SilentMat vs Standard Rubber Underlay — Which Performs Better?

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

Both the SilentMat 15mm and our standard 6mm rubber underlay are high-performance acoustic products — but they're designed for different situations. This comparison clarifies which is the right choice for your project.

SilentMat 15mm: What It Is

The SilentMat 15mm is a premium thick-profile acoustic underlay engineered for applications where maximum floor-to-floor isolation is required and floor height is not a primary constraint. At 15mm, it is one of the thickest acoustic underlays in our range.

Primary applications:

• Timber joist floors in Victorian and Edwardian properties
• Commercial applications with high impact loads
• Studio and recording space floor isolation
• Fitness facilities and dance studios

6mm Recycled Rubber Underlay: What It Is

The 6mm Recycled Rubber Acoustic Underlay (74 dB ΔLw) is our best-selling product — the market benchmark for impact noise reduction at 6mm thickness. Its 74 dB ΔLw is the highest certified impact improvement value available at this thickness from any UK supplier.

Primary applications:

• Concrete subfloors — including under-screed use
• Residential flats and apartments
• Part E compliance projects
• Any application where 6mm profile is acceptable

Head-to-Head Comparison

Which Should You Choose?

Choose SilentMat 15mm when:

• You have a suspended timber joist floor and need maximum decoupling
• Floor height raise is not a concern (e.g., full renovation, no adjacent floor levels)
• You're working in commercial, fitness, or studio environments with high impact loads

Choose 6mm Recycled Rubber when:

• You're on a concrete subfloor in a flat or apartment
• Floor height constraints apply
• You need under-screed certification for a Part E project
• You want the highest certified ΔLw value at the minimum thickness

The Bottom Line

Both products are genuinely high-performance acoustic underlays that vastly outperform standard foam alternatives. The right choice depends on your substrate and floor height constraints, not simply which product sounds most impressive.

For most domestic flats on concrete, the 6mm Rubber at 74 dB ΔLw is the definitive choice. For timber joist floors and specialist applications, the SilentMat 15mm provides the additional thickness and profile suited to those challenges.

Browse all options: Full Acoustic Underlay Range