Sound and Acoustic Insulation: Understanding the Difference and Choosing the Right Flooring

1. Sound Insulation: Blocking Unwanted Noise

Sound insulation aims to limit the transmission of noise from one room to another. It helps reduce:

✅ Impact noises: footsteps, falling objects, furniture movement...

✅ Airborne noises: conversations, television, music...

✅ Equipment noises: ventilation, appliances, plumbing...

In an apartment, floor sound insulation is crucial to avoid disturbances with neighbors below. A parquet floor with an acoustic underlay is an excellent solution to absorb vibrations and reduce the transmission of impact noises.

2. Acoustic Insulation: Enhancing Interior Sound Comfort

Unlike sound insulation, which prevents noise from entering or leaving a room, acoustic insulation focuses on improving the sound quality within a space. It is essential in:

🟢 Offices or workspaces (to avoid noise disturbances).

🟢 Living rooms and common areas (to reduce echo and improve comfort).

🟢 Recording studios or home theaters (to optimize acoustics).

A parquet floor with good acoustic insulation absorbs sounds and reduces echo, creating a more pleasant and muted atmosphere.

3. Which Flooring to Choose for Better Soundproofing and Acoustic Insulation?

The choice of flooring plays a crucial role in soundproofing your interior. Here are the best options:

🔸 Engineered wood flooring: With its multi-layer structure, it absorbs vibrations better than solid wood flooring.

🔸 Laminate flooring with integrated underlay: Some models are specially designed to improve sound insulation.

🔸 Solid wood flooring with acoustic underlay: Ideal for combining aesthetics and noise reduction.

💡 Tip: An acoustic underlay (such as the Dinachoc S801 underlay) can be added beneath your flooring to further reduce noise disturbances.

4. How to Optimize the Sound Insulation of Your Flooring?

For maximum performance, here are some tips to follow during your flooring installation:

✔️ Choose an appropriate underlay: The thicker and denser it is, the better it absorbs sound.

✔️ Opt for a floating installation: It reduces impact noise better than glued installation.

✔️ Use acoustic baseboards: They prevent the transmission of vibrations between the floor and walls.

✔️ Prefer a thick floorboard: A 12 to 15 mm thick floor insulates better than a thinner model.

5. Should You Combine Soundproofing and Acoustic Insulation?

In many situations, combining soundproofing and acoustic insulation is the best solution for enjoying a calm and comfortable interior. Soundproofing protects against external noise disturbances, while acoustic insulation enhances the sound quality inside your home. These two approaches are often implemented simultaneously to optimize soundproofing performance. Additionally, soundproofing alone can sometimes accentuate the resonance of internal sounds, making acoustic insulation essential for optimal sound comfort.

6. Why Choose Premibel Parquet for Your Soundproofing Flooring?

At Premibel Parquet, we offer a wide range of flooring designed to provide optimal acoustic comfort. With our flooring featuring integrated underlays and high-performance insulation solutions, you can create a quiet and pleasant living space.

👉 Need personalized advice? Contact us or visit our online store at premibel.fr to discover our soundproof flooring collections.