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Sound Transmission

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The more muffled the sound, the better, especially in a multi-story building, house, apartment, or condominium. There are several good flooring choices with effective sound dampening properties.

Sound is transmitted when hard objects, like hard-soled shoes, furniture, dropped objects, or even dog claws impact a hard surface (example: tile or stone). Sound waves can spread, multiply, and echo off the walls, without anything to absorb it. A simple walk across the lobby of an office building can become quite a distraction if the action happens in a large room with high ceilings and hard polished floors.

Sound Ratings

Sound transmission is rated using three different standards. Each of them define a particular way in which sound is conducted. Sound absorption of floor coverings may be calculated on two of those scales.

IIC (impact insulation class) is measured in terms of sound impact; how well sound vibrations travel through a floor to the room below.

IIC 50 has the least impact sound absorption quality and most stone and tile will fall into this category.. While this may be appropriate for ground floors, it would be unsatisfactory for most on a high floor without a great deal of insulation between the floor and the ceiling below.

IIC 60 has a medium impact on sound absorption quality and encompasses floorings such as wood, laminates, and some vinyls.

IIC 65 has a high level impact on sound transmission absorption and includes superior sound reduction materials like carpet and cork.

IIC is highly influenced by the surfaces and areas under the floor. The IIC level can be extremely enhanced by the addition of underlayment, insulation, or by floating the floor. The “loudest” floor is stone or tile laid directly over concrete. The IIC scale does not account for sounds like squeaking or rattling.

NRC (noise reduction coefficient) measures the quantity of sound that is absorbed and not reflected by the material. Background noise and echoes are eliminated in a room with high NRC rating. Theaters must be constructed to have a high NRC rating because without it, the room would be filled with continuous sound, making individual words impossible to distinguish. Carpet, with an NRC rating of .40–.50 is the most efficient absorptive material. Vinyl, cork, and rubber have a fairly high NRC rating, with hardwood, bamboo, tile, and stone at the bottom of the scale for sound absorption.

Under the Floor

There are a lot of factors which affect sound transmission. One of the aspects include the underlayment and subfloor, plus adhesives and sealants used during installation. If used on a higher floor in a multi-story structure, insulation between the floor of one room and the ceiling of the room below plays an important part in deadening sound. The great news is that any kind of insulation packed between the joists will not only help to trap and dissipate sound but it will also block the loss of heat or air-conditioning.

Installation Materials

Another layer of sound dampening properties to the floor is added by the use of flexible acoustic adhesives. In order to block channels where sound can travel, a flexible sealant is designed to fill gaps where the floor meets the wall or around doors or air ducts.

Flooring for Sound Reduction

Carpet

Carpet is the antithesis of hard, echoing surfaces. Sound waves are completely absorbed and deflected by the carpet and by the padding under the carpet. The level of sound absorption can be enhanced with a thicker pad. Carpet is usually the cheapest option in the short run, but also the most problematic in terms of durability, cleaning, and allergy aggravation.

Cork

Another excellent choice for sound reduction is cork. It absorbs sound, creating a blissful peace that everyone will appreciate, including downstairs neighbors. Cork is an effective sound reduction material used on walls to soundproof recording studios to produce clear soundtracks. The porous structure of the cork is the key. Sound waves are broken up after they sink into the cellular structure of the cork.

Cork flooring also adds natural warmth to rooms and a slightly springy give that makes it comfortable and easy to walk or stand on. Another great thing is that cork may even save dropped items from breaking on crash.

Vinyl

A good choice for a sound reduction is quality vinyl flooring that is backed with foam and has a cushioned, flexible surface. As with everything else, you get what you pay for. Even you can install any tile over an existing floor, the material of the floor will influence sound absorption qualities. Top quality vinyl will help nullify that factor and provide a nearly soundless surface.

Laminate

With the addition of a quality underlayment, laminate flooring can be a reasonably good choice for sound reduction. A layer underlayment will also add a feeling of solidity to the floor and reduce the hollow percussive sound that footfalls can outcome when laminate flooring is slide over a subfloor without the benefit of underlayment. The underlayment pads a laminate floor much in the same way that a pad works under carpet. This process adds extra satisfaction and insulation for overall warmth.

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