Acoustic Underlay Choices – Which Is the Best?
We live in such a noisy world presently that quiet and peace is difficult to come by. The sheer luxury of coming into a soundproof room once we close the door of our home behind us, or even a quiet or hushed environment is something that very few people get to experience. The perfect way of silencing your home is installing acoustic underlay.
Why is Acoustic Underlay Needed?
In the present times, everyday sounds like television and people moving about the home can transmit via the walls to neighboring properties. So what to do to get a life in which we can sleep throughout nights? For soundproofing the rooms install an acoustic underlay. Acoustic underlay below your carpet makes a highly visible difference to noise levels. Usually a thin layer of cushioning that takes pressure from your flooring and carpet, underlay (also called as underlayment in remaining portions of the world) is made from foam, felt, crumb rubber, or sponge rubber.
Having said that, to be exact, anything placed between a floor and a rug or carpet is an underlay, but unless it is particularly engineered it will not be effective. Genuine underlay reduces carpet wear, gives comfort benefits, and insulates against moisture, sound, and heat. Even though many people spend a lot of money and time selecting a new carpet, very few spend the equal amount of time on their underlay. In reality it is equally important as your carpet if not more than it considering comfort. But it would be a mistake in thinking that the thickest one is the best acoustic underlay. A little homework on acoustic qualities of individual underlay will make sure that you get value for money.
For instance, areas of heavy traffic need a tougher, thinner underlay than the remaining, like the hallways or the stairs in your home.
Something you must keep in mind is that in terms of acoustic qualities, the measurements for laminate underlay and for carpet underlay is different. Wood-floor underlay and laminate underlay is measured in terms of its ability to lessen impact sounds. Carpet underlay although is a measure of sound absorption and how well it can lessen airborne noises.
Conclusion
If these are done successfully by your underlay, then there is nothing but peaceful and quiet times ahead. Most carpet underlays have a thickness between 6 mm and 10 mm so it will provide great underfoot feel, and hence the best comfort. The best location for this kind of underlay is rooms which you want to relax in. Just lay it down and then let the magic of the softer acoustic underlay work. You can notice the difference almost instantly.