Acoustic underlay is available in a range of thicknesses/densities and is made from a variety of materials. To help you determine the most suitable product for your needs we have put together this short guide.
Key factors to consider:
- Acoustical needs: Do you need airborne or impact performance – or both?
- Sub-floor: Onto what material are you laying the underlay? Concrete, timber?
- Top surface: Under what material will the underlay be installed?
Once you have the answer to the these questions you can use the guide below to determine the best solution for your project. There are also some flooring products on this list.
Using an acoustic underlay provides several advantages:
- Less footfall noise – designed to reduce noise between floors, it can be particularly useful under wooden and laminate floors at stopping footfall noise (impact noise)
- Soundproofing – when used with other materials and systems, acoustic underlay can play a big role in soundproofing rooms through adding mass to the system and through installation methods which involve isolation
- Thermal insulation – the foam materials and the density of the material also helps with thermal insulation
- Sub-floor protection – the density and foam construction of some of the underlays help to protect the sub-floor. The underlay can also protect the sub-floor against moisture damage and helps in the reduction of air flow which can reduce household allergies through restricting the movement of dust and associated allergens
Contact us for more help and guidance in choosing the right product for your needs
For help in understanding building regs, please see the gov.uk website document E info here