How to Soundproof a Floor

Select a rubber underlayment thickness appropriate for the finished floor type. Generally speaking, the thicker the underlayment, the higher the performance. You'll want to take the change in height into consideration as well. For tile floors, you'll need 2mm underlayment or you'll need to have a plywood layer above it for stability to prevent tile cracking.

Lay UnderBlock™ Rubber Soundproofing Underlayment across the entire subfloor with full, continuous coverage. Seams should be tightly butted together, not overlapped.

Full coverage is critical—partial coverage significantly reduces impact noise performance.

For tile floors or flooring systems that require nailing, a plywood layer may be installed over the rubber underlayment. This plywood layer can be glued down where appropriate, depending on flooring requirements. This step protects the underlayment and provides a stable base for the finished floor.

Install the finished flooring while maintaining a 1/8-inch gap around the perimeter of the room and around any penetrations. These gaps prevent rigid contact with walls and structural elements.

Once the floor is installed, perimeter gaps should be sealed with acoustical sealant caulk.

Installing RSIC-1® Resilient Sound Isolation Clips between the ceiling framing and drywall helps prevent vibration from traveling directly into the structure.

This approach is especially important when footsteps are the primary issue.

For airborne noise, additional ceiling mass can help reduce sound transmission. Regardless of ceiling construction, all perimeter gaps and penetrations should be sealed with acoustical sealant caulk to prevent sound leaks.

Ceiling-side treatments are covered in more detail in our guide on how to soundproof a ceiling.