Sound Reduction Tips for Homes with Hardwood Floors

Ever notice that rooms with hardwood floors seem to be much more noisy than those with carpet? You hear every footstep, and voices seem to carry much farther, even between floors! 

Without soft surfaces to absorb noise, sound waves are able to bounce off hard surfaces, causing even small noises to echo throughout your home. 

If excess noise is driving you crazy, there are a few things you can do to reduce the sound in the rooms with hardwood floors:

Pre-Installation

Are you getting new hardwoods put in? Underlayment could be your saving grace. 

This layer of cushion allows for your wood floor to rest on a soft surface (usually cork or foam), rather than the subfloor or concrete underneath. 

While it does add an additional cost to your floor installation, underlayment absorbs both impact and airborne noises so you may find it is worth the extra!

Existing Hardwoods

Unless your hardwood flooring is easily taken apart and put back together, underlayment is really only an option for those who are planning ahead with a new install. If you are trying to reduce sound with already existing hardwoods, all hope is not lost!

The easiest way to quiet the space is with area rugs and padding. To reduce impact noise, place rugs in high traffic areas. Placing rugs under TVs, speakers and radios helps to absorb some of the noise that otherwise would be vibrating through your floors.

Area rugs are especially helpful if you are in an apartment on an upper floor and are worried about alienating your neighbors with the pitter-patter of feet.

Rubber mats are a great alternative to rugs in spaces for kids or pets. They are far superior when it comes to absorbing impact noise, and are much easier to clean in the event of spills. Rubber mats come in a variety of colors and thicknesses so you can choose what is right for each space.

Furniture is another great tool for sound absorption. Fabrics such as microfiber, chenille, and corduroy will help to reduce sound better than leather or plastic. The softer the fabric, the softer the sound.

Upholstered headboards, sofas, chairs, and ottomans will all help absorb excess noise.

Textiles are your friend when it comes to noise reduction. Put up curtains in your windows, colorful tapestries on the walls, even fabric-covered panels in rooms with an extra echo. The more soft things you have in your space, the less noise will carry from room to room.

Sometimes, especially with older floors, you will experience squeaking in your floor boards. This is due to gaps either between the floorboards themselves, or between the boards and subfloor. If you can pinpoint the location of the squeaking, repairing the floorboards can be done fairly easily.

Hardwood Floor Installation & Repairs in Gaithersburg, MD

When it comes to all things hardwood floors, trust the experts at Atlas Floors, Inc.! We specialize in custom hardwood floors for every style and need. Do you need repairs on an existing hardwood floor? We can help with repairs, refinishing, and even restoration of floors in historic homes! Call today for your quote!

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