How To Soundproof a Gym Floor?

Most gym floors consist of three layers:

• Subfloor
• Membrane (underlay)
• Top surface

All of these layers work together to create a durable gym floor. With regards to soundproofing, there are three things that are important: 1) The materials used, and 2) The thickness of the membrane and top surface combined.

Soundproofing a gym floor

Gym floors that offer excellent soundproofing have the following characteristics:

• Multiple layers
• Shock-absorbing materials
• Thickness over 40mm in lifting zones

Here’s how to soundproof a gym floor:

Subfloor

Your subfloor will be concrete or plywood (boarding). Boarding is the preferred choice because it absorbs shock better than concrete. It can also be installed over existing floors to create a flat, stable base for the flooring system.

The condition of the subfloor is essential for the performance of the flooring system. It needs to be flat and level without damage.

Membrane

Membrane, or underlay, is essential for free weight and heavy lifting zones. This floor layer gives the topper something soft to compress into. Without underlay, the topper would compress into the subfloor under load, creating impact sound.

Underlay is typically 10mm thick. It is designed to compress under load and absorb shock so that dropped weights do not bounce.

Top surface

The top surface will be made from either rubber rolls or rubber tiles. Rubber tiles are a thicker and heavier duty choice. They are typically 40mm thick and are the best choice for free weight zones and deadlifting areas.

The top surface is designed to compress under load and absorb impacts. The quality of the top surface makes a big difference in terms of soundproofing. You want a rubber that compresses under load without springing back. This will prevent the weight from bouncing and making even more noise after the first drop.

Deadlift zones

Deadlift zones that see intense use will need even thicker flooring to absorb sound and vibration. The best product is rubber impact protection slabs. These are 80mm thick and are designed to absorb vibration from power lifts.

It’s important to note, however, that although we can reduce noise and vibration from a gym floor, it isn’t possible to eliminate it entirely. Power racks and deadlift zones will always be noisy. All we can do is reduce the vibration.

If you have any questions or would like to talk about your next project, give us a call on (0)1706 260 220 for a chat.