles of soundproofing:

Insulate Cavities

Add acoustic mineral wool within joists. This helps to prevent sound resonating and amplifying within cavities

Cushioning

Absorb impact vibrations at the source before they have chance to enter the structure

Mass

The addition of mass helps to create a barrier to block sound waves.

Using different types of mass also helps to block different frequencies of sound

Considerations when soundproofing a timber joist floor

3 criteria to help determine the correct soundproofing solution:

Final Floor Finish

Different solutions are more suited to different final floor finishes. Choose the most suitable solution depending not only on the noise you are trying to block, but also your final floor finish

Noise Issue

Is the unwanted noise impact vibration (e.g. footsteps) airborne (e.g. talking) or a combination of both? This will determine which soundproofing solution is most suited to your individual situation

Noise Source

Where is the noise coming from? Is the noise coming from above or below? If it's coming from above, do you have access to the floor above? It's always easier to soundproof at the source of the noise before it enters the structure

Timber Floor Solutions

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Reverso SoundMat

Slim system with built in stabilising layer ideal for hard floor finishes

18mm thick

Airborne noise performance

Impact noise performance

From £45.76 Per m2 Ex Vat

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SoundMat 3 Plus

Slim

system with cushioned layer ideal for carpet

finishes

15mm thick

Airborne noise performance

Impact noise performance

From £34.68 Per m2 Ex Vat

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SoundMat 2 Plus

Slimmest system with cushioned layer ideal for carpet

finishes

12mm thick

Airborne noise performance

Impact noise performance

From £23.22 Per m2 Ex Vat

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SoundScreed WF28

High mass system providing a stable base for all final floor finishes

28mm thick

Airborne noise performance

Impact noise performance

From £52.70 Per m2 Ex Vat

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SoundScreed 25

Direct to joist system for minimum space loss for all final floor finishes

25mm thick

Airborne noise performance

Impact noise performance

From £74.23 Per m2 Ex Vat

Learn More

We don’t expect you to become an overnight soundproofing expert, that’s what we’re here for.

Timber Joist Floor FAQs

How effective is timber floor soundproofing?

Soundproofing a timber floor will reduce impact noise, airborne noise or both. All of our acoustic floor solutions are designed to exceed the UK Part E Building Regulations for the passage of sound. (43dB or higher for airborne noise and 64dB or lower for impact noise).
Different systems offer different levels of noise reduction depending on the level of noise needed to be blocked and the current construction of the floor.
No soundproofing will offer 100% reduction, however installing soundproofing will dramatically reduce noisy neighbour noise.
*dB results will vary depending on several factors.
Please see our dB blog on why dB results may vary
Does timber floor soundproofing work both ways?

Soundproofing a timber floor will block impact noise (footsteps) travelling from the room above to the room below.
Timber floor soundproofing can also block airborne noise travelling from below to the room above or from the room above to the room below.
Do I need to soundproof the whole timber floor?

The short answer is YES as soundproofing is like waterproofing and is only as good as the weakest point. (As sound can travel through very small gaps).
If you were to soundproof just part of the timber floor you would be wasting your money.
How thick is timber floor Soundproofing?

Floor soundproofing for timber floors varies in thickness from 5mm to 28mm depending on the type and level of soundproofing required. However, our best-selling SoundMat 3 Plus is just 15mm thick and performs exceptionally well against both airborne noise and impact noise.
Do you offer an installation service for timber floors?
There are two main options for installing our DIY soundproofing solutions:

DIY Installation
- All of our systems have been designed to be DIYable - saving you any unnecessary installation expense
- 80% of customers install the systems themselves - we've made DIY installation an easy option
- We supply simple and comprehensive step-by-step installation guides and videos - for fuss free installation
- Our technical team are on hand to answer any questions and provide installation support - we're here every step of the way
Using a local tradesperson
- You're well on your way to noise free living. If installing the system yourself isn't an option, then simply use a local tradesperson
- We take away any stress of installation by speaking directly to your tradesperson throughout the process
Once installed on a timber floor, can I put any type of final floor finish down?

Yes, however, the best final floor finish for soundproofing is carpet. Thin hard floors such as laminate and vinyl can also be fitted on top of soundproofing, but some systems may need a 6mm hardboard first to provide a flat stable base. Our Reverso SoundMat is unique as (in most cases) no further hardboard layer is needed.
Engineered wood floors can also be fitted on top of soundproofing providing it is 18mm or thicker.
Bathroom, and kitchen tiles will normally need a flat stable base on top of the soundproofing, depending on which floor soundproofing system has been selected.
For specialist flooring (including certain LVT and Vinyl) a self-levelling screed or overboard may be needed.
With all hard floor finishes, install as per the manufacturers guidance.
n.b. Solid and hard floor finishes will reduce the amount of impact noise reduction achieved by the base layer of soundproofing by up to 5dB.