Do you want to discover which is the best natural sound insulation to get rid of the sounds that pass through your floor?
It’s important to know that each insulation has its strengths and weaknesses. While some are more effective for impact noises, others almost perfectly neutralize airborne sounds like music, television, and voices. If you want to soundproof your floor
, you’ll first need to know what type of acoustic insulation you’re looking for. This is the first question to ask yourself to determine the best natural sound insulation for you. You should also consider that to install soundproofing, you will need to insert it between the floor joists. To help you answer this question, our experts in hardwood flooring installation
have put together this top 5 of the best natural sound insulation materials. Discover all the advantages of these materials to make a more informed decision.
1. Cork as a natural sound insulation
Cork is one of the best solutions for soundproofing your floor because this material will never rot. Regardless of the temperature or humidity in your room, cork is a good option. It is also known for its ability to regulate humidity.
Moreover, it is easy to install and can be installed in walls, ceilings, or floors. The disadvantage of cork lies in its rigidity. It is therefore of utmost importance that your floor is level for its installation.
Cork is known to be very effective in reducing airborne sounds. High-pitched sounds, with a 10 mm sheet, are reduced by 82% in intensity. At 40 mm, we’re talking about nearly 100% efficiency.
Its resistance to impact sounds is nevertheless average. For a 10 mm cork sheet, a sound reduction of about 20 decibels on impacts is estimated. At 40 mm, the reduction goes up to 34 decibels.
2. Cellulose insulation
Cellulose insulation is a good second choice for floor soundproofing. It is known to be effective against impact noises, but its effectiveness varies for airborne sounds.
Cellulose insulation is also inexpensive and is a good thermal insulator as well. Its flexibility makes installation quite simple. However, cellulose is sensitive to moisture and is flammable. La présence de sels de bore est également un problème.
Its presence does not necessarily represent a danger. Medical studies have long proven that this chemical product has no negative effect on health. However, it can be dangerous if absorbed in large quantities.
3. Cotton
Acoustic insulation with cotton is quite effective for airborne sounds. At a thickness of 50 mm, we’re talking about a sound reduction of up to 95% of airborne noises. Malheureusement, ce matériau n’est pas aussi efficace pour insonoriser les sons d’impacts.
Like cellulose, this product is very flexible and easy to install. One of the advantages that cotton has over cellulose is that it is non-flammable. However, it is just as sensitive to moisture.
4. Hemp
New to the market, hemp shows a good ability to weaken airborne sounds. However, on its own, it is rather ineffective. So we’re talking about coupled insulation here; you’ll need to use hemp and another product for insulation.
Generally, hemp is coupled with recycled paper fiber insulation or gypsum. This creates a spring effect (hemp) and mass effect (gypsum or fiber insulation) that allows sound absorption.
5. Wood fiber
Wood fiber is a 100% natural product and provides decent sound and thermal insulation. It is also non-flammable, but like cork, it is rigid. It is also sensitive to humid environments. Wood fiber therefore cannot be installed in rooms where the humidity level is high.
Need help determining which sound insulation to choose? Contact us. Our wood flooring experts will be happy to assist you.
