How to Muffle Noise Between Floors

If you live in a multistory building, you probably know what it is like to hear noises coming from above or below you. Living with the sound of a blaring stereo, barking dog or heavy footsteps from another floor can make you wish you lived somewhere more remote and isolated. Alternatively, you may be concerned that you may be annoying others with sounds coming from your living space. Regardless of your budget, there are several ways to muffle sounds so they do not travel through thin floors.

Thick carpet or rug
Mass-loaded vinyl
Fiberglass baffles
White noise machine

Instructions

- 1
  Install a thick carpet and pad on the floors of your home. Sound travels more freely through floors that are not carpeted. If you don't want to install a new carpet, a thick area rug can help too.
- 2
  Put down a layer of mass-loaded vinyl on your floor. This thick, sound-absorbing material comes in rolls or sheets and greatly reduces sound transmission between floors. The vinyl works best when installed on top of open-cell polyurethane foam.
- 3
  Secure any large objects, like speakers or your television, that vibrate or shake. Vibrating objects transmit sound into the room below.
- 4
  Absorb some sound by placing fiberglass baffles on the walls or ceiling of the room. Baffles not only absorb sound, but are also a quick way to improve poor acoustics.
- 5
  Place a white noise machine in your home. A white noise machine emits a non-specific sounds that cancels out other noise in the room.

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