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Impact noise - like footsteps on the hard-surface floor above you - is one of the most common, and most challenging forms of noise to deal with. The best product for handling impact noise is carpet and a thick pad underlayment. For a big upgrade use our premium soundproof carpet underlayment which utilizes sound barrier bonded to a closed cell foam. Not only will this dramatically reduce footstep noise, it will also block airborne sounds between floors. That combination outperforms all other possibilities.
For situations where carpet isn't an option, the information on this page should get you started.
Impact noise should be dealt with at its source.
Perhaps the most important thing that you should know about dealing with impact noise is that it is best to treat it at its source - the floor. Take a look at the two pictures below - one showing a situation using Green Glue in just the ceiling, and one showing a situation where Green Glue is also utilized in the floor.
 Just treating the ceiling below can have a huge impact on path 1, and help with path 2, but does nothing for paths 3, 4, or 5. You see, once noise is in a structure, the low damping of common building materials allows it to move wherever it wishes, and sound moving around through a structure has a tendency to find its way to where you don't want it to be. Also, it doesn't reduce the amount of noise that is generated from the impact at all, as the floor has not been improved. The same basic principle applies to any sound proofing product applied only to a ceiling - it is not nearly as effective as treating the noise at its source. |
 Treating the floor with, in this case, Green Glue, on the other hand, as a vastly larger effect. Every path - 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, is mitigated. The damping action of Green Glue dissipates the vibration quickly as it tries to move along these paths, and the potential for problems is greatly reduced. Additionally, the damping action of Green Glue will reduce the amount of noise that is actually generated by the impact. This not only reduces noise in the room below, but also in the room above, giving your home a more luxurious feel. Whether Green Glue, carpet, an underlayment, or a combination of those, the best solutions for impact noise deal with the problem at its source. Check out our other Sound Control Articles. |
While adding a damping compound between 2 layers is a great start you will still need additional measures to quiet impact and footstep noise. A rubber floor underlayment is a great material to apply onto the subfloor before applying your final flooring. When applying a mud job with tile you will have to settle for the thinnest rubber underlayment at 2 mm thick to prevent future sghifting of the tiles.
Next you need to decouple your ceiling below from the floor above. This can be accomplished by removing youe existing ceiling (this is a great time to ensure that the ceiling is properly insulated in all areas to absorb sound. We recommend standard fiberglass or mineral woll insulation) Install Soundproofing Clips and Hat channel followed by your new drywall ceiling.
For even better results, consider one or both of the following
1) Install a 2nd layer of drywall onto the first with the Green Glue Damping Compound in between
2) Install a layer of 1 pound Mass Loaded Vinyl onto the ceiling studs before installing the soundproofing clips. (when doing this use a mass loaded vinyl adheisive on to hold the MLV to the ceiling studs so that it will not become loose over time).
