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Soundproofing Hardwood Floors in Condo & Townhouse 2024

Soundproofing Hardwood Floors Condo

Condos and townhouses are a great choice to live in, but most times there is a noise problem in the apartments. This is because these apartments are built in a way that noise travels quite easily through the walls from one apartment to another. And so if you hear your neighbor’s footsteps, music, TV sound, and voice, then you have a noise problem. In this article, we would give you tips on how to go about soundproofing hardwood floors in your condo and townhouse.

In a hurry to find out what the best ways are to soundproof hardwood floors in condo and townhouse? Mass loaded vinyl is a great soundproofing material because of its performance. We recommend the highly rated MLV by TMS Sound Proofing and Noise Grabber.

Soundproofing Condo Floors: Best Ways in 2024 

1. Mass Loaded Vinyl 

Installing mass-loaded vinyl on your floor is an easy and very effective way of soundproofing condo floors.

It’s particularly useful if you are trying to prevent noise from an upstairs room from getting to you.

You can also use it to soundproof your room if you are noisy and the neighbors are complaining.

Mass-loaded vinyl is a sound dampening material that acts as a reflective material. This makes it very useful in preventing the escape of sound from space as it contains vibrations.

To use MLV in your home, you can install it on the floor and also walls. Installing MLV on the floor prevents sound transfer through the floor structure. You can reinforce it by adding a layer of rubber to the MLV.

After installing MLV on your floor, place a dense carpet on it to take the sound deadening process even further. This way even more noise would be dampened and sound contained in the room.

The addition of rubber increases the density of your soundproof layer for even better hardwood floor noise reduction.

Go for the highly quality MLV by TMS Sound Proofing  or Noise Grabber Mass Loaded Vinyl.

2. Place an Underlayment on The Subfloor

Floor underlayment is another effective method of soundproofing condo and townhouse floor.

Common materials used in their construction include shredded rubber, regular rubber, foam, fiber, or cork.

Coming at different densities, note that the heavier it is, the more effective it is in soundproofing. 

Underlayment works to absorb the sound coming in from downstairs and also prevent your sound from leaving the room to the apartment below you.

With a thicker underlayment, the sound wave would have a lot of materials to vibrate through before leaving and so the energy dies off. A great example of floor underlayment to use is the ROBERTS Felt Cushion Roll.

3. Reinforce The Underlayment with A Soundproof Compound

 Just as MLV is an effective mat-styled sound deadening material used in the quiet flooring for condos, an acoustic sealant helps you dampen sound without the need to roll out sheets.

Green Glue is a top-rated acoustic sealant for soundproofing condo floors.

It does this by reducing sound transmission between spaces.

Green Glue is great to reinforce your underlayment so that it absorbs even more sound and prevents noise transfer.

By applying it above the subfloor and underneath the underlayment, you greatly reduce noise transmission for townhouse soundproofing.

The hardwood floor above the underlayment shouldn’t be held in place but rather left floating. This way impact noise wouldn’t be transferred to the soundproof layer set in place underneath to better achieve hardwood floor noise reduction. 

If there are gaps or cracks on your floor through which noise travels, the use of Green Glue would reduce sound transmission significantly.

Being odorless and environmentally friendly, it’s safe to use and you have nothing to worry about. Another great part about the use of Green Glue is that you can apply it without the help of a professional.

For the best results, clean the subfloor from any dirt or protrusions before applying Green Glue. Also, ensure you apply on a dry surface. Purchase the right amount of glue for the surface you want to apply it on for good results.

Using a caulk gun makes it easier to apply and ensures the gum is even on the surface.

After applying the glue, place the underlayment above it and then install your flooring. Placing a carpet on top of the structure makes it absorb even more sound and helps with increased soundproofing condo floors.

4. Place A Carpet Padding

Did you know that apart from the use of a floor rug and carpet padding to soothe your feet, it can also help with soundproofing wood floors in a condo?

Density is a factor that determines the effectiveness of sound deadening material, and so the thicker the rug and padding, the more effective it would be at soundproofing.

If your room has a lot of traffic, then you would need to do more to reduce the noise that is generated.

By first laying a carpet with rubber foam underlay, and then installing the carpet padding, you would greatly dampen noise in your floor.

Install the rug and carpet padding on every corner of your room and hold it in place with glue or nails. It’s an easy process but due to the weight of the padding, you may require the assistance of a friend. A good example of a high quality carpet pad is CraftRugs Rug Pad

5. Use an Interlocking Floor Mat

The use of interlocking floor mats is one of the most cost-effective ways to soundproof wood floor condos.

They work well in reducing noise traveling through the floor, and they come in different designs and textures.

Each piece can be easily connected to the next hence the name; puzzle floor mat.

Their ease of installation makes them a good choice for you if you are looking for an easy-to-use solution to soundproof your hardwood floor. You may also want to read How to Mount Acoustic Foam Temporarily without Damaging Walls. They are also easy to clean and are safe to use as well.

6. Place A Thick Carpet On the Floor

Placing a thick carpet on your hardwood floor greatly helps to reduce the impact noise that travels through the structure.

This is true as density influences the effectiveness of soundproof materials.

For the best results, get a carpet size that completely covers the entire floor so that there is no escape from sound from the room.

Apart from its soundproof properties, carpets also add to the beauty of the room. This is however a con if you prefer the beautiful sight of your hardwood over that of a carpet.

Another disadvantage to the use of a carpet is that it traps allergens and microbes, and so requires regular cleaning. Those who suffer from allergies may have issues with the use of carpets. Read also: How to Reduce Noise from Upstairs Neighbors Floors 

Townhouse floor soundproof

Final Thoughts On Soundproofing Hardwood Floors in Condo and Townhouse

Noise can be a nuisance, especially in condos if you have a noisy neighbor above you. It can also be a problem if your kids’ room or sitting room is right above your bedroom as the noise would greatly reduce your sleep quality.

This isn’t a serious issue anymore as these tips on soundproofing hardwood floors in condos and townhouses would significantly dampen sound moving from one apartment to another.

Mass-loaded vinyl is a top-rated soundproofing material and would have a good effect in dampening noise when placed on the floor above you to curb the noise. You can also place it on your floor to reduce the noise coming up from below. 

Placing an underlayment on the subfloor is another great option. We recommend the highly rated Roberts Super Felt Cushion Underlayment.

You may also want to reinforce the underlayment with a soundproof compound.

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