Installing a soundproof floor is a great way to significantly reduce noise levels for almost any type of room. You can install a soundproof floor in a child's bedroom, home theater or literally any other room in the house. Installing a soundproof floor involves attaching a sound muffling barrier to a standard hard floor surface. Then, new flooring is installed on top of the soundproofing. This is a great DIY project for the weekend, and can usually be completed in less than a day.
Before You Begin
When using a heavy duty staple gun or nail gun, you should always ensure that you are wearing adequate eye protection. Standard construction eye safety glasses are inexpensive and provide sufficient protection for this type of work.
What You'll Need
When using a heavy duty staple gun or nail gun, you should always ensure that you are wearing adequate eye protection. Standard construction eye safety glasses are inexpensive and provide sufficient protection for this type of work.
What You'll Need
- Sound barrier Examples: Quiet Barrier or Econo Barrier
- Knee pads
- Heavy duty staple gun or nail gun
- Heavy duty shears or scissors
- Vinyl barrier tape
- Acoustic sealant
- New flooring materials of your choice
- Safety Glasses
Step 1– Preparing the FloorIf your room uses carpet flooring, you will need to remove the carpet, carpet padding in any floor baseboards that are installed. If you plan on reusing this carpet, then simply set it aside so that you can reinstall it after you've finished installing the soundproof floor material. Alternatively, you can choose to install new flooring material afterwards.
Step 2– Placing the Soundproofing Material
Starting at one side of the room, and at the wall, roll out the soundproofing material to the other wall. Then, cut the soundproofing material so that it fits snugly against the wall.
Step 3– Attaching the Soundproofing Material
Using your heavy duty staple gun or nail gun, staple or nail the soundproofing material to the sub-flooring; make sure to put enough staples or nails along the edges to insure the material does not shift or move. Then use the vinyl barrier tape to seal along the edges of the wall perimeter. If your sub-flooring is made of concrete and not wood, then use contact cement to secure the soundproofing material.
Step 4- Sealing the Soundproofing Material
Once you have completed taping the perimeter of the room with the vinyl barrier tape, use the tube of acoustic sealant to evenly caulk along the top of the tape at the edges of the walls. Make sure that there are no gaps or crevices in the sealant caulking. If you can find acoustic sealant in a standard caulk tube, then using a regular caulk gun works much better.
Step 5– Install the FlooringReinstall the carpet padding and carpet, or install the new floor according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Starting at one side of the room, and at the wall, roll out the soundproofing material to the other wall. Then, cut the soundproofing material so that it fits snugly against the wall.
Step 3– Attaching the Soundproofing Material
Using your heavy duty staple gun or nail gun, staple or nail the soundproofing material to the sub-flooring; make sure to put enough staples or nails along the edges to insure the material does not shift or move. Then use the vinyl barrier tape to seal along the edges of the wall perimeter. If your sub-flooring is made of concrete and not wood, then use contact cement to secure the soundproofing material.
Step 4- Sealing the Soundproofing Material
Once you have completed taping the perimeter of the room with the vinyl barrier tape, use the tube of acoustic sealant to evenly caulk along the top of the tape at the edges of the walls. Make sure that there are no gaps or crevices in the sealant caulking. If you can find acoustic sealant in a standard caulk tube, then using a regular caulk gun works much better.
Step 5– Install the FlooringReinstall the carpet padding and carpet, or install the new floor according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Step 6– Finishing Up
Using your heavy duty stapler or nail gun, reattach the baseboards.
Using your heavy duty stapler or nail gun, reattach the baseboards.
Source: www.DoItYourself.com
