How to Soundproof a Concrete Floor: UK Guide to Impact & Airborne Noise (2025)

Written by our acoustic insulation specialist — 15+ years experience supplying soundproofing to UK homeowners, developers and contractors. About our experts.

Concrete floors are common in modern flats, basement conversions and ground-floor extensions. While they provide a naturally denser base than timber joists, they still transmit significant levels of both airborne sound (voices, TV, music) and impact noise (footsteps, dropped objects). This guide explains exactly how to address both.

Why Concrete Floors Still Transmit Noise

Many homeowners assume that concrete floors are inherently soundproof. They are not. Concrete transmits noise in two ways:

• Airborne sound travels through the air and causes the concrete slab to vibrate. A thick concrete slab has reasonable airborne sound resistance (typically 45–55 dB) but often falls short of Part E requirements.
• Impact sound is caused by direct physical contact — footsteps, chair scraping, items falling. Concrete is a poor impact sound insulator because vibration travels efficiently through the rigid material.

Three Methods to Soundproof a Concrete Floor

Method 1: Acoustic Underlay (Light Treatment)

The quickest option. An acoustic underlay is laid over the existing concrete slab before carpet, laminate or engineered wood flooring.

• Best for: Reducing light footstep noise, carpeted floors, minimal floor height change
• Products: SilentCloud 3mm Recycled Rubber Underlay, SilentMat cork-rubber composite
• Performance: 15–22 dB impact noise reduction, 5–10 dB airborne improvement
• Floor height increase: 3–10mm
• Cost (20m²): £80–£300

Method 2: Floating Floor System (High Performance)

A floating floor decouples the new walking surface from the concrete slab. The SilentMat 15mm acoustic floor mat sits directly on the concrete, with high-density SBx boards or engineered wood on top. Impact vibrations cannot travel through the decoupled surface.

• Best for: Flat-to-flat separation, hard floor finishes, Part E compliance
• Products: SilentMat 15mm + SBx acoustic boards
• Performance: 30–40 dB impact reduction, 20–30 dB airborne improvement
• Floor height increase: 20–40mm
• Cost (20m²): £400–£900

Method 3: Acoustic Quilt + Floating Screed (Maximum Performance)

The highest-performing system. An acoustic mineral wool quilt is laid on the concrete slab before a floating screed is poured. This is the Robust Details approach for new residential developments.

• Best for: New builds, major renovations, Robust Detail specification
• Performance: 40–55 dB impact reduction, 40+ dB airborne
• Floor height increase: 75–100mm
• Cost (20m²): £600–£1,500 (excluding screed labour)

Soundproofing Concrete Floors for Part E Compliance

Under Building Regulations Part E, separating floors must achieve:

• Minimum 43 dB DnT,w airborne sound insulation
• Maximum 64 dB L'nT,w impact sound level

A standard 150mm concrete slab typically achieves 48–52 dB airborne but only 70–80 dB impact — outside the Part E target. Adding a SilentMat 15mm floating floor reduces impact performance to 50–55 dB, comfortably within Part E limits.

Recommended Systems by Situation

Browse our floor soundproofing products or contact our acoustic experts for a free recommendation tailored to your concrete floor and noise problem.