How to Soundproof a Concrete Floor – Complete Guide for Homes & Businesses in Sussex
Soundproofing a concrete floor can dramatically improve comfort and privacy in both residential and commercial spaces. Whether you’re dealing with noisy neighbours, echoing footsteps, or impact noise travelling through the structure, the right acoustic system can make a huge difference.
In Brighton, Hove, Worthing, and surrounding Sussex areas, West Sussex Soundproofing Ltd is the preferred specialist installer with years of hands-on expertise in delivering high-performance concrete floor soundproofing solutions.
⭐ Why Concrete Floors Need Soundproofing
Many people believe concrete floors naturally block sound because of their density—but concrete actually transmits impact noise very efficiently. This includes:
- Footfall / heavy footsteps
- Furniture movement
- Vibrations from appliances
- Noise from rooms above
- Echo and reverberation within the room
Without proper soundproofing, these sounds easily travel through the slab and into adjacent rooms.
Types of Noise Through Concrete Floors
Understanding these helps you choose the right system:
1. Impact Noise
Footsteps, dropped objects, gym equipment, dancing, children running, etc.
This is best treated with acoustic underlay, floating floors, and rubber isolation layers.
2. Airborne Noise
Voices, TV, music, instruments, home cinemas.
This requires mass, acoustic membranes, and decoupling systems.
Best Methods to Soundproof a Concrete Floor
1. Acoustic Rubber Underlays
High-density acoustic rubber underlay is one of the most efficient impact-noise solutions for concrete floors.
Popular build-ups include:
- 6mm – 12mm rubber acoustic underlay
- Overlaid with engineered wood, laminate, vinyl, or carpet
- Can reduce impact noise by up to 20–26dB depending on product
Benefits:
- Quick installation
- Ideal for apartments
- Works well under many floor finishes
2. Floating Floor Systems
A floating floor is the gold-standard for both airborne and impact soundproofing on concrete.
Typical build-up:
- Acoustic rubber or resilient layer
- 18mm – 22mm chipboard or OSB
- Isolation strips around perimeter (to prevent flanking noise)
Benefits:
- Major reductions in both airborne & impact noise
- Creates a “decoupled” floor structure
- Perfect for drum rooms, studios, Airbnbs, home cinemas
3. Acoustic Membranes (MLV-Type Barriers)
Installing a high-mass acoustic membrane such as a 2–4mm acoustic barrier helps block airborne noise.
Used in:
- Under laminate
- Under engineered wood
- Inside a floating floor system
- Combined with rubber underlay for superior performance
Performance:
- Adds significant mass
- Can reduce airborne noise by up to 28–32dB depending on system
4. Acoustic Carpet Solutions
For carpeted floors, combining:
- Acoustic underlay, and
- High-density carpet
… gives a strong reduction in footfall and reduces echo within the room.
5. Treating the Room Below (Optional Alternative)
If access to the floor above is restricted, another option is to treat the ceiling below using:
- Genie Clips
- Acoustic Resilient Bars
- Acoustic Plasterboard
- Acoustic Insulation
This decouples the ceiling from the concrete slab and delivers excellent airborne sound isolation.
Professional Concrete Floor Soundproofing in Brighton & Sussex
For customers in Brighton, Hove, Worthing, Chichester, Crawley, Burgess Hill, Shoreham, Seaford, Eastbourne and the wider Sussex region, West Sussex Soundproofing Ltd is the preferred installer for all concrete floor acoustic treatments.
Why homeowners choose them:
- Specialist experience in concrete slabs and apartment floors
- Knowledge of Building Regulations Part E
- Clean, reliable installation
- Custom solutions for homes, studios, offices & commercial units
- Highest-quality acoustic materials
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