According to the multifamily housing report released by National Association of Home Builders in 2015, the demand of 55+ multifamily housing units has increased even in the third quarter of 2015. The demand has jumped 10 points from 60 to 70 percent and the future demand is expected to increase by five points. To leverage the growing demand for rental units and stay ahead in the competition, investors are leaving no stone unturned to make their housing units attractive to renters, and therefore, often go for renovations. Surprisingly, not many owners think on the lines soundproofing the floor of their property.
Why is Floor Soundproofing Important?
The loud noises of objects hitting the floor, high TV volume and loud music are some of the examples of annoyances that infringe the privacy of renters. Therefore, if the floors of your multifamily housing units are not soundproof, it is time to hire a professional housing renovation expert to make them more renter-friendly. As privacy is one of the primary concerns of renters, soundproofing the units will definitely help you attract more prospects. Here is an overview of some insulation materials used for soundproofing floors.
Insulation Materials for the Floor
Floors coated with high NRC (noise reduction coefficient) rating material prevent annoying sound produced at upper level units from reaching the units at lower levels and tenants get to live in a noise free environment. Below are high quality sound proof material, usually, preferred by multi-family housing units investors.
Carpet
Carpet with NRC rating up to .4 – .5 works as an efficient absorptive material. Add carpet to your flooring system with layers of pad in between the floors and it significantly reduces the noise produced inside the room. The thickness of the pad is directly proportional to the amount of sound absorbed, so the more sound you want to reduce, the more pad you need to use in between. Carpet is the cheapest option in the short run, but over time may become a cause of concern regarding durability, cleaning, and allergy aggravation.
Cork
Cork is another great choice for sound reduction inside multifamily housing units. It reduces and absorbs sound produced inside the unit and offers peace of mind to tenants in terms of avoidable noise. In addition, cork flooring adds warmth to the room and make the floor comfortable and easy to walk around. Most importantly, if somebody drops any breakable object on the floor by mistake, there is a good chance that the object will remain intact.
Vinyl
Vinyl is another commonly used flooring material backed with a foam and has a cushioned and flexible surface. It is a great choice for sound reduction and although, it may be costly but what you get in terms of noise reduction is worth paying for. Vinyl is easy to apply on existing floor and significantly absorbs multiple sound waves. Top quality vinyl provides a nearly noiseless surface to the housing unit.
Conclusion
There are many soundproof floor materials available in the market. So when employing a housing renovation company make sure that you talk to them about your soundproofing needs so that they use the best quality of flooring material for your property. It is suggested to always employ a reputed multifamily housing renovation company to get quality results and long term returns on your investment.
Multifamily Building Renovations 