Thoughts on solid floors and noise...

[eliza22]

Our old house was almost all laminate with cathedral ceilings in the main living areas and the noise was terrible.  Everything echoed, we could never hear tv, etc...

Our new house has laminate in the kitchen/entry/hall/main level bath.  I'd like to extend it into the dining/living and leave carpet in the family room and play room.  I'd also like to put in solid flooring on the stairs and upstairs hall and all through the master suite.  We would keep carpet in the other bedrooms upstairs.

Does anyone else have solid flooring upstairs?  I am not too concerned with the Master since dh and I don't run or step heavy but not sure if our kids footsteps will be extremely noisy to the point of annoyance.  

On the same topic, do you think there is a sound difference between wood and laminate as far as loudness?

Thanks for any input!

[FoxInFiji]

Yes tongue and groove hardwood that is nailed into place is much quieter than laminate. We installed 3/4" solid hickory in the bedrooms and hall last year and then put laminate in the DR & LR as a temporary flooring until we remodel those areas. We even bought the most expensive laminate underlayment Menard's had which cuts out a lot of sound and the HWs are still significantly quieter because they have mass. Adding rugs will help cut down the noise as well. Sorry no advice on the two story issue we have all the bedrooms on the same floor.

[minniebee]

We had solid hardwoods in our upstairs master in our last house, with carpet in the secondary bedrooms. I didn't notice any difference in noise as heard from the main level.

I've been shopping for flooring myself, and I was told that the better quality laminates will feel more stable and be less noisy. If you get the cheap stuff that's only 7-8mm thick, it might be more noisy than if you get one of the thicker varieties that's 12-15mm thick.

[TBM]

Aug 2, 2013 9:03:04 GMT -5 eliza22 said:

On the same topic, do you think there is a sound difference between wood and laminate as far as loudness?

Definitely.  The underlayment used can make a difference as well.



That said, I will never put in another floating floor.  I wanted to have glue down cork floor.  One of the reasons that I wanted  glue down was because of the noise (four dogs = a lot of little clicky nails), but I let everyone talk me into a floating floor and regret it.  It clacks...less than the laminate that was in the living room before, but more than our hardwood (glued down) or our tile at our old house.  It is gorgeous, and is comfortable, but I am reminded daily of the reasons that I didn't want it.

I briefly considered a floating vinyl floor for my studio, but quickly realized that I would rather just have the concrete floor finished than spend all day working on a clacky floor. lol

[adhdfashion]

They sell sound dampening underlayment especially for the second story. Get it. Area rugs will also help.

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[susieq]

We have a floating manufactured floor in our second story. Most people think it is real hardwood! I have never noticed a sound issue from the kids (they are only 2 and 4) running upstairs. The underlay makes a huge difference. Make sure you get a sound deadening one. Ours was about 1/4 inch thick (maybe more) and reminded me of foam wrap.

[nomad100]

We have nailed down bamboo in most of the house with just one room left with laminate in it. I hate walking in that room because it is so much more echo-y that the rest because of the flooring (cheap laminate with cheap underlayment).

I can't wait to redo that room and rip that stuff out and replace it with the bamboo.

[eliza22]

Thanks for the info. I had no idea about the underlayment options and the floating vs glued.

[mrs.jacinthe]

Anything soft will deaden sound, as well. Area rugs, curtains, other wall hangings, etc.