What Can Cause Floating Floors to Make Noise?

Spacing

• One cause of the noise associated with floating floors stems from its detachment. Floating floors are cut to fit the existing room size, but a small gap is usually left so that the flooring material can expand and contract as necessary. This creates the potential for slight movement of the floor when it is stepped on, even if the movement is imperceptible. This contributes to the noise made by the floor also.

Underlayment

• The type of underlayment will also affect the sound of the floating floor. All laminate floors should have some type of material underneath to prevent moisture and dampen the sound. Some materials, however, are better than others in providing this sound barrier. For instance, many floating floors will have a basic foam underlayment, which only slightly dampens the sound. This is why many laminate floors make a hollow sound when you walk on them. To have a floor that makes less noise, you should use a cork underlayment or a higher-quality foam designed specifically to eliminate the noise.

Subfloor

• The type of subfloor on which the laminate floor sits will also contribute to or subtract from the noise made by the floating floor. Some materials are better sound barriers than others, and so the type of material will affect the sound of the floor that is installed. Subfloors made of concrete will make more noise than those that have some type of wood or other material. Concrete slabs will cause sound waves to bounce and echo, whereas wood will help the laminate and underlayment to absorb the sound.

Room

• The size, shape and acoustics of the room in which the floating floor is installed will also contribute to the sound made by the laminate floating floor. Larger rooms are more likely to echo loudly in comparison to smaller rooms, where the walls can absorb the sound. The type and the amount of furniture will also have an effect in this respect.