We at present have just varnished red deal floorboards on joists on our bedroom floor (not a concrete floor). We would like to keep it as a wooden floor if possible but when in the living room the noise transmitted from above and vice versa is pretty load (esp. when her indoors is going round in heels ).
What sort of cost would be involved in taking up the floorboards putting insulation inbetween the joists and putting either an acoustic rubber down or a rubber strip on the joists followed by relaying the floorboards? Has anyone done something similar and can they suggest any products they have used?
Also if the insulation is packed right up to the party wall between us and our neighbours will this help sound transmitted between houses? they are not noisy at all, just occasional TV/music sounds coming through from their living room when our house is very quiet.
What part of the country are you ? You may need to do more than just placing insulation between joists. the noise may be transmitted through both the timber floor and the joists
I did it because I had awful creaking under my carpets.(in all rooms). I took up the carpets and the OSB. Put in rockwool between the joists. Added more bridgers as the joists were still creaking. Put down sheeps wool strips on top of the joists and screwed down the OSB to the follow. Put in a layer of Cork soundproofing underlay and put down a 22mm wide engineered board. Romm is pretty good but one can still hear someone walking above. (it is muffled) I was a bit disappointed with the result. Its good but I though it would be better for the effort!
What part of the country are you ? You may need to do more than just placing insulation between joists. the noise may be transmitted through both the timber floor and the joists
Am in Galway. Agree about the insulation bit, the rockwool would just hopefully just reduce some of the transmitted noise from downstairs and I would need something to reduce impact noise such as an acoustic rubber underlay between the joist and floorboards.
Just wondered if anyone had suggestions apart from going down the carpet with thick underlay route
You need a compartment floor.
OSB on top of plasterboard, laid on acoustic battens. The battens have a layer of felt on them. You don't use nails as this will transmit sound. You also need to isolate the floor from the walls with strips of foam designed for this purpose.
Only just got round to reading your reply and thanks for the information.
What you (Bluebell) suggested sounds like a major undertaking and had hoped that there was a more DIY/easier option as I can put up with some noise coming through, I just wanted to reduce it somewhat.