When it comes to choosing new types of flooring, soundproofing is often not the first thing that comes to mind. However, when selecting a base layer for soundproofing, it is important to consider the type of floor with which you are going to use it. Thicker lower layers will provide better soundproofing than thinner ones, but they can also be more expensive and difficult to install. The bottom layer will reduce airborne noise, but it won't stop it.
To completely stop a noise in the air, you need a solid material. When advertising a base for carpets, major retailers usually offer a range of products based largely on different levels of comfort. Sound insulation is often mentioned with the most premium carpet base types, but it's not usually the key factor. In the case of floor coverings such as laminate or artificial wood, soundproofing is likely to be a more important factor when choosing the base due to the possibility of transmission of impact sound, such as that of steps on hard floors. The impact sound often occurs when someone walks on the floor surface, especially hard surfaces such as tile, laminate and wood, but it is also due to moving furniture or falling or throwing objects on the floor. The best performing base for vinyl floors is an acoustic felt, such as the one purposefully designed by our product team.
This type of material is perfect for vinyl, as it is thinner and less dense, so it revives much of the “rebound” you would experience with other materials when using vinyl. Luxury vinyl tiles require a thin base layer due to the nature of the way the tiles are connected and the material from which they are made. Problems can occur when the soil being worked on is not properly prepared and even the use of a thick base layer can be a problem due to the expansion and contraction of the LVT. If the surface you're installing on is level and prepared correctly, you can consider a thin acoustic felt base to facilitate sound transmission. Most manufacturers of acoustic products design complete soundproofing solutions called systems. These are specific materials that, when combined, can provide a better result with test data to demonstrate that they meet building regulations. The Ball & Young base layer is placed directly under the floor and provides a layer of support and protection that extends the feeling of having a new floor and extends its useful life.
A Ball & Young base coat improves the feel of the floor when stepping and provides numerous additional benefits to your floor's performance. The premium Ball & Young base provides a thick, fluffy but dense layer of additional cushioning underfoot. Our luxury ranges add an unmistakable layer of cushion and springs, which absorbs impact when walking and provides the luxurious feel of a premium floor throughout the room. Adding a Ball & Young underlayer to the floor can reduce noise inside the room by up to 30%, and the extra benefit is transferred to any lower room. Sound insulation is highly desired in homes where noise reduction is required, such as apartments, allowing you to continue with everyday life without the worry of disturbing people below. A high-impact ball-shaped underlayer (26% Young) will add additional protection to the floor in areas with the highest influx of people in the house, such as stairs and hallways. By acting as a shock-absorbing layer, it helps retain the elasticity of the carpet, meaning you get the feeling of rebound for longer.
A Ball & Young base coat will help preserve the look of your carpet for longer. The main differences between underlying layers are quality, thickness and density. ThicknessBall & Young supplies a base layer from 3 mm to 11 mm; the thicker the product, the longer the compression path, making it feel more comfortable and providing better thermal insulation. The base acts as a cushion between carpet and subfloor; it's important to choose right base layer for correct installation. Using a base coat has many advantages. Underfloor heating: it's still measured in “Tog”, but this time we don't want to insulate floor; we want allow warm air pass through lower layer so lower Tog rating better.
Ball & Young does not recommend using base coat with resistance index greater than 1.5 Tog on underfloor heating systems. Sound insulation: all lower layers will reduce noise from foot traffic; noise will be reduced within room and between rooms. Impact sound insulation measured in decibels; good base can provide high level sound insulation.
