Step sound mat to dampen footfall noise from young children to the neighbor below
Hi,
I live in a multi-family house built in 1950, and the neighbor below me is complaining about footstep noise from my two-year-old son running around early in the morning.
I removed the click parquet floor and installed a 5 mm Timbertech step sound mat, then replaced the floor. Under the click parquet was an old parquet floor, probably original, which I didn't touch, so it's still there under the step sound mat. Unfortunately, the neighbor didn't notice any difference after I installed the step sound mat.
I tried to create a floating floor with the step sound mat, but the result was not as desired.
The floor looks like this (probably), from top to bottom:
- Click parquet
- Step sound mat 5 mm
- Original parquet
(- Possibly some layer between parquet and joist floor)
- Concrete joist floor
Do I need to place the step sound mat directly on the concrete joist floor? Or is there something else wrong? In general, the step sound insulation is poor in all apartments.
Do you have any tips on how I might resolve this and make my neighbor happier?
Regards,
Daniel
I live in a multi-family house built in 1950, and the neighbor below me is complaining about footstep noise from my two-year-old son running around early in the morning.
I removed the click parquet floor and installed a 5 mm Timbertech step sound mat, then replaced the floor. Under the click parquet was an old parquet floor, probably original, which I didn't touch, so it's still there under the step sound mat. Unfortunately, the neighbor didn't notice any difference after I installed the step sound mat.
I tried to create a floating floor with the step sound mat, but the result was not as desired.
The floor looks like this (probably), from top to bottom:
- Click parquet
- Step sound mat 5 mm
- Original parquet
(- Possibly some layer between parquet and joist floor)
- Concrete joist floor
Do I need to place the step sound mat directly on the concrete joist floor? Or is there something else wrong? In general, the step sound insulation is poor in all apartments.
Do you have any tips on how I might resolve this and make my neighbor happier?
Regards,
Daniel
"Playing children are rarely considered a disturbance in legal terms. It is seen as something to be expected when living in an apartment building. The exception can be if it involves more extreme disturbances, everyone should of course show consideration for their neighbors. A tip is to talk to the children's parents and agree on which times apply, says P-G Nyström, Chief Legal Officer at Hyresgästföreningen."
If it is the original parquet floor from 1950, it should be on a layer of fine sand. It is by far the best sound-dampening for footsteps that exists!
There are two problems! People don't know the function and remove the sand during renovation. The other problem is that over the years, the sand can migrate towards the edges, and the parquet floor makes direct contact with the concrete; then all noise can be heard by the neighbors below.
If the latter is the case, you have a visible dip where you walk for a number of mm.
There are two problems! People don't know the function and remove the sand during renovation. The other problem is that over the years, the sand can migrate towards the edges, and the parquet floor makes direct contact with the concrete; then all noise can be heard by the neighbors below.
If the latter is the case, you have a visible dip where you walk for a number of mm.
Tough situation there, I have a 2-year-old myself who likes to run around at home but we live in a fairly noisy house.
I did the following: Bought a pair of leather slippers from Docksta that the 2-year-old wears indoors, and a thick play mat in their room. I try to minimize running during certain hours when people are expected to be asleep, play calmer games, etc.
The fact that you've removed click flooring and tried to soundproof is far more than one can expect, and if the neighbor doesn't experience any improvement despite this, there's probably not much more you can do.
Show the neighbor the work you've done and hope they appreciate the effort. Kids living in apartment buildings will always "make noise" because most houses aren't built with them in mind.
I did the following: Bought a pair of leather slippers from Docksta that the 2-year-old wears indoors, and a thick play mat in their room. I try to minimize running during certain hours when people are expected to be asleep, play calmer games, etc.
The fact that you've removed click flooring and tried to soundproof is far more than one can expect, and if the neighbor doesn't experience any improvement despite this, there's probably not much more you can do.
Show the neighbor the work you've done and hope they appreciate the effort. Kids living in apartment buildings will always "make noise" because most houses aren't built with them in mind.