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How to Install Soundproofed Floors

Contributor
By Genae-Valecia Hinesman
eHow Contributing Writer
(0 Ratings)

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. Step 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. Step 2

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

  3. Step 3

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

  4. Step 4

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

  5. Step 5

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

  6. Step 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.
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