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How to Soundproof an Attic Floor
Author: Eric Zuck
Last Updated: February 9, 2024
Read Time: 4 Minutes
Author:
Eric Zuck
Last Updated:
February 9, 2024
Read Time:
4 Minutes
Author: Eric Zuck
Updated: Feb. 9, 2024
Read Time: 4 Minutes
Attics are one of the most versatile parts of any house. They can be an MVP for storage or maybe a “cool” hangout spot for your teenage son and his friends. Some homeowners even choose to deck out their attics to turn them into “man caves” or another living space in the house!
Attics are not generally built with soundproofing in mind, so if you plan to have people hanging out in the space, you’re going to want to consider soundproofing the attic to prevent noise from traveling to the rooms below it. This article will dive into what type of noise is coming from your attic and cover our top tips on soundproofing an attic floor.
Types of Noise in an attic
There are two types of noise you will be dealing with for most soundproofing applications. It is important to distinguish what kind of sound is coming from your attic before you start on the project because the type of noise will determine what materials to use.
Impact Noise
The main type of noise you will be working with when it comes to your attic is impact noise. Impact noise is made when two objects collide with each other, creating vibrational energy that is heard as sound. Examples of impact noise in your attic are footsteps, furniture being moved around, or something being dropped on the floor.
Since attics are usually directly above other rooms in a house, any impact on the floor of the attic will travel through the ceiling to the room underneath the attic.
Airborne Noise
Airborne noise is not commonly heard coming from an attic, but it is still a possibility. Airborne noise is any sound that travels through the air. This type of sound moves like water, seeking any gaps in a barrier to travel through. If the floors in your attic are thin or if the ceiling is not sealed correctly, you may hear airborne noise such as music being played, people talking, and sounds coming from a TV.
How to Soundproof an Attic Floor
Since an attic sits directly above the rest of your house, the sound will travel through the floor ceiling assembly. The best soundproofing material for damping the impact noise coming from your attic is to install a floor underlayment to decouple the finished floor from the house’s structure.
UnderBlock Rubber Floor Underlayment
For soundproofing an attic floor, we use Underblock Rubber Floor Underlayment. This product is great for stopping impact noise because it isolates the flooring from the ceiling below, preventing impact noise from traveling through it. For soundproofing a wooden floor, and most other floor constructions, this is the best product! Simply roll out the underlayment and most floors (tile, carpet, hardwood) can be placed right over it. If you have questions about your specific floor, feel free to reach out to us!
UnderBlock also adds density to the floor-ceiling assembly, which helps block any airborne noise from the attic coming through the floor. We recommend sealing around the edges of Underblock with acoustical sealant to prevent noise from flanking around the edges of the material. And if airborne noise is coming out through the door, there are a variety of ways to increase the amount of sound blocked by the door. If you have a solid core door, the best and easiest way is to install a soundproof door seal. Although maybe you don’t want it to be too quiet up there!
Now that you've got a quiet attic
With Underblock installed and a more soundproof floor in your attic, you can enjoy the extra space in your attic without driving everyone else in the house insane. Your kids can spend some energy in their new playroom, and you can enjoy some alone time in peace! If that is not enough soundproofing, you may want to consider ceiling soundproofing treatments as well!
Feel free to reach out to one of the soundproofing experts at Second Skin if you have any more questions!