What Flooring Is More Sound Deadening Than Carpet?

Acoustic Measurements

• You don't have to guess which flooring materials will do the best job of deadening unwelcome sounds. Three primary measurements of a flooring material's acoustic properties are used. A Noise Reduction Coeffiecient (NRC) rating measures the sound absorption of a material. The Sound Transmission Class (STC) rates how effectively the material performs as an acoustic barrier. The Impact Insulation Class (IIC) rating defines how well a flooring material blocks impact sounds from the level below.

Cork Flooring

• Cork has long been recognized for its sound-deadening qualities. It has been widely used on the walls and ceilings of recording studios and musical rehearsal rooms for decades. Cork flooring not only absorbs sound to keep it from echoing back into a room, but it also reduces sound transmission to the room below. While cork flooring is ideal for any room in a home, in recent years it has been especially favored for use in kitchens, bathrooms, and hallway areas.

Rubber Flooring

• Click-together rubber floor tiles have become a staple in weight rooms and office workout rooms because they absorb the thumps of dropped dumbbells, aerobic dancers, and other unwelcome noises. Those same rubber tiles are ideal for home workout spaces as well, but they are also a good choice for children's play areas because they tamp down the noise levels while providing a soft surface that absorbs trips and falls. In the home-based office, rubber floor tiles are quite effective at blocking out noisy household distractions.

Commercial Vinyl Flooring

• Ordinary vinyl flooring can't compete with a thick, heavy carpet for sound-deadening performance, but there are commercial vinyl floor materials specifically engineered for schools and hospitals that will absorb noise much better than many of the thinner carpets used in hallways and entry areas. These acoustic vinyls are somewhat thicker and spongier than traditional floor tiles, and they are available through commercial flooring suppliers.

Sisal Rugs

• You can improve the acoustics in any room rather economically by using sound-deadening rugs over your existing hardwood or linoleum floors. Sisal rugs, jute rugs and woven bamboo rugs contain millions of tiny air pockets that trap sounds from bouncing back into the room, and they also help block sounds from moving between levels. You can also enhance the rug's acoustic qualities by placing a sound-deadening underlayment underneath, like a carpet pad.