Living in a maisonette or a flat has proved for some to be an absolute nightmare, the stress of noise generated by inconsiderate neighbours is an age old thing and can lead to ugly scenes. In-home noise pollutants generated by ‘noisy neighbours’, generally loud televisions and loud music that regularly invade our personal space can easily be tackled at fairly low expense. 

Before you decide to move away from the constant din below, read our straightforward guide to soundproofing your floor. If you are on a tight budget, we have helpful tips which will reduce noise in any property and without too many complaints from your wallet!

The title above, apparently a popular search term. Not one I would use for myself, however ‘acoustic underlay suitable for carpet’ maybe! If you can soundproof the floor above then this is a far better solution than treating a ceiling below. 

Simple Solution...you can do this with soundproof underlay OR acoustic underlay as it’s best known. This is an acoustic overlay flooring system as it goes directly on top of your existing floorboards however is called acoustic underlay as its generally covered up by a flooring finish, in this case carpet!

Factual...soundproofing the ceiling below is far trickier because it involves either ripping out the existing ceiling OR installing a false ceiling, either way it’s as difficult, and without a doubt as messy as it sounds. 

Now if you want an acoustic underlay for soundproofing purposes that you can carpet directly on top of, then PhonoMat® 12 Pro and PhonoMat® 22 Pro Max, for us, are the obvious choices. These acoustic mats are high grade and manufactured using fully recycled materials. The PhonoMat® composite variants using recycled chip foam and crushed stone impregnated polymeric heavy mass layers far outshine other products that use cheaper alternative foam that ether have a high plastic content, use a foam that just will not stand the test of time or simply don’t have the mass to stop sound in its tracks. 

PhonoMat® and PhonoDeck® are fantastic acoustic flooring treatments that complement any refurbishment or new build project.

Bond the PhonoGrip® perimeter carpet gripper strip, tightly butt together the acoustic underlay to the existing floor albeit timber floor boards or a concrete floor. There is absolutely no need to board over it with plywood, tape up the joints using a jointing tape and lay your carpet as you would normally. 

Some will insist on bonding these mats to their substrate, this is down to the individual however we would recommend the use of adhesive in high traffic areas.

Can I install soundproofing myself?

It is completely possible to soundproof your home floor yourself, although the key is to get the correct products for your particular needs. At acuphon we provide sound proofing solutions and materials that need only low to moderate DIY skills.

Whichever route you choose, it’s probably worth considering that if you intend to spend a lot of money on sound proofing your home and you possess only basic DIY skills, then it might be more cost effective to get the professionals in. Most builders nowadays are familiar with building regulations and Part E. It would be very frustrating and costly to do the work and then have to cover your ears again!

Why is my sound proofing not working?



There are other widely known products in the flooring industry that use the term acoustic underlay, they are generally just soft foam underlayers, whilst these products are obviously acoustic rated, they are mainly only used to tackle impact sound, the noise created when something is dropped, dragged or the constant pitter patter of feet (You will need this ‘Only if you’re classed as a considerate neighbour) To prevent airborne sound (NOISE) you need mass and masses of it, this is where PhonoMat® comes into its own.

How do you soundproof a room cheaply?

If you’re on a tight budget, then don’t worry. Here we have compiled a list of some of the cost-effective ways of reducing sound that are guaranteed to be ‘music’ to your ears! OR not, as this case may be, rephrased to bring ‘silence’ to your ears!

Try to ensure that at least 25% of every room contains absorbent materials, such as quality carpeting, furniture, or heavy curtains. These materials will help dampen omni-directional sound waves and absorb sound.

If you’re really stuck then you can always overlay additional carpeting or bedding or push mattresses up laid directly on the floor, to help reduce sound transmission. Doesn’t look great and not overly effective but will offer some respite.

You can attack noise at the source. Place composite matting or pieces of rubber directly under the legs or corners of heavy appliances, for example a washing machine or fridge freezer. This reduces vibration and low frequency noise humming through the floors.

Put stereo speakers on isolation stands to prevent turning floors and walls into whole-house speakers.

Place weather stripping around all doors, even interior ones. Replace any weather seals that are loose admitting light or air. Seal it equals sound isolation in loose terms!

The Sound of Silence!

Your home has turned into an oasis of silence and is now a den of tranquillity. Just by reducing unwanted sounds, whether you have a go yourself or use a professional, the costs need not be excessive and the rewards speak for themselves.