Main sound insulation materials and solutions for ceilings and floors

In modern cities built of reinforced concrete, are you often annoyed by the footsteps and chairs dragging from upstairs? Or are you disturbed by the TVs, stereos, and children running and jumping downstairs? Today, we will provide a comprehensive analysis from material selection and scheme design to key construction points, guiding you to master the core technologies of indoor sound insulation and vibration reduction, and building a "silent shield" for your home environment.

Common sound insulation materials

Damping sound insulation felt

Features: Damping sound insulation felt is very thin, only 1-5 mm thick, but weighs 2.4-6 kg per square meter. It is very flexible, easy to cut, and convenient to install. It can both insulate sound and reduce vibration, and is effective against both low-frequency and high-frequency noise. A single layer can reduce sound by 24-31 decibels. It is also environmentally friendly, flame-retardant, waterproof, moisture-proof, and pollution-free.
Specifications: Available in rolls of 1.2 mm, 2.0 mm, and 3.0 mm thickness, 1 meter wide, and 5-10 meters long per roll.
Price: 15-40 yuan per square meter, with thicker rolls being more expensive.
Applications: It can be used in conjunction with gypsum board for wall or ceiling sound insulation, and can also be used to wrap pipes and as a sound insulation mat for floors. It is suitable for use in homes, bedrooms, KTVs, computer rooms, and other similar locations.

Ceiling shock absorbers

Features: Vibration dampers can cut off "sound bridges," suppressing the transmission of low-frequency vibrations such as footsteps and subwoofer sounds. They are a composite structure of springs and rubber, reducing resonance amplitude and achieving a vibration isolation efficiency of over 70%.
Specifications: Dimensions 110×50×50mm, compatible with light steel keel, 2-3 units per square meter.
Price: 5-15 RMB each, calculated based on the amount used in the project.
Applications: Ceiling sound insulation systems for home theaters, music rooms, etc.; high-vibration areas such as KTVs and bars; and pipe hangers in equipment rooms.

Sound insulation cotton (polyester fiber cotton)

Features: Polyester fiber sound insulation cotton is environmentally friendly and non-toxic, with a sound absorption coefficient of 0.75-0.90 (at a thickness of 50 mm). It is also mildew-proof and moisture-proof. It is lightweight and easy to cut and install.
Specifications: Common size 1200×600 mm, thickness 25-50 mm.
Price: 17-50 yuan per square meter.
Applications: Wall or ceiling framing filling in residences, conference rooms, etc. Rock wool and glass wool are not as environmentally friendly as polyester cotton and may cause skin irritation during installation, but they have good fire resistance (Class A).

Damping sound insulation board

Features: High sound insulation (30-50 decibels), three-layer composite structure with a durable surface layer and a closed-cell waterproof middle layer. Fire rating: Class A. High compressive strength, good weather resistance, usable in environments from -40℃ to 90℃.
Specifications: Board size: 2440×1220×14-18mm; thicker boards provide better sound insulation.
Price: 100-130 RMB per sheet, approximately 33-53 RMB per square meter. Applications:
Suitable for walls or ceilings in KTVs, bars, and other spaces requiring high sound insulation; works even better when combined with a joist and sound-absorbing cotton.

Polymer shock-absorbing pads

Features: Made of butyl rubber or polyurethane, the high density design improves shock absorption efficiency, and it is heat-resistant and anti-aging. It absorbs impact energy through elastic deformation, blocking solid-borne sound such as footsteps and equipment vibrations.
Price: Each rubber pad costs between 10 and 100 yuan, depending on size and load.
Applications: Building floor slabs, used for isolating impact noise in floating structures such as residences and gyms.

Ground shock absorbers

Features: It features a spring and damping structure, with the steel spring bearing the main load and the rubber damping block absorbing high-frequency vibrations. The two materials achieve wide-frequency vibration reduction. It also has an adjustable design to adapt to uneven surfaces.
Specifications: Unit size 120×120×83mm (common speaker enclosure vibration damper), each with a load capacity of 100-500 kg.
Price: 20-100 RMB each (as with speaker enclosure vibration dampers).
Applications: Recording studios, theaters, and other places with high acoustic requirements; laboratories, medical imaging rooms, and other precision locations requiring protection against micro-vibrations.

Three common ceiling soundproofing solutions

Economical solution

Suitable for: Apartments, villas, bedrooms, and other spaces.
Sound insulation: 30-35 decibels; children's running and jumping sounds are almost inaudible.
Finished thickness: Approximately 12-15 centimeters.

Advanced solutions

Suitable for: professional recording studios, private cinemas, etc.
Sound insulation effect: 40-45 decibels, effectively blocking low-frequency noise from upstairs.
Finished thickness: approximately 18-20 centimeters.

Enhanced Solution (Special Requirements)

Suitable for: Professional recording studios, KTVs, and other special settings.
Sound insulation effect: 45-51 decibels, effectively blocking low-frequency noise from upstairs.
Finished thickness: Approximately 25-30 centimeters.

On-site demonstration and construction steps

1. Full-coverage sound insulation felt: Choose environmentally friendly butyl rubber sound insulation felt with a thickness of 2 mm or more, with an overlap width of more than 5 cm. It is best to choose one with adhesive backing. Fix it with wooden strips and rust-proof self-tapping screws, with a spacing of no more than 15 cm. Apply sound insulation sealant to the seams.
2. Install shock absorbers: Install spring shock absorbers at 60×60 cm intervals and fix them to the floor slab with expansion bolts. This can cut off sound bridges and reduce low-frequency noise.
3. Erecting the light steel keel: The main keel is snapped into the shock absorber clip, and the secondary keels are spaced 40 cm apart, forming a 600×400 mm grid.
4. Sound insulation filling: Select high-density glass wool of 48 kg/m³, cut the size 2 cm larger than the grid and stuff it tightly, and the gap between the cotton layer and the floor slab should be more than 2 cm.
5. Soundproofing panels: 12 mm cement fiberboard or composite damping soundproofing panels are preferred. They should be spliced ​​with staggered joints and fixed to the keel with self-tapping screws at intervals of no more than 20 cm. The screw heads should be recessed 1 mm into the panel surface. The joints should be sealed with soundproofing sealant.

6. Cover with gypsum board: Cover with 9.5 mm gypsum board on the outer layer, stagger the joint with the bottom sound insulation board by more than 30 cm, apply anti-crack tape at the joint, and apply joint filler plaster.

Three common ground sound insulation solutions

Economical solution

Suitable for: Residential spaces, apartment buildings, etc.
Sound insulation effect: 20-30 decibels; the sound of an object falling becomes a slight muffled thud.
Finished thickness: Approximately 8-10 centimeters.

Advanced solutions

Suitable for: High-end apartments, villas, etc.
Sound insulation effect: 30-38 decibels; significantly reduces the sound of objects falling.
Finished thickness: Approximately 10-12 centimeters.

Enhanced solution (for scenarios requiring ultimate quietness)

Suitable for: professional recording studios, cinemas, etc.
Sound insulation effect: 40-57 decibels.
Finished thickness: approximately 12-15 centimeters.

The above is an introduction to the main soundproofing materials and solutions for ceilings and floors. We hope that after reading this article, you will have a clearer understanding of soundproofing and avoid being misled when doing so. If you have any questions about soundproofing, please feel free to contact us. We will do our best to answer them and help you avoid detours on your soundproofing journey.