3 Benefits of Acoustic Flooring Underlay

Acoustic flooring underlay, material designed to to be installed under floor coverings, has the function to provide support for the flooring and to absorb footfall noise and vibrations that would otherwise carry through the floor.

It comes in a roll and most commonly it is glued to the sub-floor. However, for some types of flooring, underlay may require additional support. In that case, usually a base of chipboard or plywood is installed for additional support. Adding more that one layer of acoustic underlay is a big no-no due to the fact that this will raise floor too high from the sub-floor making it unstable.

Acoustic flooring underlay usually incorporate multiple layers and thickness, and can be made of various materials including polyester matting, recycled rubber or can be as a composite material. It is a simple yet very effective solution for reducing the sound of footsteps and the noise of squeaky floors.

Aside from being great noise reducer, acoustic flooring underlay offers other benefits as well. Here are the top 3.

Underfoot Comfort

The main benefit of acoustic flooring underlay is underfoot comfort. Given the fact that it is installed between the hard surface of the ground (bottom) and the floor (top), underlay provides a protective layer and superior comfort for your feet. This feature makes underlay ideal solution for any type of flooring, including wall-to-wall carpet. In fact, it is highly recommended to install underlay under carpets to prevent premature wear.

Thermal Protection

Aside from being able to insulate from sound, acoustic flooring underlay offers superior thermal protection. It keeps the cold out from the hard surface of the ground while providing an additional layer of insulation. This reduces the heat loss through floorboards.

Dust Insulation

Dust lines are easily prevented by installing acoustic flooring underlay since it acts as a barrier in some sense. It minimizes the flow of air in a room, which automatically means it minimizes the accumulation of dust and dirt particles carried by the air.

Good quality acoustic flooring underlay will not only provide all the above benefits, but will also prolong the lifespan of your flooring. So spending a little extra on underlay is a worthy investment. There are many different companies offering acoustic flooring underlay. You can search for such companies online and compare the prices and the thickness, thus be able to choose an underlay that matches your requirements.