Choosing the right underlay for your new flooring is a decision that cannot be overlooked – especially if you’re looking to reduce excess sound. Soundproofing a room gives you more freedom with its use. It creates a calmer and more relaxed environment while allowing you to engage in activities, such as exercising or dancing to your favourite music, without worrying about disturbing other members of the home. In this blog, we’ll take a look at the available underlays on the market and which ones are best suited to helping you control sound.
The Role of Underlay
Underlay plays an important role in any household. It provides a shock-absorbing layer that helps to improve the longevity of your flooring. The right option will minimise the impact of heavy foot traffic and prevent excessive flattening to your carpet piles. Alongside this, underlay has the ability to control heat loss and help you to better manage your energy bills. And finally, as per this blog post title, it offers a level of sound protection which can reduce noise by up to 30%.
Different Types of Underlay
When considering underlay for soundproofing, first consider the flooring you will be laying. For example, carpet offers good sound reduction on its own. If you’re working to a fixed budget, you can afford to spend more on luxury carpet while opting for a less effective sound-proofing underlay that still offers the required cushioning. Wooden floor, on the other hand, provides very little sound control. In high foot traffic environments, especially those in apartment blocks, you’ll likely hear every step or drop.
Soundproof underlay comes manufactured from a variety of materials, including polyurethane, foam, crumb, and sponge rubber.
PU Foam
One of the most popular soundproofing options, PU foam can be used with carpet, laminate and wooden flooring. It comes in a variety of thicknesses, offering varying levels of sound protection.
Crumb
Manufactured from ‘crumbs’ of rubber originally used in cars, crumb underlay is best used with carpet. It has exceptional sound reduction properties, due to the rubber construction.
Sponge Rubber
Also known as a waffle sponge, this type of underlay is highly durable and suited to high-traffic environments.
With over 20 years of experience, the team at Virtuoso Flooring are here to help identify the right soundproofing solution for your home. As a leading supplier of luxury carpets in Bath, trust us to help you complete any home. If you would like to speak to us, please do get in contact here today.
