Are carpet tiles good for soundproofing?

Floor coverings are purchased with a number of factors often considered. These typically involve aesthetic appeal, durability, the usage of the room they’ll be installed in and, of course, cost. However, another important attribute of flooring can be its ability offer sound proofing.

A poor floor choice can lead to unwanted reverberation and noise. For example, flooring without sufficient underlay on a multi-floored or semi-detached home or apartment can cause significant disruption to different residents and their neighbours when sound bleeds through walls and floors. From noise from media equipment like sound systems and home cinemas to children running around playing, unwanted sounds can cause considerable discomfort.

Those selecting carpet tiles, sometimes called carpet squares, will find that along with supplying a versatile, economic and easy-to-care for covering for floors, they can also offer exceptional soundproofing qualities.

The power of carpet tiles

Long favoured by schools for their reduced noise levels and improved acoustics, carpet tiles are equally useful in office or home environments. Research suggests that carpeting is able to absorb 10 times as much airborne noise as other floor coverings. This is because softer materials substantially reduce sound, creating a far quieter environment. While a hardback carpet is capable of absorbing three times more noise than hard flooring choices, such as engineered wood or laminate, the latest carpet tiling products can now absorb as much as 50 per cent more sound than carpet that is hard backed. This makes it a superior solution to other flooring, where soundproofing is necessary.

The science of wool

Sound waves are transmitted by air molecules vibrating. As a result, rooms filled with hard surfaces will reflect any sound that occurs back into the room. Due to the soft tufts, fibres and backing involved in carpet tiles, unwanted noise is absorbed, rather than reflected, dampening sounds within a space. Wool carpeting has been identified as being extremely effective in this regard. Wool fibres in a single piece of carpeting can have a wide variety of crimps, lengths and diameters, helping them absorb an extensive range of different frequencies.

New technology

Advanced carpet tile designs are now developed with cushion backing and acoustic dampening that not only provide enhanced comfort, but reduce noise levels. This has led carpet tiles to be a favoured choice for many leading interior designers. Whether they are trying to create a productive office space or a healthy living environment, designers understand that achieving optimal sound absorption and insulation is crucial.

Along with their other many virtues for homeowners and enterprise owners, the ability of the latest carpet tiles to suppress unwanted noise should never be underestimated. With our ever-expanding population, requiring people to live closer to one another than ever before, being considerate of others and reducing our personal noise pollution is extremely important. By softening how much sound we make within our homes and workplaces with such innovative options, ourselves and those around us can enjoy much more peaceful and productive lives.