Thank you for a clear and simple video explaining your soundproofing method. I really appreciate the fact that you tested the sound below and above before and after! Really helpful and informative.
The advantage of this product is that it doubles-up as an underlay, so you don't need to raise your floor. However, while it is good at reducing impact noise (e.g. you clomping around your flat annoying your neighbours below), it is not that good at reducing airborne noise (e.g. talking coming up from below). I found that it only muffled talking, and the sounds from a bathroom and a sliding door were still very noticeable. The claim on the video, therefore, that 'lower decibel levels such as talking would be eradicated' is not true - at least in my experience.
Hi Tony Bastow, the airborne performance you mention also depends on the structure of the floor and any insulation between the joists. Along with the makeup of the ceiling below. As there is no order on our system under this name, it's is difficult to comment on this specifically. However, please feel free to contact us on 01423 206208 if we can be of any help. With regards to using SoundBoards on the floor, this wouldn't be an advisable alternative, as the plasterboard layer of the SoundBoard would break up over time as it is walked on. To upgrade the system further the recommendation would be to add a layer of Tecsound to add extra mass and then the SoundMat.
@@SoundproofingStore Thanks for your reply. My builder ordered the product from you. Acoustic mineral wool was placed between the joists, but a higher density wool would have been better. Yes, I did use 2 layers of Tecsound50, and this has certainly helped. Unfortunately, John's video makes the claim that the Soundmat 3 'eradicates talking', and I don't want purchasers of this product to be disappointed when they discover that it doesn't! The product is certainly effective for impact noise and as an underlay alternative.
Sorry, what I am referring to by soundboard is, for example, the silica-filled 15mm DBX PRO board, which can be walked on. I will try this in my kitchen, before seriously considering (sadly) removing the SoundMat 3 in my bedroom and laying down the DBX boards instead. It's important prospective purchasers do careful research on various options to avoid potential disappointment later. Currently with the SoundMat 3, I can still hear the guy downstairs snoring at night!
@@danepoore4103 I have not yet replaced the SoundMat 3, Dane, but will do so soon. If you have airborne noise issues from below, the 15mm DBX boards should work better (just google them). Also, the SoundMat 3 is quite 'squidgy', so an office chair, for example, will tend to sink into it. Good luck!
Excellent advice. I’ve been looking for floor solutions for ages. I’m still not sure what to do because I live in rented accommodation, but I want to record music so would ideally like to keep sound travelling up from my neighbours below (no TV noise; all I hear is the occasional laugh and cough), but as I am very sensitive to the noise I make and how annoying it would be to those downstairs I’m wanting to contain vocals and acoustic guitar. Currently, there are a couple of creaky floorboards and an extremely old, thin and well worn carpet (cheap landlord!), so other than investing my time and money, I need a cost effective solution. I’m also tempted to build a portable floor that I can sit/stand on, and surround it with removable walls at hip/chest height to at least minimise some of the sound created. It’s a fairly big job (for me, at least!) so I’m worried about cost. Doing the entire floor means that I can’t take it with me when I move, and building a portable ‘sound booth’ floor means probably a better costing solution and one I can carry out the door. Ideally... I would like to have both...!!
Hi Hello. Unfortunately the problem with sound, especially louder more projected sound like music, is that it spreads and reverberates in the space. So just building a portable floor that doesn't cover the whole floor wont really help much. The sound will just spread to the other areas that haven't been soundproofed. Also anything that isn't fully installed and sealed is going to have gaps, so again the sound will find those gaps and still go through. So really soundproofing needs to be more of a permanent feature.
@@MayhemMilIer I’m not being inconsiderate!!! Far from it. Why else would I talk about wanting to minimise the sound FOR my neighbours so I don’t annoy them?! Being inconsiderate would mean not giving a f**k. Your comment was unwelcome. Maybe read the full length of it next time, fool
@@MayhemMilIer It’s going really well, thanks. Since my original comment, I have sold music to various production companies which have generated considerable royalties, something I never thought I would enjoy. A lot can change in three years, but it’s quite obvious that your attitude hasn’t, haha 😂 Oh, and I moved to a much larger house, too, so get back in your cardboard box! Bye bye now 👋🏼
Hi ramose83: This is a video about the soundproofing product and installation, not really about the final decor for the room. However, we do have another video that goes into more detail about what you can add on top. Please have a look at this - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-mN6sOSN-KVA.html
@@alexsmith8660 It did work; and it is fantastick. But, we laid this soundproofing first, then a wooden layer and then another sound proofing which is used in sport halls and then the tiles... It worked very well and I would recommend it to do it this way if you have enough hights; we need ca. 5 cm including of tiles.
Just wanted to say thanks for the video :). You don't seem to have that much confidence on camera, but you come across as likable and knowledgeable, you should be a bit more self assured man! Really loved the video, definitely had elements that I needed advice on.
I think we've become so accustomed to the fake enthusiasm of streamers, vloggers etc in youtube videos that we've forgotten people like this man are perfectly representative of what everyday people are like, on camera and off it. I for one prefer quietly spoken, well mannered, presentable gents like this man to the tatted up, loud mouth, f-iing and blinding ebeggers I usually see
Libby F :) we'd be happy to advise and supply the correct soundproofing solution to your noisy neighbour problem. The systems can all be installed by a competent DIY'er, and we supply comprehensive video's and installation guides (so you wouldn't need us to actually fit it). Feel free to visit www.soundproofingstore.co.uk/ or call a member of the team on 01423 206208.
What about removing the floorboards, and filling the spaces between the joists with a soundproofing material in addition? probably about 3-4 inches thick? I platy the cello and electric guitar, and can be noisy, and am considerate. A bit more of a job than you describe, but surely worth it as a belt and braces approach?
Hi bpdarragh - Yes, we always recommend where possible to remove floorboards, install 100mm of high density acoustic mineral wool bewteen the joists, re fit floorboards or replace if necessary, seal any gaps with acoustic sealant to make air tight, then install the soundproofing above. However, in this case it was an exposed joist ceiling below as you can see at 1:42 so there was no space bewteen the floor above and ceiling below to insulate.
you have a right to file a private nuisance lawsuit against the neighbor and also entitled to quiet and enjoyment in your lease your landlord needs to abate the nuisance failure to do so is breach of contract
Nice, practical video. Thanks for posting! I would love to hear hardwood floor installed above that (with some sort of ply to support it)...what the dB reduction would be like at that point. What did you re-apply as a finished surface?
Hi james beta, carpet was installed over the SoundMat 3 Plus which is the best finish if you are also trying to reduce footfall noise from above travelling below. Ply and Wood finish won't make much difference to the airborne sound reduction, possibly a very small improvement, but will reduce the effectiveness of footfall noise travelling below.
Hi Andrewb113, glad you enjoyed the video. We wouldn't normally advise to double up layers. Firstly, materials are very good at blocking certain frequencies of sound, and not so good at blocking other frequencies. If you double up a layer of the same material, you are blocking the same frequencies as the first layer, and not blocking the same frequencies. So each layer gets less and less effective. If you wanted to improve the SoundMat even further, we would combine it with a different material such as a layer of TecSound SY100 - www.soundproofingstore.co.uk/store/Tecsound-SY-100-4-8m2-p52900688 Also, you wouldn't want to make the floor too soft, as it will feel like walking around on a bouncy castle!
@@Luke-wh9pw Airborne sound is blocked by mass, so you want to use materials that are very heavy and dense. Vibration needs to be absorbed, therefore you need material that is soft and resilient. The SoundMat 3 Plus is a perfect combination of the two and only 15mm thick so you don't lose lots of space. However, as with all soundproofing problems, it does depend on the exact details of the noise you are dealing with and exactly where that noise is coming from as to which systems are best. Plus the limitations of your situation i.e how much space can you lose, what type of flooring are you wanting to install on top etc...
Well done. Remember …take photos before and after to make a permanent file. You need to remember for yourself, but have it for future home buyers. You took the care, it should be reflected in the eventual Sales Price. What you’ve done is permanent and a big improvement. Not enough is made of the fact that Mass Loaded Vinyl is flame resistant, by the way. Everybody should consider.
Im guessing this works both ways and can prevent outgoing noise as well? My main purpose is to prevent out going noise travelling down and across to the neighbours as I am using a gaming racing wheel which creates a lot of vibration on wood floor with carpet on top. Any advise?
Two Point Eight - Absolutely, soundproofing works both ways. It will reduce the airborne noise in your property from travelling down, as well as reducing footfall impact and vibration travelling into the structure.
Hi @emilyhops2566, for carpet - the gripper rod risers are installed around the perimeter of the room. The SoundMat 3 Plus then butts up to them. Carpet gripper rods are fixed on top of the gripper rod risers for your carpet to be installed on top of. (Don't screw or nail through the SoundMats). For vinyl, laminate - you would install ProSound perimeter flanking strip, and then install the SoundMats, bond a min 6mm stabilising layer on top of the SoundMat and then install the final finish (following the manufacturers guidelines). For engineered wood flooring - typically 14mm or thicker can be installed directly on top without the use of an additional stabilising layer. More details (including for different final floor finishes) can be found in the below installation guide: irp.cdn-website.com/e9ca99bc/files/uploaded/SoundMat%203%20Plus%20Brochure.pdf For hard floor final finishes it might also be worth looking at the ProSound Reverso SoundMat which has an inbuilt stabilising layer for hard floor finishes: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-N_uOq6V7j_M.html If we can be of any further help, please feel free to contact us on (01423) 206208.
Hi Elizabeth Villarreal, although we would always recommend to use acoustic mineral wool whenever possible, in this case it wasn't possible to use due to the lack of any cavity space below the floorboards. The ceiling below was exposed joists with lathe and plaster just below the floorboards. So this installation was purely the SoundMat 3 Plus installed above.
Hi Matthew Kidd, a better solution would be to insulate the joists with acoustic mineral wool and add a layer of Tecsound to the floor beneath the SoundMats.
If you are looking to soundproof your walls, the most effective direct to wall solution we would recommend is the ProSound™ SoundBoard4, which features an extra layer of acoustic plasterboard. Once installed it is then ready for a standard plasterboard finish. www.soundproofingstore.co.uk/soundboard-4
Is this more effective than just doing the same with quarter-inch thick mass loaded vinyl? With the aim being to reduce the noise of neighbours below (babies crying, etc.).
Hi Matt Liston, the SoundMat 3 Plus features 2 layers of mass loaded vinyl, but with the added benefit of closed cell foam sandwiched in between. This creates a floating floor, which acts to decouple it from the original structure to help with dampening sound energy and vibration. This wouldn't be the case if simply adding more mass to the floor by using mass loaded vinyl on its own. More information can be found below. Or please don't hesitate to call us on (01423) 206208 if we can be of any further help. www.soundproofingstore.co.uk/soundmat-3-plus
How do you stop the airborne and impact noise of slamming doors from an attached house? Also, can the noise created when a neighbour runs a tap be stopped?
Hi Chris, where are you hearing the noise? Is it coming through the floor, wall or ceiling? Our highest performing solution for impact and airborne noise is the ReductoClip Independent System (can be used on walls and ceilings): ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-R2gvGyE6kTE.html www.soundproofingstore.co.uk/reducto-clip-system Please feel free to call (01423) 206208 and we will gladly talk through your noise issue in more detail and advise on the correct solution.
Hi Jon, not a stupid question at all. They will eventually be fixed down anyway because when you fix down your gripper rods they will be screwed or nailed through the risers and into the floor below. So they will be fixed before any tension from the carpet is added, but if you do find they are moving around before then and you want to secure them, you can tack them down or even glue them down if you like.
We'd need to speak to you about this in more detail, as we would need more information before advising on the most effective solution. Please feel free to call one of our technical team on 01423 206208. Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.
Great video! Thank you! So it basically reduces the noise by about 45%? I'm on the ground floor and neighbours above disturb me regularly! Might try to tempt them to get these pads down!
Hi Awaken World - Thank you for your comment. Sound reduction isn't that black and white unfortunately. The reduction doesn't just come from the product itself, it is improving the floors ability to block sound, so other factors affect performance including the structure it's being installed onto, plus the level and type of noise etc. So in this case it's roughly 45% but in other situations it can vary. We do also have a ceiling system that you can install if your neighbours won't soundproof their floor.
@@SoundproofingStore thank you very much! Seems a little expensive considering I'm renting and don't own the flat I live. But thank you very much for your feed back!
@@infiniteawaken1 Ah, yes it does make things more complicated if you don't own the property. Expense is a personal thing, it depends how much you need to solve the problem to what level of budget you're willing to invest, you definitely get what you pay for in soundproofing. But really it's the landlord that needs to look into it as it will cause changes to his / her property.
I can feel the vibrations when my next-door neighbour walks. I just moved here and this is driving me insane. I work from home and he seems to always be in his apt moving about. Is there something I can do so I DO NOT feel the damn vibrations. I've never had this issue in any apartment before. :(
Hi @GreenEyes73, we have a number of different soundproofing solutions available depending on the construction of the floor (timber or concrete) the type and level of unwanted noise and the final floor finish. This video might be of use: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-VeeTMJfTfEc.html Please feel free to contact us on 01423 206208 and we can discuss your noise issue in more detail and advise on the best soundproofing solution.
Right below my room is a bar where people play loud music and have loud conversation Since its a rented apartement I can only put this product over my existing floor. Is this suitable ? Will it work for me?
Hi Amee, is it a timber or concrete floor? The SoundMat 3 Plus will certainly help, but we could do with talking to you in more detail about this so we can advise on the best solution. If you'd like to call us on (01423) 206208 we will happily help.
Hi GM, The SoundMat works both ways, so if you can lay this on the floor above, it will reduce the noise that will travel down below. However, if you don't have access to the floor above, but need to reduce noise, you can soundproof your ceiling using our IsoMax Clip system - www.soundproofingstore.co.uk/store/-p52900686
Hi Here Lie Cicadas, it isn't a big job to remove the carpet, lay the SoundMats and put the carpet back on top (using gripper rod risers). The mats aren't designed as a final floor finish, mainly as they would look very unappealing. Also, for them to work most effectively they need to be fully sealed by laying on a flat surface. It is of course up to you, so if you wanted to buy some mats and put them on top of your carpet, it may give some benefit, but knowing that performance would not be as high as if they were installed 'properly.' Worth a try, if you are happy to live with mats as your flooring rather than carpet.
Forgetting cost and aesthetics, what will be superior in sound reduction. Using the carpet edge grippers or pushing the sound mat right up against the skirting?
Its not really about cost or aesthetics anyway really, its about the practicality of installing a carpet if you want a carpet on top. Technically it will be better to use the matting all the way up to the walls, but if you need to install carpet on top, you need to use the gripper risers. If not, if you fix the gripper rods through the matting it will reduce the perofrmance of the matt.
@@SoundproofingStore thanks very much for the reply! i was thinking I could use adhesive to hold the carpet, the finish wont be as good but i need sleep more than I care about the final looks. What do you think about just gluing the carpet?
@@Integ82 Hi, that is certainly an option if you don't mind the carpet being glued down. To be honest the difference in performance from having the matt cover the entire floor and having risers and grippers would be so minimal it would probably be unmeasurable. So I really wouldn't worry about that at all, aslong as you use our appropriate gripper risers under the carpet gripper rods. But if you wan't to glue the carpet down, thats fine too.
@@SoundproofingStore ah I see, so to be clear if the noise is primarily banging noises, the difference between using grippers or pushing the mats to the wall would be very minimal?
@@Integ82 Absolutely. Our gripper riser is partly made up of the same material that is in the matt. So this combined with the gripper rod itself does soundprof the perimeter. If the worry is your own footfall impact noise, then you won't be walking along the 30mm edge of the room along the wall anyway. So yes, it would make such a minor difference that you wouldn't hear the difference at all. We have many installations of this system going on every day and a lot of them are carpet installations with grippers and this is perfectly fine.
Hi Fatty, this could potentially help with any flanking noise travelling across from the neighbours property. Mineral wool in between joists would also help. However, you would also need to soundproof the dividing wall. Feel free to call us on 01423 206208.
Hi GJ1607 - Thank you for your question. Firstly laminate floor can't go directly on top of the SoundMat as it's flexible to be able to dampen footfall impact. So a thin laminate will flex under foot and the joins will break up. What you will need to do is either overlay a 6mm MDF / ply over the top of the SoundMat to make it more stable for your laminate, or instead have a look at our Reverso SoundMat which has a stable layer built in, so laminate can go directly on top - www.soundproofingstore.co.uk/reverso-soundmat In regards to cost, all prices are available on the website here - www.soundproofingstore.co.uk/soundmat-3-plus
A friend lives in a terraced house that was converted years ago before soundproofing regs into 2 flats. Recently he was told by a builder who was asked to give a quote to soundproof the first floor lounge floor (previously a bedroom) that this type of soundproofing was too heavy for the floor joists. Being that the room was designed as a bedroom and they have regular joists, is this true? The plan was to do the same as in this video. Any help would be appreciated.
Hi slicedpage, unfortunately we are soundproofers not structural engineers, so we can't say for absolute certain. You are best speaking to a structural engineer to check this. However, in our experience there should really be no issue with adding the matts. They add 16kg per m2, which would be spread across multiple joists. In comparison, the average adult male weighs 80 - 90kg. In all our years of using these matts in the thousands of projects we have been involved in, that extra weight has never been an issue before.
@@sarsan7777 Hi, yes this mat has a very high impact reduction as well as airborne sound. The full reduction will depend on the cosntruction of the ceiling, type of floorboards, if there is insulation between joists etc, but on a standard modern house with a timber joist construction we get a reduction of 49db, which is very high for one single product. www.soundproofingstore.co.uk/soundmat-3-plus
@@braddockakalatis2 We don't currently ship products to America, so it would be worthwhile researching a reputable soundproofing company more local to you. We also do soundproofing for ceilings and walls, with lots of information on our website www.soundproofingstore.co.uk
Hi HMS Africa, yes, SoundMat™ 3 Plus blocks noise from above or below. Ideal for loud levels of impact and airborne noise from above, such as clear conversation, TV noise and heavy footsteps. As well as reducing unwanted airborne noise from below travelling up to the room above. More information can be found here: www.soundproofingstore.co.uk/soundmat-3-plus
If only this man had helped to lay the laminate floor in the block I live in. The sound of a chair being dragged by my neighbor below is agonizing for me.
Hi Jay Kay, it doesn't ignite and spread fire, but would be damaged by fire. SoundMat 3 Plus has a 0 burn rate. Further details on this can be found on the data sheet, which can be found here: www.soundproofingstore.co.uk/soundmat-3-plus
I can hear my neighbors below talking and watching TV would that mats help me? And what would be the costs? My room is 3m by 5m Moved from new building to a council cottage for some peace from neighbors, first night and all that noise.... really tired of that.
Hi @LukaszStolarczuk, absolutely they will help. If you contact us at: sales@soundproofingstore.co.uk with the dimensions you have given above and also confirm if your floor is timber or concrete and if your final floor finish is carpet or a hard floor finish and we can send you an estimate. Are you based in the UK? More information on the ProSound SoundMat 3 Plus can also be found here: www.soundproofingstore.co.uk/soundmat-3-plus
Hi Gareth Warden, yes, the SoundMat 3 Plus also acts as a luxury carpet underlay. Details of installation can be found on the link below: www.soundproofingstore.co.uk/soundmat-3-plus
Hi glorykab, you can purchase it here: soundproofingstore.uk/product/prosound-soundmat-3-plus-15mm-floor-soundproofing-1-44m2/ Or feel free to call us on 01423 206 208
@@jesuschristislord23 absolutely, SoundMat 3 Plus will help with blocking noise from above or below. Feel free to call us on 01423 206208 and we can talk you through the performance in relation to your noise issue.
@@jesuschristislord23SoundMat 3 Plus is a very simple DIY installation and the majority of our customers install it themselves. We supply step by step installation guides and are on hand to answer any questions. Alternatively, a local tradesperson will have no difficulty installing the system and likewise we are more than happy to speak to them directly. An installation guide can be found here: www.soundproofingstore.co.uk/soundmat-3-plus
Hi There, yes the matting can be used under any flooring. If the laminate is under 18mm in thickness, Ideally you will want to add a 6mm ply on top of the soundproofing to make the floor more stable. Otherwise your laminate could bend and crack over time. It won't affect the soundproofing at all, its purely a recommendation to protect your laminate flooring.
@@tizianopilustri8157, ideally it should be 18mm or thicker to do this. Hypothetically, it could be that it will be fine without, depending on the type of wood and how well it is made and how flexible it is. Entirely your decision as to whether or not you'd want to go ahead without the recommended ply.
I can hear my neighbours downstairs all the time. They sound like elephants running about! Is driving me crazy. Kids screaming all the time. What's the best way to reduce the noise.
Hi K Harvard, take a look at the SoundMat™ 3 Plus which is the floor solution used in the video: www.soundproofingstore.co.uk/soundmat-3-plus This article may also be of interest: www.soundproofingstore.co.uk/how-to-soundproof-a-floor-against-noisy-neighbours
Yes I never thought I would have issues with neighbours below. It's the 2 children causing the noise. Hyper active girls that don't seem to be able to sit still.
Hi GM, have a look at our wall blog - www.soundproofingstore.co.uk/how-to-soundproof-my-wall-against-noisy-neighbours We have solutions for walls, ceilings and floors on our website - www.soundproofingstore.co.uk but first you need to determine where the noise comes from. In this video the noise was coming from below.
There is NOT ONE single form of sound insulation that works on its own. Its a combination of 3-5 that work in tandem to filter out the different sound fqs that create the whole sound spectrum etc
Hi carforumwanker, the SoundMat 3 Plus features a combination of materials (the mass loaded vinyl layers and the closed cell foam). This enables the SoundMat 3 Plus to absorb impact / vibrational energy at the source, as well as adding a high level of mass to reduce airborne noise.
Hi Pika Chakhlol, impact noise usually comes from above, such as footsteps, or the dragging of furniture. However airborne noise can come from above or below. Many of our customers experience unwanted airborne noise from below, such as loud voices, TV noise, music etc.
Hi Collins Klassics - Because the mats are designed to compress under foot, reducing footfall impact, thin floorings need more stability. So laminates or vinyls need a 6mm ply board on top of the mat, tiles will need a 12mm ply. This is just adhered on top of the mat. Wooden floors of 18mm or thicker can go straight on top and carpet can go straight on top.
Good practice when laying a wooden floor is to leave a perimeter gap so the floor doesn't contact the wall. You therefore get less, probably most of the vibration halting in its tracks. If in doubt you can use Isolation strip between.
You can certainly improve results without going under the floorboards, but you do need to be able to raise the height of the floor instead. To improve airborne noise results, you need to add more mass. So you can add something like an 18mm cement particle board (cement injected chipboard basically), or something like our ScreedDeck (www.soundproofingstore.co.uk/store/ProSound%E2%84%A2-ScreedDeck-28mm-0-72m2-p134816351) which is very heavy and dense, then put the SoundMat on top.
I'm not quite understanding the question if you can explain in more detail. The mats are installed onto the surface of the floor and block sound travelling down through the floor and up from below the floor.
Hello, depending on the type and level of noise you are hearing and where the noise is coming from e.g. through the wall, floor or ceiling there are a number of options. It might be worth visiting our website www.soundproofingstore.co.uk/ where you can find various soundproofing solutions. There is also a help and support section which features blogs and various downloads which you might find useful.
Hi Natashahoneypot, we don't install the systems ourselves, as the systems can be installed by a competent DIYer or tradesperson. We supply comprehensive installation guides and videos and our technical team are on hand to advise. Depending on your location, a list of recommended installers can be found here: www.soundproofingstore.co.uk/instalation
