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How to Soundproof Vinyl Flooring

Lowe's Editorial Team

By Lowe's Editorial Team
Published October 28, 2024

Soundproofing your flooring helps to avoid the noise from below floors. It also helps you to maintain privacy. Vinyl floor soundproofing is a popular way to achieve these results. Let's understand how to soundproof vinyl flooring to minimize any noise.

Tools and Materials

Tools

Materials

Does Vinyl Flooring Absorb Sound

Vinyl flooring does not absorb sound by itself. Footsteps and subfloor noises can be easily heard on vinyl flooring.

How to Soundproof Vinyl Flooring

Though vinyl flooring alone cannot provide good soundproofing, there are several ways to soundproof the room. Follow these steps for vinyl flooring soundproofing:

Use Rugs and Carpet

Place heavy rugs and carpets on top of the vinyl. These will absorb most of the sound and reduce the noise. Thick rugs are one of the best options for absorbing surrounding noises and vibrations.

If you don’t want to cover the whole floor, consider adding stylish rugs and mats. They can provide a sound-dampening effect in the room. 

Tip

The bigger the carpet, the more it will absorb sound.

Add Underlayment

An underlayment is very helpful when trying to minimize room noise. It has cushioning that can compress and absorb sound. The underlayment can absorb noise so that it doesn’t go to the next room or the floor below.
Flooring underlayment can installed with both LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tiles) and LVP (Luxury Vinyl Planks). While LVT and LVP are not soundproof, an underlayment can help you dampen the noise. This also gives you the liberty to have the floor of your choice.

Consider Ceiling Treatment

Footstep sounds can get amplified through hard ceilings like vinyl. Acoustic panels or sound-absorbing materials can trap this echo. Use glue to fix these panels on the walls. Curtains also act as soft furnishing. This also helps eliminate echoes from the room.

Tip

Use thick acoustic panels or curtains for the best results.

Check the Subfloor

Some subfloors are made of wood or concrete. These can create a creaky noise when you walk on them. Make sure to correct these defects before installing the vinyl. If you have a concrete floor, use a patching compound to fill any cracks and gaps. If you have a wooden floor, use a hammer and nail down any loose sections squeaking.

Seal Perimeter Gaps

Perimeter gaps are another cause of noise from subfloors in the room. They also allow dirt and moisture to enter the subfloor, which can harm it. Use caulk from a caulk gun to seal these gaps. This will reduce much of the noise from escaping into the room through these crevices.

Add Mass-Loaded Vinyl

Metal particles are distributed within mass-loaded vinyl. These are very small and spread evenly through the material. These metal particles reduce noise by minimizing it to a large extent. When added to standard vinyl flooring, mass-loaded vinyl also increases the mass of the product, thereby leading to a peaceful room.

Inspect Regularly

Regularly look out for any damages to the subfloor, which can include cracks, missing tiles and dents. Fix these defects immediately to minimize noise. Also, remember to tighten any screw or nail that was loosened on the subfloor. Areas with more footfalls require more frequent inspections than others.

Is Vinyl Flooring Good for Soundproofing?

Vinyl flooring is generally poor at absorbing sound. It reflects most sound waves, making it less effective for soundproofing than materials designed for flooring. While thicker vinyl can slightly reduce sound transmission compared to thinner options, its primary function remains as a barrier and not an absorber.