But solid hardwood does have its downsides. One notable drawback is that it transmits sound vibration. Hardwood is dense but often it is not quite dense enough to absorb all of the vibration found in a typical home. In a multi-story house, it is common to hear the footfall of people walking overhead on hardwood floors, especially when those people are wearing heels. (Softwoods may be better choices for upstairs levels of homes.) It may be possible to add soft, thick padding or another type of intervening layer under a hardwood floor to mitigate sound transmission and improve overall performance.
Padding and Layers Under Hardwood Flooring
Soft, padded foam of the type that is regularly installed under laminate flooring is one layer installed between the subflooring and solid hardwood flooring. Engineered wood flooring, however, offers far more options for the addition of the padding-style underlayment. If sound mitigation is a concern and you are still in the process of shopping for flooring, engineered wood flooring might be a better choice. But there are several intermediate layers that are sometimes directly installed between subflooring and solid hardwood flooring include:
Red Rosin Paper or Builder’s Felt
Paper or felt are two materials that are traditionally installed between hardwood flooring and the subfloor. These materials help minimize squeaking that may occur between the bottom of the floorboards and the top of the subfloor. However, paper and felt do not absorb sound in any meaningful way, nor do they make the surface any softer to walk on.
Solid Underlayment
Instead of soft underlayment, it is possible to lay down a solid underlayment that is specially designed for absorbing sound. Soundeater, made by Impacta, is one type of solid underlayment that can be installed under solid hardwood flooring. Soundeater is described by the manufacturer as a “free-floating underlayment designed for nail-down hardwood flooring.” In this case, the underlayment does not need to be nailed to the subfloor, but the hardwood planks will be nailed down to the underlayment.
Rubberized Membrane
Rubberized membrane is a thin (90 mil) laminated product that is so all-purpose that it can be installed under floor coverings ranging from solid hardwood to thinset-based ceramic and porcelain tile flooring systems. An example is Proflex90, a peel-and-stick rubberized fabric sheet product that can be used under finished hardwood floors. This membrane is waterproof and it offers a limited degree of sound control when used with hardwood floors. It is installed over the plywood underlayment just before the hardwood flooring is laid.
Thick Underlayment With Intervening Plywood
While soft, thick underlayment should not be installed directly under solid hardwood flooring, it is possible to do this when there is an intervening layer of plywood. With this type of application, a dimpled underlayment such as DMX 1-Step is laid on top of the subfloor. Directly above is a sheet of 5/8-inch plywood or OSB, then the solid hardwood flooring.
How to Reduce Sound in Hardwood Floors
Depending on whether you’re replacing floors or trying to find a solution for existing floors, there are other options. Consider these sound control alternatives to installing padding under hardwood flooring.
Choose Denser Hardwoods
Some woods can do a remarkably good job of absorbing sound. Quieter wood floors, which are often referred to as hardwoods are really softwoods, such as pine, spruce, cedar, and fir. For a quieter hardwood, choose oak or walnut, and for even better sound absorption, look toward denser hardwoods like mahogany or Brazilian cherry.
Use Area Rugs and Runners
Adding fabric rugs and runners will go a long way toward eliminating the sounds of footsteps on hardwood floors overhead. They have the added benefit of protecting hardwood surfaces against wear and tear.
Encourage Shoe Storage at the Door
Many homeowners have a shoe-free policy. Removing outdoor footwear at the front door keeps homes cleaner, reducing the frequency of sweeping and mopping. But it also makes for a quieter home, reducing the sound within and between rooms. Building or buying an attractive shoe storage unit and providing slippers are two ways to encourage guests and residents alike to drop their shoes at the door.
