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Narangba Timbers Owner Says, “Be Neighbour Friendly and Soundproof Your Floor.”

Announcement posted by Narangba Timbers 19 Nov 2014

Hardwood flooring supplier in Brisbane reveals the most efficient ways to soundproof a hardwood floor.
Brisbane, QLD, 19 November 2014 - Hardwood flooring is an old favourite of many Brisbane area residents. For many, there is nothing that matches the aesthetic of a timber floor in their home. However, having a hardwood floor can have its drawbacks. One of the biggest drawbacks is that timber is very efficient at conducting some sound frequencies while reflecting others.

The result is that a hardwood floor that doesn’t have sufficient protection built in can often cause a noise problem with neighbours or within a home.

Jack Kyle, owner of Narangba Timbers, a timber supplier in Brisbane, suggests two solutions to those whose hardwood floors are transferring excess noise: “If you need to decrease the sound coming from your hardwood floor, you can either put a carpet and a pad over it or put a resilient underlayment and damping compound underneath your flooring.”

Carpet and Pad

A carpet and pad are often sufficient to dampen sound and fix the problem, but it isn’t much of a solution for those who are in love with the aesthetic of a hardwood floor. For many, covering up a beautiful hardwood floor is not a viable option.

For those who don’t mind covering up their floor, a pad made of cork underneath a thick carpet is usually enough to solve most noise problems. The carpet and the cork dissipate the sound before the waves can be transferred to the hardwood. This also prevents the waves from being transferred to the walls via the hardwood.

Resilient Underlayment and Damping Compound

This approach involves using five layers to ensure that as little sound as possible is transferred to the room below or to the walls. The base layer consists of oriented strand board, known as OSB. OSB is an effective damper of sound. The next layer should be a damping compound. Mr Kyle recommends Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound. Green Glue has to be applied between two layers of rigid material to work correctly, which leads to the next layer.

Next, for the third layer, Mr Kyle recommends cement board. The fourth layer should be an underlayment such as a shredded rubber mat. Cork works well, too, as do foam and fibre.

The top layer will be the floor, but Mr Kyle recommends “floating” the floor instead of attaching it to the underlayment.

According to Mr Kyle, “The floor should float on top of the other layers. This saves you having to use nails or glue while keeping your options open if you aren’t satisfied with your results. You also need to make sure the sides are not flushed against the walls. Instead, you should leave a little bit of room and fill it with an acoustic sealant that will block sound from being conducted into the walls. This is the best way to soundproof a floor.”

Narangba Timbers has been providing hardwood flooring, timber fencing, timber decking and other timber materials to the Brisbane area since 1979. Their attentive customer service staff is always willing to address any questions or concerns you may have. To learn more or to place an order, call 1300 795 675 or visit their website: http://www.narangbatimbers.com.au/.