Nothing is more annoying to new homeowners than to find out that the multi-family home (apartment, condo or townhouse) that they just bought has loud neighbors below or neighbors upstairs them who criticize about the amount of noise coming from above. The main compliant in these conditions is impact noise, for example footfall noise. Nothing is worse than trying to go to sleep or relax and hearing kids or adults running around above you. With the tendency of installing more engineered hardwood, laminate and ceramic tile floors as a substitute of carpeting on the rise, this noise trouble is becoming even more ordinary.

Floor underlayment is a new line of products that provide floor sound isolation solutions for every condition in multi-family residential design. To meet the specific requirement for impact insulations, different systems are necessary for various types of flooring systems. There is a wide variety of underlay available in the market. They are presented at different prices. Basically, those cheap ones do not provide waterproof or moisture barrier. If you are setting the underlay in the bathroom or kitchen, you are reminded to find water proof underlay with sound proof. If you have such condition, please find out the underlay with such special feature.

Do your research before you begin to shopping for laminate and underlay. Having information earlier will allow you to ask the right questions when you are chatting to the flooring dealer and installer. Be sure to ask your dealer or, even better, check the conditions yourself to confirm that the underlay will meet your requirements.