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It is common for people who live in condos to hear the sounds of those living below. Voices, footsteps, stereos, dogs barking, and even loud appliances make noises that can easily transfer from one living area to another. Soundproofing the floor of your condo can eliminate this noisy intrusion and make your living space more peaceful and quiet.
Before we recommend a product to block the noise, let's find out what kind of noise is causing your problem. There are two types of noise to be considered, airborne and impact.
Are you bothered primarily by airborne noise (noise traveling through the air)? This includes sounds made by TVs, stereos, voices and loud appliances. These sounds can be quite loud, especially if the object making the noise is close to your floor, their ceiling. A mass-loaded vinyl barrier is the best material for blocking airborne sound. This vinyl material has been "fortified" with a heavy substance so that sound cannot pass through it.
Is impact noise a problem for you? The second type of sound, impact noise, occurs when one object actually comes in contact with another. The most common impact noise is footfall, the sound of people walking around, but it could also be from objects being moved or rolled across the floor, or vibrations such as those from a washer or dryer.
Do you hear both impact and airborne noise coming from your neighbors? It isn't unusual for both kinds of sound to travel through a floor to an adjacent living area. If this is the case, a combination of materials may be needed to solve your problem. For many condo owners, the sound that comes through the floor is not limited to one type. The construction of the building is such that both impact and airborne noises penetrate through the floors and the result is loss of privacy and strained relations between neighbors.
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