What's a House Without a Floor?What's a House Without a Floor?

Hardwood flooring is a common choice for homeowners due to its timeless beauty and durability. However, one common concern with hardwood floors is the noise they can create. The good news is that there are several effective strategies to enhance hardwood flooring noise reduction, ensuring a quieter and more peaceful home environment. 

Tip: Install A High-Quality Underlayment

When it comes to reducing noise in hardwood flooring, underlayment plays a crucial role. Underlayment acts as a buffer between the subfloor and the hardwood floor, absorbing sound vibrations and reducing the impact noise that can travel through the floorboards. Installing your underlayment correctly is essential to get the most out of it. Following manufacturer guidelines is essential in acclimatizing materials before installation to create a seamless barrier against sound transmission.

Tip: Upgrade To Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Consider upgrading your traditional solid hardwood flooring to engineered hardwood to reduce noise transmission throughout your home. Engineered hardwood consists of multiple layers bonded together using heat and pressure techniques. The layered structure of engineered hardwood contributes to better sound absorption and insulation due to the soundwaves needing to pass through multiple layers. Some engineered hardwood flooring may also contain insulation. These materials can have even better noise suppression qualities.

Tip: Apply A Soundproofing Sealant To The Floors

Another effective method in reducing hardwood floor noise is by applying a soundproofing sealant between the floorboards. Soundproofing sealants fill gaps and spaces between the wood planks, preventing sound from traveling through them. This helps minimize squeaks, creaks, and overall impact noise caused by foot traffic or other movements on the floors.

There are different types of soundproofing sealants available on the market, such as acoustical caulk or adhesive-backed foam strips. Effectively applying soundproofing sealant requires attention to detail. Cleaning the gaps thoroughly before application ensures better adhesion.

Tip: Manage The Interior Humidity Levels Of The House

Dramatic humidity swings can have substantial impacts on the noises your floors make. When the humidity climbs, the wood floor may absorb moisture from the air. This could result in the planks swelling and no longer fitting together correctly. Conversely, low humidity levels can cause the planks to actually contract.

Consider investing in a humidity control system to prevent these issues from leading to unwanted noises. This system will be able to regulate the humidity in your house to keep the floors from suffering these performance issues. As an added benefit, these systems may also make your house a more enjoyable place to be.

Visit a local flooring store to learn more.