The most effective floor soundproofing. Soundproofing the floor in the apartment: technologies and materials

Loud-speaking neighbors downstairs, their new TV running at full speed or their modern audio system that does not allow rest for the household - all this is familiar to every city dweller. Noise can be reduced not only by proven building materials, but also by novelties in this segment. Which of them are recommended for purchase and are considered the best will be discussed below.

Peculiarities

Soundproofing the floor in an apartment can not only protect the home from unnecessary sounds from neighbors, such as the screams of small children or the never-ending game on musical instruments, but also reduce the noise from the use floor covering. Thanks to the soundproofing of the laminate, parquet board or the wooden floor will not creak.

Soundproof building materials often also have thermal insulation properties., which favorably affects the temperature in the room. They are usually used in a house with ceilings, respectively, a massive board will not crack in a short period of operation, and the floor will not “float”.

Besides, synthetic materials they are not affected by mold and fungi, insects and microorganisms do not penetrate through them, which means that with proper installation, cockroaches and red ants can be forgotten.

Options

A silent room is not the ultimate dream, but a completely achievable reality. Since the soundproofing layer can be laid in three ways - on the logs (or along the beams of a wooden barrack), after pouring a concrete screed or without a screed at all.

In wooden houses, in order to eliminate the negative impact on the ceiling, it is not recommended to do a concrete screed. Otherwise, the damage to the ceiling and walls of the neighbors will result in a large amount, and in the worst scenario, the floors may not withstand and collapse under the weight of the screed.

If the base is perfectly even, then there is no need to suffer with cement-sand mixtures, and it is not profitable to install logs, it is enough to use modern building materials, then the result will not be long in coming.

Modern materials

Modern soundproof building materials are used even in the arrangement of a recording studio. Since even the best amplifiers are powerless in front of them, then in everyday terms they will be able to cope with any noise.

Floor coverings also have soundproofing properties.- linoleum, carpet, and an ordinary carpet with a thick pile, but, unfortunately, this is clearly not enough for a modern audio system.

Most often, mineral wool is bought for these purposes - it is easy to install, it weighs little, and has a relatively low cost. Since there are voids between the synthetic fibers, the noise is “delayed” in them, the household practically does not hear it.

This building material goes well with wood and metal, the main thing is that it should not be wet before laying, otherwise the wood will begin to rot, and the metal rails, including the sewage system, will rust.

Due to the light weight, there is no pressure on the floors, respectively, the foundation of the house, nothing will happen to its walls. So, mineral wool can be safely laid in wooden houses and in "Khrushchev". Mineral wool is not combustible, so it is recommended for use even in children's institutions, but, unfortunately, some of its varieties cannot be used in rooms with high humidity. In case of moisture ingress, the material will become unusable.

Mineral wool is available in three varieties- it is stone, slag wool and glass wool. Only the manufacturer has the right to decide how thick his building material will be, what heat resistance coefficient to have, there are no clear standards for this. On sale, mineral wool is found either in rolls or in slabs.

Stone wool can withstand high temperatures (up to 500 degrees). This soundproofing material is made from molten rocks. It has been used in construction for over a hundred years.

Basalt has the best sound insulation performance. stone wool. In addition, it is also made from an environmentally friendly product. It contains no formaldehyde harmful to human health. Experts recommend it for residential premises, it has good indicators of hydrophobicity, vapor permeability, fire resistance.

In addition, it is also quite durable, withstands heavy loads - massive furniture, large household appliances. By the way, mice and rats do not gnaw through basalt wool, this sound insulator is not populated by harmful microorganisms. Of the minuses, they note the undemocratic cost, since its manufacture is labor-intensive, as well as the occurrence of dust, which is not recommended to breathe, so it is better to wear a respirator or gauze bandage when working on your face.

The joints that occur between the plates, it is desirable to seal the construction mounting foam otherwise extraneous noise will enter the apartment.

Slag wool is produced from blast-furnace slag fibers, so there is a high probability of residual acidity, in addition, this wool itself is caustic. It easily absorbs moisture, so it is unsuitable for bathrooms, kitchens and bathrooms.

Possesses causticity and glass wool. Many Soviet people remember that the pipes in the yards were lined with it. If you contact her without self-defense, first of all, without gloves, then an allergic reaction and cuts are guaranteed. In critical cases, tough fibers can be harmful respiratory system and organs of vision. Unlike stone wool, it must be mounted in a crate.

Unfortunately, during the period of operation, the mineral wool is caked. A similar drawback has another soundproofing material - polyurethane foam. As a result, noise reduction is reduced.

Often this building material is used as a substrate for finishing flooring. In building stores, it is sold at a low price, has a low weight, and is easy to fit. It is not used for damp rooms, since there is a high risk of colonization with moldy fungi, which can adversely affect the health of not only young children, but also adults. The fastening process is carried out using a special glue.

Some manufacturers, taking care of their consumers, equip the foam rubber with a self-adhesive surface. The disadvantages include the combustibility of the material with subsequent release harmful substances, as well as destruction from high temperatures, including from sunlight.

Cork and cork-rubber backing is available in both roll and sheet form. It will last for several decades in combination with a waterproofing layer, otherwise it will quickly become unusable from interaction with moisture. It contains a natural material - a crumb of cork bark, which has decorative features, it is an environmentally friendly durable material. Keep in mind that laying must be done with care, as there is a high probability of tearing the canvas.

Least of all, polystyrene foam is recommended as a sound insulator. Despite its advantages - mice and rats do not gnaw it, microorganisms and fungi do not damage it, it has good hydrophobicity indicators, but with regards to the noise isolation level, this indicator is quite low.

In recent years, a product under the brand name has become very popular. "Texound". Despite its thickness (less than 4 mm), it perfectly copes with the task. Its heavy mineral base is only suitable for concrete substrates, as it can adversely affect wood floors. Due to the high density, the best sound absorption effect occurs.

"Texound" has excellent elasticity, can be stretched, any adult can handle installation, is perfect for unheated rooms, does not rot from moisture and moldy fungi, is fire resistant, has a long service life. But keep in mind that its installation must be combined with a thin insulation and it is not laid without a substrate.

For asymmetrical rooms and for “floating floors”, noise plastic is considered an ideal option - this is a combination of elastic granules with rubber and acrylic. It does not require waterproofing, it has practically no shrinkage, it is suitable for uneven grounds. Easy to install, the manufacturer guarantees a long service life, environmentally friendly. The downside is the drying period - it is equal to 24 hours.

acoustic panels "Audek" sheathed at the production stage natural wood are available in several color shades. Due to the ease of installation, laying is very fast, the material is environmentally friendly, but, unfortunately, it is sold at a high price.

The soundproof membrane is suitable for rooms in which the temperature ranges from a steady minus to a sultry plus, due to its elasticity, even at minus values, the material does not crack. Possesses environmental friendliness, long service life. Fastening is done with glue.

Double layer material "Shumoizol" produced in roll form. It consists of bitumen and a non-woven base. They have excellent vibration isolation. Noise isolation does not deteriorate when Shumoizol is compressed, and a thin layer practically does not reduce the height in the room. Due to the high hydrophobicity, this soundproof building material does not require additional waterproofing, has a long service life, and is environmentally friendly.

"Soundproof" is a foamed polyethylene foam on a bitumen basis, produced in small rolls. Thanks to bitumen, additional waterproofing is not required for the material, it will last a long time, and due to its affordable cost, it has practically no competitors.

In dry form, expanded clay is of little use as sound insulation, but in combination with a cement screed, the result can be positive. Sand is considered a good sound insulator, but in a city apartment it will negatively affect floors and foundations. panel house.

In order to soundproof the neighbors from below, you will need to correctly lay the building materials described earlier. Of course, you can call specialists, but in order to save better installation do it by hand.

As noted earlier, There are three ways to lay the soundproof layer- on logs, without screed and under a concrete screed. Which one to choose is up to the owner of the apartment. This section will cover all three options.

By lags

First of all, you need to prepare the base. To do this, dismantle the flooring - linoleum, parquet, laminate. The easiest way to clean a modern laminate, thanks to the locking connection, assembly and disassembly can be carried out up to 5 times. Unfortunately, in most cases, linoleum or parquet cannot be re-laid after dismantling. If the finish coating is a massive board, then its dismantling should be done with all responsibility so as not to spoil expensive building materials.

Construction work is carried out in special clothing, protecting the eyes with goggles, respiratory organs with a respirator or gauze bandage. Do not forget about gloves, thanks to them you can prevent the appearance of corns and cuts. Having approached the concrete base, it is necessary to correct its defects - remove the protrusions, close up the depressions and cracks. Small cracks can be expanded with a perforator, and then sealed with sealant or other elastic finishing material.

Keep in mind that Styrofoam tape needs to be fixed around the perimeter of the room, it is needed to minimize vibration.

Usually, after preparing the base, a calculation is made required amount sound insulator. But if mineral wool is chosen as this, then it is more expedient to first fix the beams, and only then perform mathematical operations.

Remember that you need to wait until the concrete base is completely dry. For example, if cracks were sealed with an elastic compound, only after the set time has elapsed can the next stage of work be performed.

No dust and especially dirt should not remain. Professionals for this procedure usually use construction vacuum cleaner, but for domestic use a regular vacuum cleaner is enough wet cleaning. Particular attention is paid to the corners. As a rule, dirt accumulates there, which in the future may make itself felt with an unpleasant smell or damage to the sound insulator.

Coniferous wood is perfect as a lag, while its humidity should not exceed 19 percent. The building material must get used to the humidity and temperature of the room, for this it is left for several days in the room where the repair is planned. If the boards begin to warp, then they should be returned to the store.

While the floor dries after general cleaning, beams are processed. This is a very important stage, since it is no secret to anyone that concrete can release steam, respectively, condensate is formed, which will lead to rotting of the tree, colonization of moldy fungi on its surface. Pests - insects and microorganisms can also spoil the product. Fire protection is also important.

Usually, experts recommend a two-time treatment, and the second layer is applied only after the first has completely dried. Accordingly, the installation of the log must be carried out after the second layer has dried. Since the treatment is carried out with the strongest chemical materials, it must be carried out in a well-ventilated area, on the street or in the entrance.

The concrete base is primed. Acrylic primer is versatile, economical and sold at affordable prices. As a rule, it is it that is used for interior work when laying a soundproof layer.

After that, a layer of waterproofing is applied to the base. These can be special mastics, rolled substrates, compounds penetrating the concrete base, and ordinary polyethylene. It is not forbidden to use roofing felt or old linoleum. On top of the waterproofing layer, a substrate or slats are laid for attaching the log.

Hydrophobic materials also act as a shock absorber. For example, linoleum does not sag, which means that during the operation of the flooring, there will be no backlash and creaking. Directly fastening the lag is carried out in two ways. The first method is fixation with the help of hardware - dowels, anchors. The second way is with the use of vibration suspensions. Moreover, if the first method is demanding on differences and the base should ideally be even, then the second method is less demanding on this.

The floor level is set using a level. At home, evenness can be checked with a building level. After marking, the beams are laid first along the walls of the room, fastening is done using dowels, self-tapping screws, anchor fastenings. Additional fastening is carried out using corners or construction foam.

Most often, fastening with dowels is used; for this, a through hole is drilled in the board with the capture of a concrete base. A plastic plug is inserted into the concrete. It remains only to screw the screw. The next hole is made at least 40 cm later. Experts do not recommend taking a larger step, then the fixation will be fragile, at the same time they are not advised to “part” - this can destroy the tree.

The length of the hardware should be equal to the hole. If you buy fasteners with a thread not for the entire length of the self-tapping screw, then the fixation of the beam with the base will be stronger. durable and secure fastening provide anchors. They, like self-tapping screws with a neck, attract the beam to the concrete base, so that the beam remains motionless long term, and the additional rigidity of the structure does not lead to the formation of backlash.

Anchors are often used to fasten heavy structures to the wall, but they are not abandoned when creating floor sound insulation. The process is not much different from that described earlier, only it is desirable to make a countersink in the board in order to hide the anchor head. For standard room four anchor bolts are enough for one beam to fix it. The diameter of the anchor should be 10 mm, and the length - 45-200 mm, depending on the thickness of the log, while the anchor-bolt is completely driven into the concrete.

Installation of wooden beams to a concrete base using galvanized metal corners has been used more often in recent years, this is due to the rigidity of the fixation and significant time savings. Since the fixation is carried out without moving the lag away, it is enough to attach one part of the corner with screws or anchor bolts to the beam, and the other to the floor.

Do not forget to leave a gap between the wall and the board - it should be 1.5 cm. Parallel to the first row, the second and subsequent rows are laid. Lattice windows in dimensions must correspond to the dimensions of the sound insulator - mineral wool. The building material should lie tightly inside, because if there are gaps, extraneous noise will enter the apartment.

If the beams are well dried, it is allowed to create a so-called "floating" floor, in which the flooring is not fixed to the supporting structures. Otherwise, the boards may “swell” and the floor will “go”, and the floor covering will become unusable.

Alternative way fixing the lag to the base is an adjustable system. Although it is sold at a high cost, but thanks to it, the process of leveling and getting rid of drops is easy and simple.

Anchor bolts are replaced by a plastic stand, it is screwed to the base with dowels, and a screw is inserted directly into the tree. The beam height can be adjusted. After exhibiting the right sizes protruding parts are cut off.

After the noise insulator is tightly laid into the crate, it is necessary to lay a plywood layer on top of it. But before that, you need to lay a vapor barrier layer. Some use moisture-resistant drywall or gypsum-fiber sheets as flooring. By the way, these building materials themselves are able not to let extraneous sounds into the room.

The plywood thickness must not be less than 16 mm. After the first layer is laid, all seams and joints are sealed with sealant. Silicone works great for this. Next, a second layer of plywood 18 mm thick is laid, while the joints should not coincide with the joints of the first layer. This will make the floor durable and protected from extraneous noise.

Keep in mind that if you have to lay the wires in the crate, then you must first insulate them. The plinth is mounted either to the floor covering or to the wall. If you fix it to the beam, it will become a source of noise penetration.

Soundproofing material must meet quality standards. Before buying, it is important to request supporting documents from the sales assistant. No need to buy a sound insulator from dubious sellers, this is fraught not only with the loss of money, but also health.

Under concrete screed

As in the case of laying the soundproofing layer on the logs, in this option, the preparation of the base is initially required. For this, not only seams and joints are closed, but also given Special attention gas pipes and drainage system.

Sometimes, in order to reduce the weight of the concrete base and get rid of large drops, old coupler dismantled to ceilings. To do this, use a puncher, crowbar and nail puller. You need to break it off in small pieces to make it easier to transport construction waste to containers.

For these works, permission from regulatory authorities may be required, do not neglect this, otherwise the house may collapse.

Concrete dust settles not only in the room where the repairs are being made, but also scatters throughout the apartment, so before starting work, you need to lay the floor in neighboring rooms, curtain the equipment and furniture with cellophane, and close the gaps between the floor and interior doors with a wet towel.

After the base is dismantled, it must be cleaned of debris. Not a speck of dust, not a speck should remain. To do this, experts advise vacuuming the base several times, additionally walking on the surface with a wet cloth and waiting for it to dry.

A dampener is glued around the perimeter of the room, including along the pipes. Adhesive tape is required for good fixation. As for the height of the damper tape, it must be greater than the height of the future cement screed. To perform the work you will need a concrete mixer, but this must be taken care of in advance.

An important step in the "wet" screed is the installation of a waterproofing layer. If this is not done, then the liquid solution will “go” through the cracks to the neighbors, which will lead to damage to their property and subsequent compensation for damage.

Waterproofing in without fail fixed above the dampers. Tight adhesion is provided by adhesive tape. Remember that manufacturers advise overlapping some waterproofing material (up to 20 cm).

The next step is the installation of soundproofing. Noise plastic, basalt fiber is suitable for this. It is important that the material does not change its properties and qualities when interacting with moisture. Keep in mind that building material laid without joints does the job better.

A reinforcing mesh is laid on top, but do not forget about fixing it. Lighthouses are exposed. They can be metal profiles fixed to the base with a screed. Their height is approximately equal to 40-45 mm, depending on the thickness of the screed. The step between the beacons is determined by the length of the building level or rule.

Filling with a cement screed is carried out only after the composition that holds the beacons has dried. Cement that is suitable for this work is marked with the inscription M-300. Alignment is carried out using a special tool.

It is important to wait for the surface to dry at room temperature and with constant humidity, otherwise the cement screed will crack after a while. Subsequently, the floor is processed by a grinder.

The protruding ends of the damper tape are cut off with a clerical or construction knife. After that, it remains to fill the surface with a special sealant, which is able to delay the vibration transmitted from the floor to the wall.

Soundproofing is also introduced into the “semi-dry” screed. It dries faster, but the risk of cracks on the surface of the concrete base is greater than in the "wet" one. The procedure is not much different from that described above, so it is not advisable to repeat the same thing. I would only like to note the fact that the fastening of beacons with hardware is fraught with the appearance of vibration bridges. This will negatively affect sound insulation.

Unlike the first method, in the second, the first layer of the screed is laid and only after that the reinforcing mesh, which is then filled with a second layer. By the way, expanded clay can be used as sound insulation.

The remaining "dry" screed has a great advantage compared to its predecessors - it is light in weight, which does not negatively affect the floors and the foundation of the panel house. Yes, and a large amount of dirt with this method is not formed. But this method is demanding on the evenness of the base.

A vapor barrier layer is laid on top of the base surface. Laying is carried out with an overlap, the joints are glued together with construction tape. The vapor barrier layer must be fixed on the wall above the planned backfill thickness.

On the perimeter of the room let the dump. It is important that its level coincides with the level of the future floor. The damper tape is wrapped around the ends of drainpipes and gas pipes. This is done so that the building material cannot harm the floors and the communication system.

The next step is the installation of a soundproof layer. Products such as Zvukoizol and Shumoizol have proven themselves well. Laying is carried out with an overlap, for additional fixation, the joints along the entire length are sealed with construction tape.

After that, you will need to fill the base with expanded clay in combination with a sand mixture. They are sold in hardware stores marked "for dry floors." Alignment is carried out and checked by the building level. For proper backfilling, beacons are set, which are gradually rearranged.

Instead of a plywood layer, gypsum-fiber sheets are attached. They are placed starting from interior door, gradually moving towards the window. Mastic is applied to the edges of the building material, which provides good fixation, additionally GVL is screwed with a screwdriver and self-tapping screws. The distance between the screws should not exceed 30-35 cm. In order for the floor to be even, the hats of the hardware are recessed in gypsum-fiber sheets.

Experts advise puttying the formed joints and holes. Thanks to this, extraneous sounds will not enter the room. It remains only to lay the finish coating - it can be a laminate, linoleum, parquet board or porcelain stoneware.

Without screed

Unfortunately, the methods described above significantly reduce the height of the ceilings in the room, and if you also install suspended or stretch ceiling, then there will be no free space in the room. This problem is most often encountered by owners of apartments in Khrushchev's houses. The height of the ceilings in "Khrushchev" is usually 2.5 m.

Of course, there is a way out of the situation - laying a new topcoat. To do this, the old flooring is dismantled - linoleum or cracked parquet. The base is cleaned and processed as described earlier.

The differences should not be more than 2 mm, otherwise the parquet board will fold. The laminate is also deformed, unless, of course, they will serve as a new floor.

As a substrate, you can use a building material that also has soundproofing qualities. and good thermal conductivity. Such a universal substrate "will not steal" additional centimeters. To such building material include cork, bitumen-cork sound insulator, as well as foamed polyethylene, polystyrene foam and polyurethane on foil.

The soundproofing layer is laid along the wall, from which the installation of the floor covering will begin. The substrate should be laid from the edge of one wall to the edge of another, there should not be any gaps.

The seams must be glued with construction tape. Alternatively, you can use ordinary tape or staples from a furniture stapler. By the way, thanks to the stapler, this stage can be completed in a short time. But keep in mind that metal protrusions can touch the laminate. Because of this, there is a high probability of unnecessary cracking. In other words, by fighting one problem, you can create another with your own hands.

Due to the fact that professionals do not advise walking on the substrate, the next row is covered with some temporary shifts until the laminate or parquet board is laid.

The problem of noise in apartments of high-rise buildings has existed, probably, since the day they appeared. Especially an excess of annoying sounds is felt in panel buildings. The fact is that reinforced concrete wall slabs, as well as floor slabs, do not have any significant soundproofing qualities. In addition, they themselves become conductors of shock noise due to the reinforcing metal elements located inside the plates, as well as air voids.

Therefore, many apartment owners are trying to find ways to protect their homes from external “sound aggression”. But this task is not as simple as it might seem at first. For example, the floor from the neighbors below should be integrated. That is, the installation of the insulating material is carried out not only on its surface, but also on the walls, or at least on their lower part.

Features of noise in a high-rise building

To choose the right sound insulation option, you need to consider some of the nuances:

• Noises can be air or shock. The nature of their distribution is different, and this also affects the way they are dealt with.
• The slab covering the floors has two "owners" - it is the ceiling for the lower apartment and the floor for the upper apartment. Accordingly, impact and airborne noise are transmitted through the ceiling in both directions.

• Void reinforced concrete slabs ceilings with a thickness of 220 mm, made in an industrial environment, should reduce external airborne noise up to 52 dB, with allowable standards of 60 dB. The decrease in the soundproofing qualities of floor slabs is due to the wear of structures, redevelopment of premises or illiterate conduct overhauls, the formation of gaps at the joints of the plates.
• Insulation from airborne noise in both old and new houses can be reduced due to poorly sealed gaps between floors by builders, intended for the passage of communication risers.

It is much more difficult to isolate an apartment from impact noise than from air. And this is not only due to concrete floors unable to drown it out completely, but also with the following points:

• Interfloor ceilings are rigidly connected to wall slabs or brickwork. Therefore, they become conductors for the propagation of impact noise over all surfaces of the building.
• The metal reinforcing frame inside the slabs also conducts impact sounds well.
• Ceramic tiles, as well as porcelain tiles laid on floor slabs, increase the noise level to 74 dB, instead of the 60 dB provided for by the standards.

This diagram shows the transmission of airborne and impact noise through the building structures of an apartment building.

airborne noise(pos.1), the source of which is in no way connected with building structures. This can be a loudly turned on TV or music center, talking in raised tones or screaming, children crying, etc. Such noise can also propagate through partitions, which become a kind of membrane that transmits sound vibrations.

impact noise associated with the impact on building structures. These are steps, running, jumping, falling objects, the sound of a hammer or other tools during repair or other work. Impact noise can propagate in a direct way (pos. 2), that is, by the same creation sound waves through vibrations of partitions, or indirectly through the building structures themselves. At the same time, their distribution can fall not only on adjacent premises (pos. 3), but also on distant ones, moreover, over a very significant distance (pos. 4).

Structural noises - arising from vibration exposure during operation of the installed in the house technological equipment(pos. 5). These can be elevator drives, centralized ventilation, pumping equipment, etc. Ways of their distribution can also be direct or indirect. Such noises are also capable of propagating through building structures over very long distances.

We are talking in our article about the soundproofing of the floor. And here we see several ways of understanding the barriers against the spread of airborne and impact noise.

• Laying soundproofing materials under a floating screed that is not connected to either the floor slab or the wall structures.
• The erection of the floor on the logs with the laying of a soundproof layer between them.
• Arrangement of a dry floating screed.

Commonly used soundproofing materials

Nowadays, on sale you can find various types of soundproofing materials made on different bases. Therefore, they may have different levels of capability.

Name of soundproofing material	Manufacturing form	Noise reduction level (air / shock), dB	Material Rating
"Rock Wool Acoustic Butts"	plates	60/38	9.5
Tecsound	rolls, plates	60/28	9.4
"ThermoZvukoIzol Light"	mats	60/28	9.3
"Soundproof"	roll	28/23	9.2
"Shumanet ECO"	plates	35	9
"ZIPS"	sandwich panels	11÷13	8.5
"SoundGuard"	plates	7÷10	8.2

"Rock Wool Acoustic Butts"

Perhaps the most popular among users are Acoustic Butts slabs by RockWool, which has been developing and manufacturing materials based on basalt fiber for thermal and sound insulation for more than seventy years.

To positive qualities "RockWool Acoustic Butts" can be attributed following parameters material:

• High level of sound insulation, which will depend on the thickness of the mats. To insulate floors on logs, it is worth using plates with a thickness of at least 80 ÷ 100 mm.
• Low thermal conductivity and almost zero flammability.
• Biological stability - the material does not rot and does not become a breeding ground for microflora.
• Moisture resistance and vapor permeability.
• Durability in operation.
• Ease of installation.
• The material is certified according to EU and Russian standards.

To shortcomings This material can be attributed to its rather high cost. In addition, the probability of running into a fake is very high. Therefore, it is recommended to buy this material in specialized stores where it is possible to document the originality of the product.

Tecsound

Tecsound was developed by technologists from the Spanish company Texsa. There he began to be produced on an industrial scale. The raw material for this sound insulator is the mineral aragonite, a large deposit of which is located in this country. Environmentally friendly polymers act as a binder for the mineral component.

Several types of "Tecsound" are produced today, which include other components. Finished materials differ in structure and purpose:

Appearance of the material	Short description
	"Tecsound FT" - plates consisting of porous felt and a composite membrane. They are designed to isolate walls, ceilings and roofs from airborne noise.
	"Tecsound 2FT" and "Tecsound 2FT-80" - plates and sheets in rolls, consisting of two layers of felt and a composite-polymer layer between them. Used to insulate walls, ceilings and ceilings.
	"Tecsound FT-55 AL" - felt plates with synthetic and aluminum coating. The material can be used for internal insulation of any surfaces.
	"Tecsound FT-75" - plates consisting of felt and a thick composite-mineral layer covered with a polymer membrane. The material is used for any internal surfaces.
	"Tecsound S" is a self-adhesive version of the insulating material. It is used for sound and vibration isolation, effectively suppresses the propagation of low-frequency vibrations.
	"Tecsound SY 100" is an elastic roll material with high strength. The insulator is made of mineral colmposite, coated with a polymer and aluminum layer, and has a self-adhesive base. The material is used to protect against sound and vibration insulation of any surfaces.
	"Tecsound 70" is a mineral soundproof membrane that can provide the necessary level of silence in a residential area. The material is fixed to the walls and ceiling, and is also laid on the floors under the screed or floors on the logs.

Despite the appearance of various variants of this material, the original insulator made on a composite-mineral basis is the most popular among consumers.

Virtues "Tecsound" can be considered the following:

• A high level of sound absorption, that is, the material protects the room from both airborne and impact noise.
• The elasticity of the material, which remains at temperatures up to -20 degrees.
• The small thickness of the canvases allows you to save to the maximum the useful volume of the isolated room.
• Versatility "Tecsound" - it can be fixed to all surfaces.
• Resistance to moisture, to biological damage.
• It's ecological pure material containing no toxic ingredients.
• The insulator belongs to low-flammable, self-extinguishing materials.
• Tecsound is certified according to EU and RF standards.

To disadvantages Such sound insulation includes the following points:

• A very significant weight of the paintings. To cope with the installation of such a coating on the ceiling and walls, you will definitely need an assistant.
• The material cannot be called publicly available at cost.
• Noise isolation will definitely require closure with decorative material.

"ThermoZvukoIzol Light"

"TermoZvukoIzol Light" is a multifunctional and versatile insulating material that has a high level of sound absorption. The mats have a size of 10000×1500×10 mm and are made of fiberglass canvas, which is laid in several layers pressed together. Fiberglass is sealed in a protective sheath made of non-woven material - spunbond.

"TermoZvukoIzol Light" can be used for laying on floors under a "wet" concrete and dry screed, under floors on logs. It can be used above false ceilings, fixed on walls for further cladding.

To virtues This soundproof material can be attributed to the following qualities:

• High level of noise absorption.
• Ecological purity. The material does not contain formaldehydes and phenols, which are often used in other insulators as a binder.
• Low thermal conductivity allows the material to be used not only as noise protection, but also for thermal insulation of surfaces.
• The elasticity of the material increases the comfort of working with it.
• The material is not prone to decomposition, durable.
• From the standpoint of fire safety, it belongs to the category of self-extinguishing with moderate smoke formation.

To shortcomings This soundproofing can include the following:

• The considerable weight of the material somewhat complicates the work.
• Fairly high cost.
• High hygroscopicity. What limits use in high humidity conditions

"Soundproof"

This is a rolled bitumen-polymer membrane-type sound insulation. By the way, it also has thermal insulation and waterproofing properties. The material is used for floor insulation, including the arrangement of the "warm floor" system, ceilings and walls. There are no restrictions on the degree of humidity in the room.

To virtues of this material include its following qualities:

• Good airborne and impact sound protection.
• Resistance to moisture and biological damage.
• Long service life.
• Low thermal conductivity.
• Resistance to low and high temperatures (operational range - from -40 to +80 degrees).
• The material is non-combustible.
• Quite affordable price.

Flaws "Soundproof":

• Pretty solid weight.
• Installation is carried out only by adhesive method.
• Not available in all regions of the Russian Federation.
• The proper insulation effect can be achieved by using Zvukoisol in combination with other materials with soundproofing qualities.

"Shumanet ECO"

Shumanet ECO are glass staple fiber slabs designed for soundproofing walls, ceilings and joisted floors.

To virtues This material can be attributed to its following characteristics:

• High level of sound absorption of impact and airborne noise.
• Resistance to biological damage.
• Long service life.
• Vapor permeability.
• Low thermal conductivity.
• Complete incombustibility.
• Ecological purity of the material. In the production of ECO boards, staple fiber glass is used, and acrylic resins are used as a binder.
• Ease of installation.
• Quite affordable price.
• The material is certified in the Russian Federation.

Shumanet also has certain limitations :

• Additional assembly work is required to use these mats. They must fit between the rails. frame structure or between lags.
• Installation of the material can only be done at positive temperatures.
• It is important to comply with storage conditions - these are dry and dark rooms. If these requirements are violated, the quality of the material is significantly reduced.

ZIPS panels

"ZIPS" are multilayer panels of the company "Acoustic Group". They have been produced since the 90s of the last century. The composition of the plates may be different depending on the purpose of the products.

For example, for floor use, gypsum-fiber tongue-and-groove sheets are used as the basis for slabs, and gypsum boards are used for walls and ceilings. A layer of basalt or fiberglass wool is fixed to the base.

To positive qualities This material includes the following:

• Low thermal conductivity.
• Long service life.
• Resistance to biological damage.
• The design is very convenient for installation.
• No gaps between individual flooring elements due to locking lamellas.

Flaws insulating material are expressed as follows:

• The content of phenol-formaldehyde resins in mineral wool layers.
• Judging by the reviews, the level of sound insulation still leaves much to be desired.
• When installed on walls, they can even resonate under the influence of external and internal low-frequency noise.

Plates «SoundGuard»

These soundproof panels differ from other analogues in materials of manufacture and in the way they are made. installation work. The structure of the plates includes the following materials:

- drywall;

- quartz filler;

- a layer of interwoven cellulose fibers.

From positive characteristics these products can be distinguished:

• Good sound insulation parameters.
• Plates belong to the moderate flammability group.
• Completely free of toxic substances.
• Are applied to isolation of floor and wall designs.
• Low thermal conductivity.
• Possible different ways installations - frame, adhesive or fastening to the wall with the help of dowels-fungi.
• Compliance with safety standards established in the Russian Federation.

To cons The material has the following characteristics:

• Low moisture resistance, so the plates can only be used in dry rooms.
• High price.
• The need for edge processing after cutting the slab. The cut is protected with masking tape.
• Panels may resonate when exposed to low frequency noise. Therefore, they are recommended to be used in combination with other sound insulators.

Popular content in in general terms considered. And now it is worth understanding how they are used in practice.

Effective soundproofing against noise coming from below

Before choosing a soundproofing material and a scheme for its application, it is necessary to decide: from what kind of noise the apartment or a particular room is to be protected. It is easy to solve the problem of airborne noise - voices, the barking of a neighbor's dog, soft music. It is more difficult to drown out percussive sounds - low frequencies of music, the sound of steps, falling or moving objects, the work of construction tools, etc.

Impact noise is transmitted through all building structures. And you can fully protect a room from them only by completely isolating it, from the floor to

"Floating" screed

A suitable solution for floor soundproofing would be a "floating" screed. However, when choosing this option, it must be taken into account that the floors will rise by 100 ÷ 150 mm.

In multi-storey buildings, you can find an interfloor ceiling, which is a reinforced concrete structure, or a boardwalk along wooden beams. The second option is found only in houses of old buildings. Methods for soundproofing a concrete slab and a wooden floor are different. But the common thing will be that you will have to dismantle the old coating and equip a soundproof structure.

The transmission of shock sounds is transmitted through all structural elements, since they are in close contact with each other. The “floating” screed is not connected to the walls of the room, and is also separated from the floor slab with soundproofing material.

A "floating" screed can be either "wet". In the first case, the backfill material itself is an excellent sound insulator. In the second variant leading role performs a layer capable of absorbing noise vibrations.

Thus, the "floating" screed completely interrupts the "transmission" of impact noise coming from the lower apartment, as it is a vibration-decoupled design. If it is necessary to create complete silence in the room, then the soundproofing material should be fixed to the walls and ceiling, even if the apartment is located on the top floor.

The "floating" screed consists of several layers and looks like this:

1. Leveled surface for further decorative flooring.
2. "Floating" screed with a thickness of 50 or more millimeters.
3. Soundproof material. it is also laid along the junction line of the screed with the wall
4. Floor slab.

This is the general layout of a "floating" floor structure. But depending on the selected materials, other elements may be included in it.

Starting the process of creating such a soundproofing structure, the first step is to free the base. For this, the following actions are carried out:

• The decorative floor covering is removed.
• If the floor is wooden and equipped on logs, then the boardwalk and logs will have to be dismantled.
• If the base is concrete, then it must be checked for horizontality and for the presence of cracks and potholes. These defects can be conductors of sounds from the lower apartment.
• If the base has numerous flaws, then it will have to be repaired. Otherwise, the desired effect will not be achieved.

• If the concrete base is even and strong, but has small cracks, they must be expanded and filled with a sealant designed for vibration isolation.

• Next, it is necessary to check the junction line between the wall and the floor, as well as the channels through which the heating pipes and other engineering communications pass. Cracks can form in these areas or even through holes remain through which sound from ground floor freely enters the room. With special care, it is necessary to check the corners of the room, since there most often the joints are sealed with the least quality. Cracks and holes are also expanded and filled with vibrosealant.
• If the base is wooden, then all joints and cracks between the boards must also be well sealed. Sheets of plywood are laid on top of the repaired base. A vibrating tape should be immediately laid between the plywood sheets and the wall, which will not only separate the sheets from the wall, creating a technological gap, but will also absorb sound vibrations.

• Technological gaps between plywood sheets, which should be 3 ÷ 5 mm, are also filled with vibrosealant.
• After the base has been repaired, it must be cleaned of dust with a vacuum cleaner. Then it must be primed with a penetrating compound to prevent moisture from penetrating from below. You can cover it additionally with a layer of polyethylene film with a thickness of 150÷200 microns.

Now you can move on to creating a "floating" screed. This can be done like this:

Illustration	Brief description of the operations performed
	If soundproofing will be carried out using mineral wool slabs, for example, Shumanet ECO or RockWool Acoustic Butts, then first the mats cut into strips are installed along the walls around the entire perimeter of the room. Their height should be 150÷200 mm more than the thickness of the future screed. Then the plates themselves are tightly laid on the surface of the base, pressing the standing pieces of material against the wall. You should get a coating without any cracks, with a very tight fit of the mats to each other. The elasticity and springy qualities of mineral wool allow this to be achieved.
	Instead of mineral wool, two materials can be used for sound insulation, stacked one on top of the other. First, "ThermoZvukoIzol Light" is laid with a 100 ÷ 150 mm approach to the walls. And then “Tecsound” is laid across the canvases of the first layer, also going to the walls.
	Cloths of both one and the other material are stacked end-to-end. The seams between them are sealed with moisture-resistant reinforced construction tape.
	The next step is to cover the soundproofing layer with a dense polyethylene film, which should go onto the walls above the installed framing of slab strips by 100 ÷ 150 mm. Adjacent film sheets are overlapped by 150 ÷ ​​200 mm and glued together with moisture-resistant adhesive tape. This coating should be sealed over the entire area of ​​​​the screed to be equipped.
	On top of the film on the supplies, a reinforcing mesh is laid. Then, if necessary (and most often it happens), a system of beacons is installed.
	The next step is the preparation and pouring of the solution. It can be made independently, according to the "classic" scheme, or mixed from ready-made dry building mixtures which is definitely more convenient. Filling and leveling work is usually carried out from the far corner with a gradual direction to the exit from the room.
	Alignment of the filled solution is carried out using the rule according to the installed beacons. If self-leveling mixtures are used, then the distribution technology may differ here. But you can read about this separately on the pages of our portal - there are enough articles about pouring any type of screed there.
	If it is planned to lay a dry screed instead of a conventional concrete screed, it can also be covered with soundproofing material, or directly on a base covered with plastic wrap. Stationary beacons are not used in this approach. When leveling the mixture, temporary guides are set according to the level. These can be galvanized drywall profiles or even flat bars.
	The leveling of the dry mixture, consisting of fine fraction expanded clay, which itself is a good sound insulator, is divided into zones. After leveling a certain area, the guides - beacons are removed.
	On top of the leveled sections of the dry mix, floor elements are immediately laid - gypsum fiber boards with special connecting lamellas. The slabs must also be separated from the wall by a layer of elastic material so as not to receive vibration and shock vibrations from them.
	Between themselves, the plates are first glued together with polymer glue (usually PVA is used), which is applied to their lock lamellas. Then they are twisted with screws, along the lines of the locks. The heads of the self-tapping screws are recessed into the surface of the plates by about 0.5 ÷ 1.0 mm.

The thickness of both one and the other type of screed must be at least 50 mm.

If a “floating” concrete screed is being installed, then after it has dried, it is possible to mount a decorative floor covering, as on a regular concrete floor. Here it is necessary to clarify that the final concrete screed will be ready for operation in 28÷30 days.

When arranging a dry version of the screed, the floor covering is laid on top of the laid and fastened slabs. The advantage of this option is that the next day after the completion of the installation, you can start laying the decorative coating.

If, as a floor covering, a hard variant is chosen (for example, solid board, laminate, parquet or), then it must also be separated from the wall by a soundproofing layer. A substrate must be laid on the screed or on the laid slabs under these floor coverings.

"ThermoZvukoIzol Light" or "Tecsound" can be used both in combination and separately.

These materials, due to their elasticity, can be pulled onto the walls by 120÷150 mm. This results in a kind of borders. Flooring with entry to the walls forms an airtight "capacity" for subsequent pouring or backfilling of the screed.

Further work can be carried out according to the above scheme. Or an additional soundproofing layer can be included in the design. For example, the same mineral wool can be laid on top of thin sheet material, which perfectly dampens vibration vibrations, impact noise and low frequencies of sound noise. Well, then all this is closed with the selected screed option.

Video: Soundproofing the floor using a PS membrane and then pouring a "floating" screed.

Floor soundproofing with Tecsound

If the ceilings are low, and therefore do not allow you to raise the floors by 50 ÷ 70 mm, then only Tecsound can be used for sound insulation. Its installation under a hard floor covering is carried out in the following order:

• A well-cleaned screed is covered with a polyethylene foam pad with a thickness of 3 ÷ 5 mm. Instead of polyethylene, polyester acoustic felt can be used, which will significantly enhance the soundproofing effect.

It should be noted that polyethylene foam sheets, in comparison with felt, have a lower ability to become an obstacle to impact noise. However, the polyethylene will make an excellent underlay that separates the Tecsound from the concrete base.

• Tecsound canvases are laid end-to-end on the substrate. Even a minimal gap should not remain between them, as it can become a “bridge” for sound penetration. When choosing this material for sound insulation, it must be taken into account that its weight is 1900 kg / m³ - this means that 1 m², having a thickness of 3.7 mm, weighs 7 kg - a lot .. Such sound insulation can reduce the level of impact noise by 50 dB .

• Rigid decorative coating, such as laminate or, is laid directly on the Tecsound. In this combination, it serves as a good underlay for the flooring. Without losing, of course, their excellent soundproofing qualities

Floor soundproofing with joist construction

Another option for soundproofing a room is to install a floor structure on logs. However, you need to know that in such options there are some differences between simple thermal insulation and sound insulation. Although, in fact, a soundproofing system, it is also an effective insulating layer.

In order for the effectiveness of sound insulation to be maximum, a vibration-proof tape is required, which will separate the entire structure from the base.

Floors on logs for sound insulation can be equipped both on a concrete and wooden base.

Work on the installation of such a structure is carried out in the following order:

Illustration	Brief description of the operation to be performed
	The first step is surface preparation. This process is similar to the option when creating a screed: - checking the base for cracks at the joints of the floor and walls, as well as through holes around utilities. If they are found, cracks and holes must be sealed with a vibration-insulating sealant.
	Further, marking is carried out in order to set the logs in a horizontal plane at the desired height. This process is best done using a laser level, although if you don’t have it, you can get by with a water level with no less accuracy.
	So that the structure is not connected with the base and walls, when arranging floor sound insulation, it is best to choose the frame frame option. To do this, first, a frame is mounted around the perimeter of the room from a bar. It is set along the line defined on the wall when marking. The width of the timber for assembling the frame must correspond not only to the height of the line beaten off on the wall, but also to the thickness of the selected soundproofing layer.
	Experts recommend mounting mats in frame cells in two layers, say, 50 mm each. If the ceiling height of the room does not allow you to raise the floors by considerable height, then it is permissible to use the complex two different material. For example, before laying the frame, lay a 10 mm thick Tecsound on the base, and between the lags - one layer of mineral wool material of the required thickness, so that it completely, very densely fills the space between the base and the future coating.
	The frame beam is not fixed to the base and to the walls. That is, the structure should not come into contact with the surfaces of the building. The distance between the frame beam and the wall should be 80 ÷ 100 mm, since soundproofing material will be installed between them.
	To exclude direct contact of the frame with the surface of the base, a vibration-proof tape or other sound-proofing material of suitable thickness is fixed to each beam from its lower side with the help of brackets. Strips of "Tecsound" or acoustic felt may also work.
	The next step is the frame frame is marked for the installation of lags. They should be located at a distance of 590 from each other in the light (you can simply choose a center pitch of 600 mm). This distance will correspond to the width of the mineral wool insulation mats, which should fit tightly between the frame elements. Logs can be fixed on the frame with the help of powerful metal corners or in a half-tree groove way.
	The next step is to lay wide strips of soundproofing material between the wall and the frame beam. They can be cut from mineral wool mats. After that, the soundproofing material slabs are tightly laid between the joists.
	Further, it is recommended to cover the soundproofing layer with a vapor permeable waterproofing membrane. This material will not allow mineral wool fibers to penetrate into the room, will allow water vapor to escape freely from below, but will not allow it to get wet if water is accidentally spilled onto the floor. Some masters refuse this layer, considering it optional. However, it is provided by proven technology.
	The next step is the flooring on the frame structure of plywood sheets. The coating can be laid in one or two layers. In total, its thickness should reach 16 ÷ 20 mm. Vibration isolation tape must be laid between the plywood layer and the wall. It will not only separate the coating from the wall, but also keep the coating intact when the temperature rises, while becoming a compensation pad when the material expands.
	Between plywood sheets, it is also necessary to observe gaps of 3 ÷ 5 mm wide. The sheets are fixed on the logs and the frame of the frame using self-tapping screws, screwed in increments of 200 ÷ 250 mm. Each of the rows of plywood is laid with a shift of the connecting lines. If two layers of plywood are mounted, then the joints of the sheets of the upper layer should not coincide with the joints of the lower one. Docking gaps are recommended to be filled with vibrosealant.

A decorative flooring can be laid on top of the fixed plywood flooring - it can be laminate, linoleum, parquet or carpet.

* * * * * * *

When isolating a room from noisy lower neighbors, it must be remembered that the main thing in this process, after choosing the right material, is the complete separation of the structure being created from the main walls and ceilings. However, as mentioned above, in order to achieve the expected silence in the room, you will have to work not only with the floor, but also with the walls and ceiling.

The presence of extraneous sounds is a constant problem, especially for new buildings located within the city. Soundproofing the floor in an apartment is aimed at reducing the overall level of annoying sounds penetrating from the outside and passing through the ceilings inside the building.

These works are carried out at the stage of finishing and arranging the premises, according to a predetermined technology, which involves the use of modern soundproof and sound-absorbing coatings.

Causes of extraneous sounds

Often, with a complete or partial lack of sound insulation, finding out the nature and cause of the emerging extraneous sounds does not cause any particular problems.

Extraneous sound propagating and present indoors can be of three types:

1. Acoustic - sound reflected from the planes inside the room. Quite often found in empty, new or uninhabited apartments. When setting up, usually this species noise disappears.
2. Air - sound that propagates and is transmitted in space. That is, these are the sounds that a person himself makes in the course of his life - speech, music, clapping, etc.
3. Structural - sound that penetrates and propagates by transmitted vibrations through the main structural elements of an apartment or house.

The soundproofing of the floor, first of all, is aimed at eliminating structural sounds transmitted and penetrating into the living space through the supporting base. Depending on the type of base, both traditional types of sound-suppressing coatings and modern sound-proofing materials are used.

When performing soundproofing work, it should be remembered that sounds penetrating through the base plate make up only 20% of the total noise entering the room.

This means that carrying out these works will give the best result only with an integrated approach and performing soundproofing of other load-bearing structures- walls, floors, doorways, etc.

Methods of work and materials used

Carrying out soundproofing works involves the use of various technologies of work, using a variety of materials.

Carpeting is often used as an additional measure to eliminate structural sounds.

So, floor soundproofing can be done in the following ways:

1. Floor coverings.
2. Arrangement of a prefabricated floating floor.
3. Usage .
4. Insulation under concrete screed.

Suppression of sounds by means of laying flooring is an ineffective method, which is mainly used as an additional and final soundproofing option. That is, by themselves, floor coverings slightly prevent the damping of extraneous sounds, but with an integrated approach they can significantly reduce or eliminate their penetration.

Cork underlayment is most commonly used to dampen sounds and is placed under flooring.

As finishing coatings, you can use the following materials:

• linoleum on a thick substrate;
• cork floors;
• thick carpet;
• cork backed laminate.

It is worth noting that the installation of soundproofing finishing coatings is advisable only in living rooms, bedrooms, children's rooms and hallways. For rooms with high humidity, such materials are of little use.

The arrangement of the "floating floor" system is a more modern and efficient way that provides the best result.

For soundproofing the floor in an apartment, three types of this technology are widely used - laying sound-absorbing materials under a concrete screed, arranging a prefabricated floating system and using a “dry screed”.

This method involves the creation of a multilayer structure that does not have a clear connection with the floor slabs. That is, when arranging the system, various sound-absorbing coatings are used that dampen the effects of vibration and sounds, preventing them from penetrating into the room.

Mineral wool performs two tasks - it absorbs incoming sounds well and creates an additional heat-insulating layer

AT this case using materials such as:

• glass wool;
• mineral wool;
• Styrofoam;
• extruded polystyrene foam;
• polyethylene foam.

The use of heat and sound insulating materials, in addition to reducing the level of penetrating sounds, provides additional heat saving and heat preservation inside the room. If desired, it is possible to install heating systems and heating elements- electric or water "warm floor".

The main manufacturers of soundproofing materials

In addition to traditional materials used for soundproofing floors, there are a number of modern coatings that provide an integrated approach, combining an increased level of soundproofing and sound-absorbing properties.

VIBROSTEK - mineral fiber tapes

Among the main manufacturers of these coatings, the following can be distinguished trade marks and brands:

• SHUMANET - soundproofing boards made of staple fiberglass. Environmentally friendly, non-flammable, strong and durable coating. Produced in the form of plates and rolls. Widely used for insulation under concrete screed;
• SHUMOSTOP - sound-absorbing slabs of basalt fiber. Used for insulation of residential and industrial premises. They have a high impact sound absorption index, due to this, they are often used for soundproofing floors in wooden and private houses;
• VIBROSTEK is sound-absorbing tapes and substrates used in the technology of complex sound insulation. The material is able to withstand high dynamic loads. Most often used as a substrate, under the finishing lining;
• ISOVER- mineral plates, having a small weight and a thickness of 50-100 mm. They belong to the group of environmentally friendly and safe materials. Most often used as a sound and heat insulating coating for prefabricated floors;
• ISOPLAAT - wood boards that act as sound and heat insulators. Differ in the increased durability, reliability and resistance to mechanical damages. Can be used as a leveling layer under the floor covering;
• MAXFORTE is a sound-absorbing coating based on composite materials. Effectively reduces general level structural sounds transmitted through the air. The sound insulator is slightly combustible, resistant to the formation of fungi and mold, and environmentally friendly. Produced in the form of mats with a thickness of 12 millimeters;
• TEKSOUND is a soundproofing membrane made of aragonite, which has similar properties to rubber. Effectively reduces airborne noise by 25 dB. It is produced in rolls 5 m long, the membrane thickness does not exceed 3.7 mm.

Insulation and laying materials under the concrete screed

This method of floor insulation is the most rational solution if complex work is required - the arrangement of a sound-absorbing, heat-insulating and leveling layer.

The only disadvantages of this approach are the weight exerted on the floor slab and the time required for the concrete layer to dry.

Soundproofing the floor under the screed will consist of the following steps:

This technology can be used as floor insulation for tiles or laminate, and for the subsequent laying of linoleum or carpet. When working in damp rooms, after leveling the floor, it is recommended to waterproof it with coating or roll materials.

Carrying out work under a dry screed

Soundproofing the floor using the “dry screed” method, excludes the use of liquid solutions. General design the floor becomes noticeably lighter and can be used to insulate the floor of the upper floors of a private house or cottage.

As soundproofing materials, dry fine-grained mixtures are used - perlite sand, expanded clay, mixtures from manufacturers.

The use of fine-grained mixtures significantly speeds up the process of soundproofing work

Arrangement of sound insulation using the “dry screed” method will be carried out in several stages:

1. The concrete base is being prepared. Dismantling of the old flooring, cleaning, repair and leveling of the surface. To do this, use a cement-sand mortar and a self-leveling mixture /
2. Along the perimeter of the room, using a level, mark the height of the future filling and glue a sound-absorbing tape made of basalt or mineral wool /
3. A plastic film is spread on the surface of the slab with an overlap of 20-30 cm.
4. If necessary, extruded polystyrene foam is used for arranging thermal insulation. To provide a higher level of floor soundproofing, mineral wool or similar materials can be used/
5. Backfilling up to 5 cm thick is performed. The surface is leveled, after which a reinforcing mesh is laid and repeated backfilling is performed at 10-15 cm /
6. On a leveled surface, gypsum fiber boards or DSP are laid in two layers overlapping each other. That is, the joints between the plates of the lower layer are overlapped by the plate of the upper /
7. Soundproofing membranes or underlays are laid, flooring is laid, and skirting boards are installed.

Arrangement of a floating prefabricated floor

General layout of floating systems using soundproof materials

Floating precast floor technology is used to eliminate low levels of external sounds or as an additional solution, when arranging a concrete screed.

This method is most often used for soundproofing floors under laminate and linoleum - for this, polyethylene insulators with a closed cell structure are used, which are laid under the floor covering.

Polyethylene insulators are widely represented by the main manufacturers of soundproof materials - MAXFORTE, Comfort, TECHNONICOL, etc. The thickness of the soundproof layer is no more than 10 mm. Laying is carried out with a small temperature gap from the walls of 10-15 mm.

To provide best effect, a cork or polymer substrate, a sound-proof membrane are laid on the sound-absorbing coating, after which a leveling layer of DSP or plywood is laid.

At the final stage, the flooring of the finishing coating is performed - laminate, linoleum, carpet.

Noise reduction in a wooden house

The wooden floor, especially during daily use, begins to make unpleasant noises - creaking, crackling, rattle. This is due to the peculiarities of its design and device.

Reducing the penetration of extraneous sounds into wooden house carried out by means of eliminating friction between wooden structures, alignment of the main guides and lining of soundproof materials.

The general scheme of flooring in a wooden house along the logs and its sound insulation

To eliminate sounds from the wooden floor along the logs, the length of the log guides is reduced by 10-15 mm. In the voids between the guides, in the absence of any insulating material, extruded polystyrene foam or mineral wool is laid.

For a floor laid on beams, insulating pads are made of felt, polymer rubber, etc. The gasket must have antiseptic properties and not be subjected to rotting processes. On top of plank flooring, for all types of wooden floors, a prefabricated “floating floor” system is installed.

Estimated cost of insulation work

The total cost of soundproofing a floor in an apartment is made up of a number of factors.

The final cost is directly affected by the preparation of the rough surface and the base slab for further work, the availability of material, the complexity of the work and the deadlines.

On average, turnkey work using TermoZvukoIzol under a 50 mm screed will cost from 900 rubles / m2. When using a MaxForte insulator, 12 mm thick, under a 50 mm screed, the cost of work starts from 1400 rubles / m2.

The average cost of the materials specified in this article and used in soundproofing is presented in the table below.

The first, and one of the main tasks of soundproofing in an apartment is the installation of a soundproof floor in all rooms. This task is quite simple, and yet, requires high-quality performance. It is important to choose the right design and install it in accordance with the instructions.

Floating soundproof floor

In the vast majority of cases, the so-called "floating" floor system is used for floor soundproofing (Fig. 1), when a layer of leveling screed, which in a building without finishing, by any means, needs to be done, is laid on top of an elastic soundproofing material. What is especially important, this screed lies on the material under its own weight and is not rigidly connected to other building structures. To do this, this soundproofing material is used as a separating material on all ends of the screed. Depending on the thickness of the soundproofing material (from 4 to 20 mm), the sound insulation of the floor under the screed will show a different acoustic result in reducing the impact noise level - from 20 to 40 dB.

In the Acoustic Group line there are many materials intended for the construction of a soundproof floating floor. These are four types of Shumanet-100 roll materials, two types of Shumostop slabs, a Shumoplast coating for uneven bases and an Akuflex underlay for finishing floor coverings. Comparison of the soundproofing properties of these materials under a 60 mm thick screed with a surface density of 120 kg/m2 is shown in Table 1, indicating the specific application of each material. It is in view of the floating floor structure that the screed itself must be self-supporting and have a thickness of at least 60 mm. At the same time, it must be made of a high-quality mixture and be reinforced with metal structures (mesh) to give it increased mechanical strength.

Table 1 Comparison of floating floor soundproofing structures

Soundproof construction	Thickness	∆Lnw*	∆Rw**
Soundproof floor using Shumostop-S2, K2 (1 layer)	80 mm	39 dB	8-10 dB
Soundproof floor using Shumostop-S2, K2 (2 layers)	115 mm	43 dB	11-13 dB
Soundproof floor using Shumostop-K2 (1 layer)	80 mm	32 dB	8-10 dB
Soundproof floor with Shumostop-K2 (2 layers)	120 mm	34 dB	10-12 dB
Soundproofing uneven floors using Shumoplast	80 mm	28 dB	7-9 dB
Hydro-soundproof floor using Shumanet-100Hydro	65 mm	24 dB	-
Hydro-soundproof floor using Shumanet-100Combi	65 mm	25 dB	-
Construction of a soundproof floor using Akuflex under the screed	65 mm	26 dB	-

*ΔLnw - index of ADDITIONAL impact sound insulation provided by the structure
**ΔRw - index of ADDITIONAL sound insulation of airborne noise provided by the structure

Most soundproof floating floor materials require a relatively level base. Therefore, it is worth noting the material Shumoplast, which is designed for application to surfaces that have local irregularities (reinforcement, engineering communications, construction debris protruding to a height of up to 10 mm). You can learn more about the coating and its application from the video clip:

Quick-mount soundproofing floor ZIPS-POL

For cases when it is not possible to perform the classical construction of a "floating" floor using a cement-sand screed, the ZIPS-POL quick-assembly systems are used (Fig. 2), which allow the construction of a soundproof floor to be completed in one day, without the use of "wet" processes, with the possibility of using the premises 24 hours after completion of work. These systems consist of sandwich panels ZIPS-POL Vector or Module 45 or 75 mm thick, respectively, acoustic triplex Soundline-dB 17 mm and a compensating plywood layer 18 mm. Impact noise reduction index for ZIPS-POL systems is 32 - 38 dB with a total system thickness of 80 or 110 mm, excluding the thickness of the finish coating.

It should be noted that in order to increase airborne sound insulation using floating floor structures, it is necessary to use soundproofing materials with a thickness of 20 mm or more. It can be either Shumostop-S2 or K-2 slabs, or the Shumoplast leveling coating. Such floor sound insulation designs increase airborne sound insulation by 9-10 dB and are used in case of noisy neighbors from below or to protect them from noise in your room, such as from a home theater in the living room. The above-mentioned ZIPS-POL quick-assembly systems also increase the airborne noise insulation of the ceiling by 5 - 8 dB.

Soundproofing the floor on the logs

In some cases, for soundproofing floors, a system of floors on logs is used (Fig. 3). Such structures for correct device show high impact noise reduction values ​​(up to 30 dB), and also have a good indicator of additional airborne sound insulation (8-10 dB). Wooden joists are supported on the ceiling through tape or point elastic pads made of Sylomer elastomer, and the space between the joists is filled with sound-absorbing Shumanet-BM/SK or ECO boards. Two layers of plywood 18 mm thick each are laid on logs with overlapping joints.

I decided to devote this article to the soundproofing of the floor in the apartment: the choice of optimal solutions, materials, the method of their installation in accordance with specific conditions and material possibilities. Do not underestimate this stage of finishing, since the level of comfort for people in the premises will depend on the quality of sound insulation.

Sound insulation of floors and walls is needed mainly from inadequate neighbors. By doing it, you completely protect yourself from extraneous noise.

Think over the optimal solution at the design stage in order to clearly calculate the budget, otherwise you may encounter a delay in settling or be forced to save on other stages of finishing.

The choice of material for soundproofing the floor in the apartment according to performance characteristics and prices

The modern market of building and finishing materials literally explodes from the abundance various solutions so the choice is not always easy. I will briefly consider the most popular materials in terms of their cost, effectiveness, manufacturability, general pros and cons.

stone wool

This material has the following advantages:

• Ecological purity.
• High temperature resistance.
• Incombustibility (high level of fire safety), density.
• In addition to high soundproofing properties, it simultaneously features excellent thermal insulation performance, which allows solving two problems at once.

Of the minuses can be identified

• Hydrophobicity - contact of the material with moisture is unacceptable, therefore it is necessary to equip high-quality vapor barrier, waterproofing, cotton wool cannot be used in rooms with a high level of humidity: kitchens, bathrooms, saunas.

Price of stone wool 50 mm thick with sheet size 600 x1000 mm is 750 rubles per package or 312 rubles per 1 square meter . The cost of work - 100 rubles per 1 square meter in one layer and 150 rubles - in two layers .

Expanded clay

This soundproofing material has the following advantages:

• High level of fire safety.
• Ecological cleanliness - natural material.
• Resistant to moisture.
• Not afraid of mold, fungus, pests.
• Strong enough.

The best option for wet areas.

• The downside is a significant increase, an increase in the level of the floor, which is not always possible if the ceilings are already quite low.
• The installation process is quite labor intensive.

The price of expanded clay depends on the size of the fraction, but I am considering the most popular option for soundproofing - 10-20 mm. Its price is 1600 rubles per cubic meter or 160 rubles per square meter with a layer of 8-10 cm. The cost of work is 390 rubles (this includes pouring the screed) .

Cork soundproofing

This insulator has the following advantages:

• Ecological cleanliness - natural, natural material.
• The possibility of using a thin layer (0.5-3 cm), which avoids a significant increase in the level of the floor.
• Manufacturability - the material is easy to lay.

• Flammability.
• Vulnerability to pests.
• High price.

I consider it inappropriate to use this material as the main one due to its high cost.

The cost of technical cork soundproofing for the floor in an apartment is 650 rubles per 1 square meter with a sheet thickness of 10 mm. The laying price will be 100 rubles per square meter in one layer .

Shumoplast

A mixture of polymer granules designed for soundproofing concrete substrates. The basis of the material is expanded polystyrene, rubber, acrylic binders.

Important advice!

Modern soundproofing of an apartment is more expensive than outdated methods, but its effectiveness is sometimes many times higher.

Among the advantages can be identified:

• A thin layer of application - 2 cm.
• High efficiency.

And from the minuses:

• The complexity of the application and the need to wait 48 hours for complete polymerization.
• In addition, it is intended primarily for the arrangement of floors with a floating screed.

The cost of this material is 250 rubles per square meter with a layer of 2 cm, and the price of the service will be 650 rubles per meter. .

Soundproof

Insulation based on a two-layer bitumen-polymer material, supplied in rolls. It has the following advantages:

• Ease of installation and minimum layer thickness.
• Versatility - simultaneously performs soundproofing and waterproofing functions.
• Fits in any room and under almost any type of floor covering.

Of the minuses, one can single out the relatively high cost. The price of the material is 1,700 rubles per roll of material 2 mm thick or 570 rubles per square meter, the installation price of which will be 100 rubles .

If you carry out soundproofing in an apartment with your own hands, then be sure to follow the technology prescribed by the manufacturer in order to avoid reducing the effectiveness of the result.

Maxforte eco-panel

Mineral-filled cellulose frame, supplied in dense, heavy boards. Among the advantages can be identified:

• · Environmental cleanliness.
• Relative ease of installation.
• Sufficiently high strength.
• Suitable for all types of premises.

The main disadvantage of the material is its price, which is 720 rubles per square meter, plus the cost of laying - 200 rubles per square meter .

Shumanet

These are acoustic mineral slabs that have all the advantages of stone wool:

• Incombustibility.
• Thermal insulation properties.
• Density.
• This type of mats undergoes additional hydrophobic treatment, which allows it to be used even in wet areas.

As for the price, it will be 260 rubles per square meter, plus 100 rubles for laying .

I strongly advise you not to use any type of wool, even hydrophobic treated, in damp rooms, as this may result in additional costs or a complete loss of soundproofing effectiveness.

Isoplat

It is a wood fiber material supplied in dense boards. Mainly used for parquet and laminate. Additional pluses:

• Vapor permeability.
• · Refractory properties.
• · Ecological cleanliness.

But again, this material, despite the hydrophobic impregnation with paraffin, I would not recommend for wet rooms.

The cost of the plate will be 300 rubles per square meter, and another 100 rubles for laying the material .

Styrofoam

One of the most common types of sound insulation for the floor of apartments due to affordability and ease of installation. Predominantly high-density extruded polystyrene foam with a sheet thickness of 2-4 cm is used. Of the advantages:

• Cheapness.
• Light weight.
• · Resistant to moisture.

Of the minuses:

• Flammability.
• Fragility.

The prices for this type of material are as follows: one square meter of ordinary foam plastic 50 mm thick will cost 210 rubles, extruded polystyrene foam 50 mm thick - 260 rubles. For laying you will pay 100 rubles per meter .

Important advice ! I advise you to proceed from your own financial possibilities, but at the same time give preference to the safest and most durable solutions in order to avoid costly repairs in the foreseeable future.

Choice of sound insulation according to flooring material

Also, the choice of sound insulation depends on what type of flooring you choose. I will generally consider one or two of the most suitable options according to the type of finish.

Under the screed

Expanded clay or dense extruded foam will be the best solution for soundproofing under the screed. Firstly, these materials are quite durable, and most importantly, they are not afraid of moisture. The base is strong and able to withstand heavy loads. Such a disadvantage of polystyrene as combustibility is completely neutralized by a screed, on which almost any type of topcoat can already be laid on top.

Important!

In some cases, it is also possible to lay mineral wool under the screed, but at the same time it is necessary to ensure its complete waterproofing and vapor barrier, otherwise it will lose its operational properties by saturating it with water.

Under the laminate

The best solutions on the finished base for the laminate will be Isoplat plates or cork sheet insulator. They are characterized by a small thickness and sufficiently high strength, able to evenly distribute the load. Their installation is simple and efficient. I can also recommend rolled Zvukoizol for laminate, but it is more suitable for wet rooms.

Under linoleum

The above-mentioned Soundproofing based on a bitumen-polymer fabric is ideal for laying under linoleum. It is moisture resistant, with a minimum layer thickness provides high soundproofing protection. It can be used in wet areas, including kitchens, bathrooms. Linoleum lays down on it very well, holds firmly.

Under ceramic tiles

Wooden floor on joists

In this case, it is acceptable to use mineral (stone) wool, you can use Maxforte Eco-panel, which is environmentally friendly and highly durable. Stone wool is laid on a layer of vapor barrier, reliable waterproofing is necessarily arranged on top. And this method is very beneficial, since you also insulate your floors at the same time.

Important!

In new apartments, most often the floors are a concrete monolith or screed, and with wooden lags the case is more often to be had in private houses. For an apartment, the best solution would be to bring all the floors to the same level with a common screed, so start from those materials that are suitable for this finishing method.

Optimum sound insulation for different types of base

Another important criterion, which determines the type of insulation used - the type of foundation. I will briefly consider the features of the choice of material in accordance with the characteristics of different grounds.

Wooden logs

For apartments of new development, this is a rarity, since the floors are made of concrete floor slabs, but I consider this method to be considered mandatory. Between the lags, voids are formed that need to be filled. And it is optimal to use a relatively light, but at the same time effective material. I see two optimal solutions - expanded clay and stone wool. They allow you to collect desired thickness with minimal material costs, simultaneously perform the functions of sound insulation and thermal insulation. On top of the logs, a crate is stuffed from a board, which can be covered with plywood or, OSB boards through a thin layer.

Concrete wet or semi-dry screed

Under a wet or semi-dry screed, it is necessary to lay materials that are not afraid of moisture. This is expanded clay, expanded polystyrene or Zvukoizol. Expanded clay can be used when the thickness of the layer is not of fundamental importance. Polyfoam and Zvukoizol will help to avoid a large rise in the level of the floor.

Dry screed

Unlike wet and semi-dry screed, dry screed does not involve the use of water at all. But at the same time, it requires the arrangement of a solid foundation. Expanded clay in this case can be used, but more often rolled or sheet materials, as well as damping tapes around the perimeter of the room. A good option is Teksound - different high density with a small thickness.

Below I have compared various materials at prices and their main performance characteristics.

Type of sound insulation	Price for 1 square meter in rubles	Price for laying 1 square meter in rubles	The total cost of arranging soundproofing in rubles	Service life (number of years declared by the manufacturer)	Efficiency (by 10 point scale taking into account thermal insulation properties)
stone wool
Expanded clay		390 (with 3 cm tie)
Styrofoam
Shumoplast
Soundproof
Maxforte Eco-panel

Results

Summing up, I want to note that each soundproof material is good in its own way precisely in its operating conditions. When choosing a solution, take into account the factors that I described above: type of base, type of finish, allowable subfloor thickness, type of room (humidity level), expected loads, as well as the desired effect and performance.