Inspired Acoustic Vinyl Flooring (10 step guide)
Acoustic vinyl flooring can be created with; LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile) and LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank) plus a layer of acoustical underlay. LVT and LVP are quickly becoming the most popular choice of floor covering for both domestic and commercial settings where an acoustical flooring system is being installed.
Layering acoustic underlay with LVT, creates a soundproofing barrier over your floor that both reduces impact sound and increases sound absorption. This creates an attractive finish thanks to the vinyl and a room-changing reduction in sound from the acoustical underlay.
What is Acoustic Vinyl Flooring?
Vinyl used in acoustic system is made of a thin layer of photographic laminate over a base and topped with a clear seal to protect it. LVT and LVP rely upon quality digital pictures of actual samples, to create a mock wood or stone vinyl soundproof floor. You can then get the precise look you’re after, regardless of the availability of the specific stone or species of wood and at a fraction of the cost.
Acoustic vinyl flooring relies on a specialist underlay to create acoustic vinyl flooring. Acoustic underlay for LVT can come in a few different forms, but the most important feature is high mass. High mass materials allow for greater soundproofing qualities and will give you the best acoustical flooring.
Why Choose Acoustic Vinyl Flooring?
LVT and LVP, (luxury vinyl flooring), with acoustic underlay is a fantastic option for a soundproof floor. It not only performs well for your home, but also has several practical features that make it an easy solution to noise.
Acoustical Vinyl Flooring Top Benefits
- Water-resistant
- Low maintenance
- Cost-effective
- Durable design
- Multiple finish options
- Slim-line soundproofing
- Easy to install
As far as acoustic flooring solutions go, the acoustic LVT solution is easy to install and very versatile. There are a range of soundproof underlay thicknesses to choose from, meaning you can create a slim-line system, if required. You are also able to easily customise the final look by sourcing your luxury vinyl tiles or panels from wherever you like!
Does Acoustic Vinyl Flooring Work?
Yes, in a word! It all comes down to the quality of the soundproofing underlay for the LVT that you decide to install. Here at iKoustic, we are specialists in soundproofing and only offer the highest quality products. They all have product data sheets to show how well the material performs, too.
LVT and LVP by themselves do not work as soundproofing materials, because they do not have a high enough mass. This is why it is layered into an acoustic flooring system, with the underlay. Happily, this means you can source LVT or luxury vinyl panels from wherever you like and simply install a high quality soundproofing underlay beneath them.
Can You Use any Underlay with Vinyl Flooring?
Not for acoustic flooring, no. To create acoustic vinyl flooring, you must use a soundproof underlay, such as the MuteMat 2, beneath the LVP or LVT. This is to increase mass, which is key to good soundproofing. Always be sure to source soundproofing underlays which have a product data sheet, to prove they have been tested by acoustic technicians.
How much does acoustic vinyl flooring cost in 2023?
As far as acoustic flooring goes, the LVT/LVP solution is quite flexible on budget. You are able to source the top layer from wherever you like, which could allow you to invest more in the all-important soundproofing underlay.
Here at iKoustic, we have a range of soundproof underlays to choose from, with prices starting at £11.95 per m2. When it comes to soundproofing, you don’t want to skimp on the materials, or the performance of your new acoustic flooring will suffer.
In terms of LVT, at the time of writing in 2023, there are beautiful options available from £18 per m2. So, even if you are on a tight budget and want to keep costs low, you could install a new acoustic vinyl floor for around £30 per m2.
How to Choose the Right Noise Reduction Flooring
When it comes to choosing the right materials for your noise reducing flooring, you must consider a few factors. Firstly, for soundproofing to be truly effective, we need combat two types of sound; impact and airborne.
As you may have guess, for an acoustic floor, impact noise is very important to reduce as we stamp around on it like elephants for the neighbours to enjoy below. We can reduce impact sound in a few ways, one way is by decoupling the floor, (this is creating a ‘floating floor’ so that fewer sound vibrations can pass through). We do this with our MuteCradle technology, see below.
We can also use materials of high mass, which take the sound energy and turn it into other forms of energy, like heat. This is reducing the amount of sound that is able to travel from one space to the next.
Lastly, we can also increase the absorption of the materials used. For some flooring, as you will see below, this is not always possible. By using mineral wool in an acoustic flooring system, less sound will be bounced back into the room.
This all means that for your acoustic vinyl flooring to work, we need a very good soundproofing underlay to add that crucial mass and make the space much quieter. However, the fun doesn’t stop here, we also need to consider the subfloor this underlay is going over to make sure your acoustic flooring performs at its best!
Acoustic Vinyl Flooring for Concrete
Let’s take a look at installing this system on a concrete floor first. If we are going to get the best soundproofing results, we need to consider the soundproofing qualities of the existing materials.
Concrete subfloors need a resilient material under the LVT/LVP. A concrete subfloor is too thin to spread any impact energy effectively and so passes the vibration straight through. Depending on your budget and space requirements, you could look to install a floating floor to decouple the vibrations. This would be done with our MuteCradle system.
After creating a floating floor, you would then have space to add acoustic mineral wool insulation between the joists. This will absorb sound from the space and, thereby, make the room which an acoustic floor is installed in, quieter.
Lastly, for a soundproof floor over concrete, we need to install a good quality soundproofing underlay. Acoustic underlays can vary from 1mm up to 20mm. The right thickness will depend on the level of impact noise reduction required, how dense the material is and how thick / stiff the LVT is. It is best to use a specialist company, such as iKoustic when buying soundproofing underlay for LVT, as we can provide tailored advice on projects to ensure you get the correct thickness.
Acoustic Vinyl Flooring for Wooden Subfloors
Likewise, creating acoustic vinyl flooring over a wooden subfloor, means we need to consider how to reduce the passage of sound. Happily, wooden floors already have joists installed and we can add acoustic mineral wool into the gaps for sound absorption.
But how do we decouple without the MuteCradle? Firstly, we add in high mass vinyl isolation strips over the joists to provide an elastic barrier and absorb sound energy. Over this, a iKoustic recommend a specialist double density load bearing chipboard that will create your floor surface. However, if you are looking to reduce costs, you could reinstall your previous floor panels.
We can then add even more mass to this system, thereby , making it more effective, with a high density acoustic matting underlay or visco elastic membranes, or even both! We are then ready to install the LVT and complete your new, quiet and calming space.
Who Can Install Acoustic LVT Flooring?
Acoustic flooring isn’t that hard to install and competent DIYer’s will be up to the task! However, if you prefer a professional to take this off your hands, then you could have a soundproofing installer complete the job for you, or, use a contractor.
In general, contractors are going to be cheaper and their skills will be up to the task. We also supply detailed installation guides with all of our products and systems to make life easier. The benefit of a soundproof installer, is that they are much more aware of the nuisances of soundproofing and potential issues that could arise.
How to Install Acoustic Flooring
Firstly, download our installation guides to get familiar with each product. Ensure that the surface you are installing on is flat and level, (if you are using the MuteCradle system, you are able to adjust the floor height). Use isolation strips around the edge of the floor to decouple the flooring away from the wall and prevent noise traveling through it.
Soundproofing underlays like MuteMat, can be cut to size on site and fitted using acoustic adhesives. Do be aware that our soundproofing products are heavy (this is essential for good soundproofing!), and this may not be a one man job for DIYer’s.
Installing the luxury vinyl panels or tiles over the top will vary depending upon your supplier. Some specialist tools may be required for this task. For more detail, see the video below on how to install LVP.
Layering acoustic underlay with LVT, creates a soundproofing barrier over your floor that both reduces impact sound and increases sound absorption. This creates an attractive finish thanks to the vinyl and a room-changing reduction in sound from the acoustical underlay.
What is Acoustic Vinyl Flooring?
Vinyl used in acoustic system is made of a thin layer of photographic laminate over a base and topped with a clear seal to protect it. LVT and LVP rely upon quality digital pictures of actual samples, to create a mock wood or stone vinyl soundproof floor. You can then get the precise look you’re after, regardless of the availability of the specific stone or species of wood and at a fraction of the cost.
Acoustic vinyl flooring relies on a specialist underlay to create acoustic vinyl flooring. Acoustic underlay for LVT can come in a few different forms, but the most important feature is high mass. High mass materials allow for greater soundproofing qualities and will give you the best acoustical flooring.
Why Choose Acoustic Vinyl Flooring?
LVT and LVP, (luxury vinyl flooring), with acoustic underlay is a fantastic option for a soundproof floor. It not only performs well for your home, but also has several practical features that make it an easy solution to noise.
Acoustical Vinyl Flooring Top Benefits
- Water-resistant
- Low maintenance
- Cost-effective
- Durable design
- Multiple finish options
- Slim-line soundproofing
- Easy to install
As far as acoustic flooring solutions go, the acoustic LVT solution is easy to install and very versatile. There are a range of soundproof underlay thicknesses to choose from, meaning you can create a slim-line system, if required. You are also able to easily customise the final look by sourcing your luxury vinyl tiles or panels from wherever you like!
Does Acoustic Vinyl Flooring Work?
Yes, in a word! It all comes down to the quality of the soundproofing underlay for the LVT that you decide to install. Here at iKoustic, we are specialists in soundproofing and only offer the highest quality products. They all have product data sheets to show how well the material performs, too.
LVT and LVP by themselves do not work as soundproofing materials, because they do not have a high enough mass. This is why it is layered into an acoustic flooring system, with the underlay. Happily, this means you can source LVT or luxury vinyl panels from wherever you like and simply install a high quality soundproofing underlay beneath them.
Can You Use any Underlay with Vinyl Flooring?
Not for acoustic flooring, no. To create acoustic vinyl flooring, you must use a soundproof underlay, such as the MuteMat 2, beneath the LVP or LVT. This is to increase mass, which is key to good soundproofing. Always be sure to source soundproofing underlays which have a product data sheet, to prove they have been tested by acoustic technicians.
How much does acoustic vinyl flooring cost in 2023?
As far as acoustic flooring goes, the LVT/LVP solution is quite flexible on budget. You are able to source the top layer from wherever you like, which could allow you to invest more in the all-important soundproofing underlay.
Here at iKoustic, we have a range of soundproof underlays to choose from, with prices starting at £11.95 per m2. When it comes to soundproofing, you don’t want to skimp on the materials, or the performance of your new acoustic flooring will suffer.
In terms of LVT, at the time of writing in 2023, there are beautiful options available from £18 per m2. So, even if you are on a tight budget and want to keep costs low, you could install a new acoustic vinyl floor for around £30 per m2.
How to Choose the Right Noise Reduction Flooring
When it comes to choosing the right materials for your noise reducing flooring, you must consider a few factors. Firstly, for soundproofing to be truly effective, we need combat two types of sound; impact and airborne.
As you may have guess, for an acoustic floor, impact noise is very important to reduce as we stamp around on it like elephants for the neighbours to enjoy below. We can reduce impact sound in a few ways, one way is by decoupling the floor, (this is creating a ‘floating floor’ so that fewer sound vibrations can pass through). We do this with our MuteCradle technology, see below.
We can also use materials of high mass, which take the sound energy and turn it into other forms of energy, like heat. This is reducing the amount of sound that is able to travel from one space to the next.
Lastly, we can also increase the absorption of the materials used. For some flooring, as you will see below, this is not always possible. By using mineral wool in an acoustic flooring system, less sound will be bounced back into the room.
This all means that for your acoustic vinyl flooring to work, we need a very good soundproofing underlay to add that crucial mass and make the space much quieter. However, the fun doesn’t stop here, we also need to consider the subfloor this underlay is going over to make sure your acoustic flooring performs at its best!
Acoustic Vinyl Flooring for Concrete
Let’s take a look at installing this system on a concrete floor first. If we are going to get the best soundproofing results, we need to consider the soundproofing qualities of the existing materials.
Concrete subfloors need a resilient material under the LVT/LVP. A concrete subfloor is too thin to spread any impact energy effectively and so passes the vibration straight through. Depending on your budget and space requirements, you could look to install a floating floor to decouple the vibrations. This would be done with our MuteCradle system.
After creating a floating floor, you would then have space to add acoustic mineral wool insulation between the joists. This will absorb sound from the space and, thereby, make the room which an acoustic floor is installed in, quieter.
Lastly, for a soundproof floor over concrete, we need to install a good quality soundproofing underlay. Acoustic underlays can vary from 1mm up to 20mm. The right thickness will depend on the level of impact noise reduction required, how dense the material is and how thick / stiff the LVT is. It is best to use a specialist company, such as iKoustic when buying soundproofing underlay for LVT, as we can provide tailored advice on projects to ensure you get the correct thickness.
Acoustic Vinyl Flooring for Wooden Subfloors
Likewise, creating acoustic vinyl flooring over a wooden subfloor, means we need to consider how to reduce the passage of sound. Happily, wooden floors already have joists installed and we can add acoustic mineral wool into the gaps for sound absorption.
But how do we decouple without the MuteCradle? Firstly, we add in high mass vinyl isolation strips over the joists to provide an elastic barrier and absorb sound energy. Over this, a iKoustic recommend a specialist double density load bearing chipboard that will create your floor surface. However, if you are looking to reduce costs, you could reinstall your previous floor panels.
We can then add even more mass to this system, thereby , making it more effective, with a high density acoustic matting underlay or visco elastic membranes, or even both! We are then ready to install the LVT and complete your new, quiet and calming space.
Who Can Install Acoustic LVT Flooring?
Acoustic flooring isn’t that hard to install and competent DIYer’s will be up to the task! However, if you prefer a professional to take this off your hands, then you could have a soundproofing installer complete the job for you, or, use a contractor.
In general, contractors are going to be cheaper and their skills will be up to the task. We also supply detailed installation guides with all of our products and systems to make life easier. The benefit of a soundproof installer, is that they are much more aware of the nuisances of soundproofing and potential issues that could arise.
How to Install Acoustic Flooring
Firstly, download our installation guides to get familiar with each product. Ensure that the surface you are installing on is flat and level, (if you are using the MuteCradle system, you are able to adjust the floor height). Use isolation strips around the edge of the floor to decouple the flooring away from the wall and prevent noise traveling through it.
Soundproofing underlays like MuteMat, can be cut to size on site and fitted using acoustic adhesives. Do be aware that our soundproofing products are heavy (this is essential for good soundproofing!), and this may not be a one man job for DIYer’s.
Installing the luxury vinyl panels or tiles over the top will vary depending upon your supplier. Some specialist tools may be required for this task. For more detail, see the video below on how to install LVP.
Create an Acoustic Vinyl Floor that Works
Talk to iKoustic® for the very best advice, as early in the planning process as possible. Indeed, it may well be that we can save you investing in material that is not needed to achieve the level of sound insulation or reduction. It’s a totally free conversation to understand your specific goals and then to offer sound insulation material advice and guidance based on many years of experience.
