Laminate underlay – the key to keeping your floor quiet
Quiet laminate flooring.
Is there really such a thing?
There’s no denying, the final results look great. Laminate is a stylish, contemporary option – and it’s both hardwearing and easy to maintain. But it can be incredibly noisy! And if you have children and pets, or live on an upper floor (e.g. in a flat or apartment), such noise can become a big issue.
So, what’s the solution? Well… it’s as simple as installing a high-quality laminate underlay.
Sound-reducing laminate flooring underlay
All laminate flooring underlays are designed to create a sound barrier. Whether they’re made from foam or fibreboard, the extra layer of cushioning not only improves underfoot comfort, but also reduces impact sounds and airborne noises – both in the room and the room below.
As such, when installing new laminate flooring in your property, investing in a suitable underlayment is essential. And ideally, you will need to look for one that can reduce sound by 20-30dB or more.
Our recommendation is the Royale 7mm Professional Sonic Gold Underlay.
As one of the latest laminate underlays on the market, this benefits from a unique foam structure, called AeroFoam. AeroFoam has only recently been developed and offers a range of superior qualities, including excellent sound insulation. Impressively, it can reduce noise by up to 37dB!
It also benefits from a thick gold-foil backing, which adds to its insulative properties. And due to these features, it is now widely used by professionals and architects, when a high degree of sound-proofing is required. Royale 7mm Sonic Gold Underlay will help to resolve your acoustic issues, creating a quieter and more relaxing environment – for both you and your neighbours.
Additional laminate noise reduction tips
In addition to laying laminate underlay, there a few other things you should do to reduce creakiness and ensure your new flooring is as quiet as possible. For example:
- Choose your laminate flooring wisely
Generally speaking, the thicker your laminate flooring boards are, the quieter they will be. This is simply because they contain more of the high-density core and allow less sound transference.
Preferably, you should look for a product around the 8mm mark – such as our Royale 8mm Laminate. This is made from exceptional-quality wood and therefore offers strength, stability and excellent sound insulation. What’s more, as it’s AC-4 rated, it’s guaranteed to stand the test of time.
- Level out the subfloor
Laminate flooring doesn’t function well on an uneven surface. And if you lay the boards without preparing the subfloor first, you’re likely to get creaks, squeaks and echoes in the future.
Before starting the installation, you should therefore clean and tidy the area and try to make the surface as smooth as possible. Again, it’s also important to install a suitable laminate flooring underlay – such as the Royale 7mm Sonic Gold. As this is made from high-density foam, it will rectify any imperfections in the subfloor and help to create a level surface for the laminate to be laid upon.
- Lay the laminate correctly
Acoustic issues can also be easily avoided by installing your flooring correctly.
Laminate is known to expand and contract, depending on the atmosphere in the room. And when the boards swell, they can rub against each other (and the walls, door frames etc.), leading to groans and creaky noises. That’s why, before laying laminate, you should allow it to acclimatise for at least 48 hours and always leave an expansion gap of 10-12mm around the perimeter of the room.
Ready to invest in laminate underlay?
Of course you are. If you wish to lay ‘quiet’ laminate flooring, underlay is an essential purchase. And it’s available to buy, here at Carpet Underlay Shop, for an incredibly competitive price. We have a fantastic range of laminate underlays to choose from, with something to suit all projects – including the highly-recommended Professional 7mm Sonic Gold Underlay by Royale. So why not take a look?
Detailed guidance on the best underlay for laminate flooring can be found in our previous blog. But if you have a question – or would like further tips on how to soundproof your new laminate – please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re always happy to assist. Just give us a call on 0203 887 0994 or send an email to sales@carpet-underlay-shop.co.uk and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
- Carl Smith
