Wooden Floor Restoration Co.
since 1999

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Wood floors and commercial soundproofing

If you are engaged in a new build project or contemplating refurbishment of rental properties, residential complexes, shops or any other commercial building, sound planning has to be included. Noise proofing is particularly important in communal areas of residential and office buildings.

These days, contractors must take sound pollution seriously – making sure that they have done all they can to reduce the potential for airborne noise and impact sounds. No matter how gorgeous a foyer looks in a residential building project, echoing footsteps or people constantly dropping keys or other items on tiled floors can be a huge source of irritation.

One of the most traditional solutions is to use carpet in communal areas to deaden the sounds. Many buildings have been leased out with clauses prohibiting the use of anything but carpet in apartments and offices – particularly older properties. However, in areas of high footfall, the cost and hassle of cleaning and constantly replacing carpet is prohibitive. Not least as stains of unknown origin can be hugely off-putting for residents and visitors alike.

Some contractors have dismissed hardwood floors as being too noisy, without realising how many options there are these days. A great deal of research has gone into ways to create a “cushion” effect by engineering this resilient material to absorb impact noises. Using the right materials and finishes, it is perfectly possible to create a hardwood floor that deadens impact sound to around 42 decibels. This is well below the level specified in building regulations.

Exposing and sanding floorboards in your renovation project may be a bit trickier to sound proof but can be done with expert help. Having hardwood floors fitted instead of carpets can mean long-term savings on maintenance. They will also get a positive reaction due to their appearance (not necessarily a negative one for any sound issues).

Best of all, sanding and polishing wood floors can be done as many times as you like, without affecting the integrity of the materials. The same can’t be said for many other floor coverings in commercial premises and apartment buildings, which suffer wear and tear from cleaning as well as footfall.

So if you like the sound of all that, give us a call to talk about your building or renovation project. Floor sanding contracts are our speciality and we are loud and proud on the topic.