Laminate flooring approach (insulation job)

builder007

Hi Everyone,

Do you have any thought on the following approach....

Downstairs (damp + termal insulation objective)
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1. Polythene Damp Proof Membrane - 1000 gauge
2. 6mm Natural Eco Friendly Cork Underlay
3. Super Gold - 5mm Wood Flooring Underlay
4. Laminate Flooring


Upstairs (soundproofing objective)
****************************
1. 6mm Natural Eco Friendly Cork Underlay (first layer)
2. 6mm Natural Eco Friendly Cork Underlay (second layer)
3. TimberTech2 Acoustic Plus - Ultra Heavy Duty Underlay
4. Laminate Flooring

Question 1: Do you think sound performance would significantly be reduced if I go with only 6mm of cork instead 12mm.

Question 2:Would you consider sandwiching rubber underlay between two layers of cork? In that case you would lay laminate directly on top cork layer.

Regards,
Bulder007

builder007

Question 3: Do you think putting rockwool in floor cavities would make a big difference?

Markcheese

Putting acoustic rock wool in between cavities will reduce sound (voices, music ect) transmission through the floors, but will do very little to reduce footsteps and vibrations..
And a lot of the voices will be heard through doorways and down the stairs...

builder007

thanks for your response. do you think the following product:

TimberTech2 Acoustic Plus - Ultra Heavy Duty Underlay

Will compensate at least some of it?

I'm trying not to remove existing floor boards just to stuff the wool in.

builder007

also... do you think my proposed system (see above) is any good?

builder007

Just had a phone call with someone who offed to do this jo for me. He said that the proposed system for upstairs is extremely good and when I'm downstairs I won't hear a thing from upstairs. Two layers of cork (he said) are priceless.


the trouble is that all I have so far is one man's word

I'm desperate for second opinion... as you can probably tell from this post.


I think I'm going to go with it but again if you of you have a view on this (in the next couple of days) please let me know if I'm going in the wrong direction.

it will cost a lot of money and I'd like to avoid wasting it at all possible

BryanF

builder007 wrote: »

the trouble is that all I have so far is one man's word

I'm desperate for second opinion... as you can probably tell from this post.

Get 2 more quotes ?

builder007

Yeah... But they always suggest removing existing floor boards and stuffing rockwool in. I'm not convinced that it will make a big difference. Just like Markcheese said above.

Markcheese

How big a deal is removing the floor boards?
Your spending a good bit on laying expensive product on top of what are probably easy to remove floorboards. Acoustic rock wool isn't particularly dear...
But 1 have zero expierience of anything but a bit of acoustic rock wool (in my own house)
Have you worked out where most noise is coming from? and is it footfall and vibration or voices (or both)

builder007

Friends friend had a really bad experience. When removed it is very difficult to put back. It's solid pine not ply.