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Description
3mm Soundproof Floor Underlay – 54dB Impact Noise Reduction | 94% Recycled Rubber | Part E Compliant
Stop impact noise and footfall dead in its tracks. This 3mm soundproofing underlay is engineered from 94% recycled high-density rubber (~950 kg/m³) to absorb and dissipate the impact energy that causes the thumping, footstep, and structural noise that travels through concrete and timber floors alike.
Unlike foam or cork underlays that compress and lose performance over time, rubber soundproofing underlay maintains its resilience and acoustic mass indefinitely — making this one of the most durable and effective soundproof underlays available in the UK.
Why Impact Noise Is So Hard to Stop — And How This Underlay Solves It
Sound travels through floors in two ways. Airborne sound (voices, TV, music) travels through the air and passes through gaps and structures. Impact sound (footsteps, dropped objects, chair scraping) is far harder to control because the energy is transferred directly into the floor structure and radiates into the room below.
Most standard underlays address airborne sound only. This rubber soundproof underlay tackles both by combining mass (high density = more energy absorbed) with resilience (rubber decouples the floor from the subfloor, breaking the vibration path). The result is a measured ΔLw of 54dB impact sound reduction — one of the highest ratings achievable in a 3mm profile.
Key Acoustic Performance Specifications
- Impact Sound Reduction (ΔLw): 54dB — exceeds Part E requirements for floors between dwellings
- Airborne Sound Insulation: up to 54dB — significantly reduces voices, TV and music passing between floors
- Density: ~950 kg/m³ — mass-loaded rubber absorbs low-frequency bass and impact energy that foam cannot
- Weight: ~2.9 kg/m² — sufficient mass to provide meaningful noise reduction at just 3mm thickness
- Dynamic Stiffness: low — critical for decoupling the floor surface from the subfloor structure
- Thickness: 3mm — minimal floor height build-up, suitable where door clearances are tight
UK Building Regulations Part E — Does This Underlay Comply?
Yes. Part E of the UK Building Regulations sets minimum sound insulation standards for floors between dwellings. For impact sound, Part E requires the floor achieve no worse than 62dB L'nT,w (the lower the better). For airborne sound, a minimum of 45dB DnT,w is required.
This soundproof underlay, when installed as part of a compliant floor system on a concrete or timber separating floor, contributes significantly to meeting and exceeding both thresholds. It is suitable for use in flats, apartments, HMOs, and houses in multiple occupation where Part E compliance is a legal requirement — whether for new builds, conversions, or material change of use.
Important: Part E compliance depends on the complete floor system (subfloor, underlay, flooring, ceiling below). Always pre-completion test or use a pre-tested robust detail where required. This underlay is Part E tested as part of a compliant system.
What Type of Noise Does This Underlay Stop?
- ✅ Footstep & footfall noise — the most common complaint in flats and apartments
- ✅ Chair scraping and furniture movement — impact energy absorbed by rubber mass
- ✅ Children running and jumping — high-impact transient noise controlled by resilient rubber layer
- ✅ Structural vibration — decouples floating floor from subfloor to prevent vibration transfer
- ✅ Airborne noise from below — adds mass to floor system to block sound travelling upward
- ❌ Not a complete solution for bass/low-frequency music — for extreme bass isolation, a floating floor system with greater mass is required
Why Rubber Beats Foam and Cork for Soundproofing
- Foam underlays compress permanently under load, losing their acoustic resilience within months. They offer minimal mass and poor impact noise control.
- Cork underlays provide reasonable acoustic performance but are susceptible to moisture, crumble at edges, and offer lower density than rubber.
- Recycled rubber underlays maintain consistent performance indefinitely, are moisture and mould resistant, and provide the highest density-to-thickness ratio of any common underlay material — making them the professional's choice for floor soundproofing.
Compatible Flooring Types
This soundproofing underlay is suitable for use beneath virtually all flooring types:
- Laminate flooring — floating installation, ideal combination
- Engineered wood & solid hardwood — floating or glue-down
- LVT / Luxury Vinyl Tile & vinyl plank — floating click systems
- Ceramic tile & porcelain tile — with appropriate tile adhesive over underlay
- Stone flooring — check deflection tolerance with your tile supplier
- Carpet — provides additional comfort and sound absorption underfoot
Works on concrete, timber, and steel subfloors. Compatible with electric and water-fed underfloor heating systems.
Where to Use Soundproofing Underlay
- Flats & apartments — reduce impact noise complaints from neighbours below
- HMOs & houses converted to flats — achieve Part E compliance on separating floors
- Hotels & serviced apartments — prevent noise complaints between guest rooms
- Home offices & studies — create a quieter working environment
- Home cinemas & media rooms — reduce low-level impact and structural noise
- Children's rooms — absorb running and play noise before it reaches neighbours
- Gyms & fitness rooms — impact absorption for dropped weights and exercise equipment
- Retail, commercial & office fit-outs — durable acoustic performance in high-traffic areas
How to Install Soundproof Underlay
- Prepare the subfloor — must be clean, dry, and level to within 3mm over 1.8m. Any high spots will telegraph through and reduce acoustic performance.
- Roll out perpendicular to the direction of your flooring boards
- Butt edges together — never overlap. Overlapping creates a high spot that lifts the floor and reduces acoustic contact
- Tape all joints with acoustic seam tape — untaped joints allow flanking noise paths that undermine performance
- Turn up at walls by 20–30mm and trim flush after flooring installation — this creates the acoustic break between floor and wall that prevents flanking transmission
- Install flooring immediately on top — do not leave underlay exposed for extended periods
Technical Specifications
- Material: 94% Recycled Rubber
- Thickness: 3mm
- Impact Sound Reduction (ΔLw): 54dB
- Airborne Sound Insulation: Up to 54dB
- Density: ~950 kg/m³
- Weight per m²: ~2.9 kg
- Roll Width: 1m
- Available Lengths: 1m to 10m (buy exactly what you need)
- Colour: Black
- Certification: CE Marked | Part E Compliant
- Eco Credentials: 94% Recycled content | LEED® credit eligible
- Moisture Resistant: Yes — suitable for kitchens, bathrooms, ground floors
- Mould & Bacteria Resistant: Yes
- Underfloor Heating Compatible: Yes (electric & water-fed)
- Suitable Subfloors: Concrete, timber, steel
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between soundproofing underlay and standard underlay?
Standard underlay is designed primarily for comfort and thermal insulation. Soundproofing underlay is engineered for acoustic mass and resilience — it uses denser materials (like this recycled rubber at ~950 kg/m³) to absorb and block the transfer of both impact and airborne sound through the floor structure.
Will this underlay stop my neighbours hearing me walking above?
Yes — this is exactly what this underlay is designed for. At 54dB ΔLw, it provides substantial impact noise reduction, meaning footstep noise transmitted to the floor below is reduced significantly. For best results, combine with a suitable floating floor and ensure the perimeter acoustic break is maintained at all walls.
Is 3mm thick enough for effective soundproofing?
For a rubber underlay, yes. Because rubber has very high density (~950 kg/m³ compared to ~30–50 kg/m³ for foam), a 3mm rubber underlay provides far greater acoustic mass than a 10mm foam underlay. The performance comes from density, not thickness.
Can I use this under tiles?
Yes, with the appropriate tile adhesive applied over the underlay surface. Ensure the combined floor system meets the deflection requirements for the tile size being used.
Does this underlay work on concrete floors?
Yes — concrete subfloors are ideal. The underlay decouples the finished floor from the concrete slab, preventing impact energy from being transmitted directly into the structure and radiating as noise in the room below.
How much soundproofing underlay do I need?
Measure room length × width in metres to get m². Add 10% for cuts and waste. Select the roll length closest to your requirement — available from 1m to 10m in 1m increments.
