How to soundproof a floor with SoundMat 3 Plus. DIY Installation. A Step-by-Step Guide

[@SpedSpedding]

Love this video and the transparency. It's an incredible improvement as opposed to unrealistic silence.

[@SoundproofingStore]

Hi @SpedSpedding, great to read your comment! Much appreciated.

[@Will-rq9lw]

When the road is furnished and the soundproofing is compressed due to the weight, will this allow the transfer of noise?

[@nicolaiengelbrecht3302]

Hello Philip , it's a great video however in your test before and after the sound proofing, the reduction is almost not noticeable ... did you make a mistake? On the first test without the sound proofing it shows 38-39 and on the last test with the sound proofing it shows 37-38? Cheers

[@SoundproofingStore]

Hi @nicolaiengelbrecht3302, thanks for taking the time to comment. It certainly did give us an improvement. It's difficult to see sometimes when using music because the volume fluctuates up and down so much. We also used different music in the before and after test. (The fluctuations in the 'after' music being higher than in the 'before' music). This fluctuation is why in official tests we use a constant white noise type sound. When averaging the airborne performance 'before' we averaged a 27dB reduction and 'after' an average of a 33dB reduction so that's a 6dB improvement. I think next time we'll stick to the white noise for a more obvious result, although less interesting to listen to!

[@IbrahimAli-f3q]

Hi, A little confused with the test, the first test the music was playing from the room below the sound proofed room to test how much sound is being received from the room below. In the second test it was the opposite. I am trying to reduce TV/Music noise from the room below, so would be good to understand if the product will accomplish this or whether its more from stopping noise escaping rather than being received.

[@SoundproofingStore]

Hi @IbrahimAli-f3q, for airborne noise the SoundMat 3 Plus works in both directions. Helping to block unwanted airborne noise from above travelling to the room below and from the room below travelling to the room above. Please don't hesitate to get in touch if we can help any further [phone].

[@noga8974]

Really good video, thanks. Just wondering are there any breathable options to reduce sound intrusion in a traditional limestone cottage by a road.

[@SoundproofingStore]

Hi, thanks for the comment. So for a material to be "breathable" it has to be porous. It needs to allow air to be able to pass throught it. Unfortunately if air can pass through it, sound can pass through it. It's important in soundproofing to use materials that make the surface air-tight. If it has to be breathable, then all you can really do is add some acoustic mineral wool insulation into any floor or wall cavities and this will help to some degree.

[@noga8974]

@@SoundproofingStore Thats a great explanation, makes a lot of sense, thanks for replying.

[@kevinkelleher7868]

Does it have good Insulation properties too

[@SoundproofingStore]

Hi, thanks for the question. The SoundMat 3 Plus will increase the thermal performance of the floor to some degree but obviously isn't designed or tested specifically for thermal performance. There is a little info about the thermal performance of each layer of the SoundMat in our product brochure which you can download from here - www.soundproofingstore.co.uk/soundmat-3-plus

[@bassbytes]

Very good video and well explained. Am thinking of this to reduce airborne sound from my neighbours below us. I'm a bit sceptical however that you didn't repeat the sound test in exactly the same way - testing airborne sound travelling from downstairs to upstairs after the install. Was there a reason for this ?

[@SoundproofingStore]

HI, thanks for the comment. To be honest, it was just because of practicalities. The hotel was still open and people were coming and going, and having a film crew getting in the way was causing some issues. In terms of results whether you test from upstairs to downstairs or the other way around makes very little to no difference at those volumes.

[@bassbytes]

@@SoundproofingStore ah ok makes sense thanks. Had one other question, would it make it even more effective to install two layers of the mat? We don’t mind cutting the doors to accommodate it if needed.

[@SoundproofingStore]

Hi @@bassbytes if you wanted to upgrade the performance even further, a simple solution would be to add FlexiSound and then the SoundMat. Further info. on FlexiSound can be found here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJfJeXl3i8yXfas We also have other flooring solutions: www.soundproofingstore.co.uk/timber-joisted-floors and we're only a phone call away should you have any questions [phone].

[@llfloris1]

@@SoundproofingStore If I'm reading the tests correctly, in both source rooms the db level was around 65-70db, BEFORE the installation the reading was 39db in the receiving room and AFTER installation, the receiving room was reading 37db?

[@SoundproofingStore]

@@llfloris1 correct with regards to the music being played at circa 70dB in both the before and after tests. For Airborne and the before test, the results were around 27dB and after 33dB, with an improvement figure of 6dB after the soundproofing. (The higher the dB figure the better for airborne noise reduction). For impact noise, the before figure was 50dB and after 36dB. An improvement figure of 14dB (The lower the dB figure the better for impact noise reduction).

[@georgefindlay8370]

Just wondering the best way to to transition from a soundproofed room floor into another room with soundmat and carpet. Would there be any point in using the gripper riser strips or just butt up the mat from room 1 into the mat of room 2? the same carpet would be laid over the top of the mats in both rooms. Obviously i wouldnt want to screw into the mats with a threshold strip.

[@SoundproofingStore]

Hi, Thanks for the question. If you're using the same SoundMats and same carpet in both rooms, there is no reason technically to use a threshold strip so you can just continue through as if it was one single floor, if you're happy with how that looks. If you did want a threshold strip there just for aesthetics, then yes use a gripper rod riser between the mats and fix the threshold strip into the riser.

[@AMR-in9rd]

Looking to install 18mm engineered wood floors on top of the SoundMat 3 Plus. What perimeter detail do you recommend?

[@SoundproofingStore]

Hi @AMR-in9rd, You would need to use the Perimeter Flanking Strip: soundproofingstore.uk/product/deck-perimeter-edging-strip/ Further installation instructions can be found here: www.soundproofingstore.co.uk/soundmat-3-plus Please don't hesitate to call us on [phone] should you have any questions.

[@matthewchambers7553]

Its a shame the tests don't really show improvement as you play the music at 70 decibels in each source room before and after. In both tests the reciveing room is showing 38 decibels. That would mean no improvement at all?

[@SoundproofingStore]

Hi Thanks for the comment. It certainly did give us an improvement. It's difficult to see sometimes when using music because the volume fluctuates up and down so much, this si why in official tests we use a constant white noise type sound. But when averaging the performance before we averaged a 27dB reduction, after averaged a 33dB reduction so that's a 6dB improvement. I think next time we'll stick to the white noise for a more obvious result, although less interesting to listen to!