What is the most cost effective way to sound dampen a solid 3/4 inch hardwood floor?

Question

There will be bedrooms below so I would like to keep the foot fall and general noise to a minimum.

Thanks!

I should add that this is for a new construction and I am in the planning stage.

Answer 1

throw rugs

Answer 2

Put tarpaper (yes, like they use on roofs) under your hardwood instead of the red rosin paper and put insulation between the ceiling joists in the lower level. On the ceiling downstairs use 5/8'' drywall instead of the standard 1/2'' or you can even double up the 1/2'' and make a full inch. Drywall is cheap. A 4x8 sheet only costs about $6 at home depot.

Answer 3

For a gap that small, you're probably better off just filling it, as long as it's shorter than a meter or so. Any longer than that, and it might be worth replacing the whole board, but that turns a twenty minute project into a day's work. If you have spare pieces of it, that makes it a lot easier for you. Just take one of the shorter ones in with you to the hardware store, so you can compare it to the samples of stain. Get a wood putty, carefully fill the crack and let it dry, clean it off and smooth it down, and apply the closest matching stain you can find with a small brush or Qtip. If it's a little darker than the board next to it, that's okay, it'll look like a knot in the wood or a dark spot in the grain.

Answer 4

No offense; but carpet and padding.

If this wasn't part of the pre-install notion/process; you do have a challenge.

I'll assume; though I can't know; that the rafters/floor/ceiling joists below that second level floor may not have been "Insulated" with any material? In any case; remediation would be damaging; time consuming; ineffective cost wise; messy; and might not secure your satisfaction in the end result?

Steven Wolf

Answer 5

Put down area rugs with thick padding. That would be the cheapest solution, unless you want to pull up the flooring and add a layer of insulation.

Also, do not wear shoes in the house. They are noisy.

Answer 6

for squeaks,have someone walk on the floor while your downstairs under it and shim between the plywood and floor joist where necessary.after that just try insulating it.