How to Install Soundproofed Floors

Whether you plan to quiet an upstairs children's playroom, a recording studio/music room, a home theater, or simply ensure personal privacy, there are several soundproofing methods to choose from. This article discusses one of the easiest projects to complete--soundproofing a floor. Basically, a sound muffling barrier material is secured to a hard surfaced floor and sealed, then new flooring material is placed on top. This is an excellent weekend project that can usually be completed in one day or less.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sound barrier material such as “Quiet Barrier” or “Econo Barrier”
• Knee pads
• Heavy duty staple gun or nail gun
• Vinyl barrier tape
• Acoustic sealant
• New flooring materials of your choice

1. If your floor is covered with carpet, you will need to remove all of the baseboard trim, carpet and carpet padding. Set it aside if you plan to re-use it, or discard them if you plan to apply a new surface floor.

2. Roll out the soundproofing material onto the floor area from wall to wall.

3. Staple down the soundproofing material to the sub-floor, then use vinyl barrier tape to seal the edges along the perimeter.

4. Use acoustic sealant to firmly caulk around the edges on the top of the tape against the walls.

5. Re-lay the padding and carpet, or install the new floor according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

6. Finish by re-installing the baseboard.

Tips & Warnings

• If as little as 3% of the area is not covered, as much as 50% of the sound can pass through so it is important to seal the perimeter of the room well with the acoustic sealant.