Floor soundproofing is a soundproofing countermeasure where “who needs it and who doesn’t” is hard to understand. Unlike walls and windows, “sound transmitted from floors” is hard to imagine, and without knowing your own case, you’ll waste money on unnecessary countermeasures.
This article provides a diagnostic guide to quickly determine whether floor soundproofing is needed or not. Structured to start with diagnosis, then reasons by persona, then move to realistic countermeasures, guiding optimal decisions by situation for second floor, rental, instruments, and child-rearing. Understanding the difference between vibration sounds and airborne sounds, this content enables only those who need it to practice effective countermeasures.
Introduction: Why It’s Hard to Understand “Who Needs and Who Doesn’t Need Floor Soundproofing”#
Unlike Walls and Windows, “Sound Transmitted from Floors” is Hard to Imagine#
Floor soundproofing differs from wall and window soundproofing in that “sound transmitted from floors” is hard to imagine.
Wall and Window Soundproofing
- Easy to understand with the sense of sound being “heard”
- Easy to feel countermeasure effects
Floor Soundproofing
- Hard to understand because sound is transmitted “as vibration”
- Hard to feel countermeasure effects
Actually Complaints Occur from “Vibration and Impact Sounds”#
Floor soundproofing becomes necessary due to vibration and impact sounds.
Characteristics of Vibration Sounds
- Transmitted through floor to lower floor
- Low-frequency sounds transmit easily
- Footsteps, dropping objects, instrument keystrokes, etc.
Characteristics of Impact Sounds
- Sounds that directly impact floor
- Thud, bang sounds
- Children running around, jumping, etc.
Without Knowing Your Own Case, You Waste Money on Unnecessary Countermeasures#
Without knowing your own case, you’ll waste money on unnecessary countermeasures like:
Common Mistakes
- Investing in floor soundproofing when voices and daily life sounds are main
- Doing floor soundproofing countermeasures when living on first floor
- Prioritizing floor soundproofing when game streaming is main
Correct Understanding
- Floor soundproofing is effective for “vibration sounds”
- Voices and high frequencies leak from walls and doors, not floors
- Countermeasures matching your own case are needed
Conclusion: “Situation Diagnosis” is Essential First#
To determine whether floor soundproofing is needed or not, “situation diagnosis” is essential first.
Diagnosis Flow
- Check your own situation
- Determine those who need it and those who don’t
- If needed, select optimal countermeasures
First Diagnosis: Are You Someone Who “Needs Floor Soundproofing” or Not?#
Characteristics of Those Who Need It#
If you match these characteristics, floor soundproofing is needed:
① Living on Second/Upper Floor with Complaints (or Concerns) About Daily Life Sounds
- Complaints from lower floor
- Concern about sound leakage to lower floor
- Daily life sounds are echoing
② Children Running Around and Jumping
- Children’s footsteps echo to lower floor
- Jumping and running around sounds are bothersome
- Concern about complaints from lower floor
③ Using Instruments with Strong “Floor Resonance” Like Piano or Drums
- Piano keystroke sounds transmit from floor
- Drum vibrations echo to lower floor
- Instrument sounds leak from floor
④ Chair and Caster Sounds Echo (Frequent Movement During Night Hours)
- Chair movement sounds echo to lower floor
- Caster sounds are bothersome
- Frequent movement during night hours
⑤ Apartment Structure is Lightweight Steel Frame (Floors Echo Easily)
- Lightweight steel frame construction where floors echo easily
- Structure where vibrations transmit easily
- Concern about sound leakage to lower floor
Characteristics of Those Who Don’t Need It#
If you match these characteristics, floor soundproofing is not needed:
① Voices and Daily Life Sounds are Main, Few Vibration-Type Sounds
- Voices and speech are main
- Few vibration-type sounds
- No problem with sound leakage from floor
② Living on First Floor
- No lower floor, so floor soundproofing not needed
- No sound leakage from floor occurs
③ Game Streaming Main (Voices Leak from Walls and Doors, Not “Floor”)
- Game streaming is main
- Voices leak from walls and doors
- No problem with sound leakage from floor
④ Never Had Complaints About Daily Life Sounds
- No complaints from lower floor
- No problem with sound leakage from floor
- No need for countermeasures
Diagnosis Result Presentation#
Diagnosis results are classified into these three:
A: High Probability Floor Soundproofing Needed
- Living on second/upper floor with complaints
- Children running around and jumping
- Using instruments with strong floor resonance like piano or drums
- Lightweight steel frame construction where floors echo easily
Recommended Countermeasures
- Lay soundproof mats
- Attach vibration-proof rubber to furniture legs
- Consider floating floor structure if needed
B: Partial Simple Countermeasures Sufficient
- Chair and caster sounds echo
- Frequent movement during night hours
- Some daily life sounds are bothersome
Recommended Countermeasures
- Partial construction laying only around desk and chair
- Change casters to quiet casters
- Be especially conscious during night hours
C: Floor Countermeasures Almost Unnecessary, Other Parts’ Soundproofing Priority
- Voices and daily life sounds are main
- Living on first floor
- Game streaming main
- Never had complaints about daily life sounds
Recommended Countermeasures
- Prioritize wall, door, and window soundproofing
- Floor soundproofing not needed
By Persona: Why Floor Soundproofing Becomes Necessary#
Child-Rearing Generation (Children’s Footsteps and Running Around)#
For child-rearing generation, reasons floor soundproofing becomes necessary:
Representative is “Impact Sound”
- Children’s footsteps directly impact floor
- Running around and jumping sounds echo to lower floor
- Thud, bang sounds occur
Echoes to Lower Floor with Thud
- Impact sounds transmit through floor to lower floor
- Low-frequency sounds transmit easily
- Easily leads to complaints
Sound Quality Easily Absorbed with Carpets and Mats
- Can handle with thick mats or rugs
- Relatively easy to countermeasure
- Possible to build for ¥10,000-20,000 (approx. $67-133)
Adults Living on Second Floor/Rentals (Daily Life Sounds and Chair Sounds)#
For adults living on second floor/rentals, reasons floor soundproofing becomes necessary:
Caster Sounds and Dropping Objects Become Vibration Sounds
- Chair caster sounds echo through floor
- Dropping objects transmit as vibration
- Daily life sounds become vibration sounds
Especially Echoes at Night, Increasing Complaint Risk
- Nighttime surroundings are quiet, so even small sounds are bothersome
- Vibration sounds especially echo at night
- Complaint risk increases
Laying Mat Only in Part is OK
- Partial construction laying only around desk and chair is sufficient
- Not entire room, only necessary parts countermeasured
- Possible to build under ¥10,000 (approx. $67)
Music Students (Piano, Drums, String Instruments)#
For music students, reasons floor soundproofing becomes necessary:
Piano “Keystrokes” and Drum Vibrations Go Straight from Floor
- Piano keystroke sounds transmit directly from floor
- Drum vibrations echo through floor
- Instrument sounds leak from floor
Floor Echoes, So Floor Countermeasures More Important Than Voice
- Instrument sounds leak from floor, so floor countermeasures are top priority
- Floor countermeasures more important than voice
- Serious countermeasures needed
Floating Floor Structure May Be Necessary
- Serious instrument performance requires floating floor structure
- DIY has limits
- Also consider option to leave to contractors
Game Streamers (Nighttime Daily Life Sounds)#
For game streamers, reasons floor soundproofing becomes necessary:
Footsteps = Transmitted from Floor
- Footsteps echo through floor to lower floor
- Nighttime daily life sounds are bothersome
- Sound leakage to lower floor is problem
Chair Movement Sounds Also Cause Complaints
- Chair movement sounds echo through floor
- Caster sounds transmit to lower floor
- Become complaint causes
“Work Area Vibration Suppression” Priority Over Voice
- Voices leak from walls and doors, so floor countermeasures not needed
- Work area vibration suppression is priority
- Partial countermeasures sufficient
Range and Limits of DIY Floor Soundproofing#
Simple Countermeasures (Under ¥10,000)#
Simple countermeasures possible under ¥10,000 (approx. $67):
① Nitori Soundproof Mat
- Price: ¥3,000-5,000/㎡ (approx. $20-33/㎡)
- Features: Easy to purchase, simple construction
- Effect: Reduction of light vibration sounds
② Viva Home Quiet Tiles
- Price: ¥2,000-4,000/㎡ (approx. $13-27/㎡)
- Features: Tile-shaped, simple construction
- Effect: Reduction of light vibration sounds
③ Thick Rug + Joint Mat
- Price: ¥5,000-8,000/㎡ (approx. $33-53/㎡)
- Features: Good appearance, effective with double structure
- Effect: Reduction of medium vibration sounds
④ Vibration-Proof Rubber on Furniture Legs
- Price: ¥500-1,000/leg (approx. $3-7/leg)
- Features: Simple construction
- Effect: Reduces vibration from furniture
Intermediate DIY (¥10,000-30,000)#
Intermediate DIY possible for ¥10,000-30,000 (approx. $67-200):
① Soundproof Mat + Plywood Double Floor
- Price: ¥15,000-25,000/10㎡ (approx. $100-167/10㎡)
- Features: Effective with double structure
- Effect: Reduction of medium vibration sounds
② Simple Version of “Place-Only Floating Floor”
- Price: ¥20,000-30,000/10㎡ (approx. $133-200/10㎡)
- Features: Simple version of floating floor structure
- Effect: Inferior to serious floating floor but effective
③ Reinforce Only Small Area Where Instruments Are Placed
- Price: ¥10,000-20,000/2㎡ (approx. $67-133/2㎡)
- Features: Countermeasure only necessary parts
- Effect: Effective with partial countermeasures
Serious DIY (¥40,000+)#
Serious DIY possible for ¥40,000+ (approx. $267+):
① “Fake Floating Floor” with Slatted Board + Vibration-Proof Rubber + Plywood
- Price: ¥40,000-60,000/10㎡ (approx. $267-400/10㎡)
- Features: Simple version of floating floor structure
- Effect: Inferior to serious floating floor but effective
② Heavy Labor, Not Suitable for Rentals
- Heavy labor, time-consuming
- Fixed construction impossible in rentals
- Not realistic
③ Doesn’t Reach “Complete Soundproofing” Even for Drums or Serious Piano Level
- DIY has limits
- Insufficient for serious instrument performance
- Also consider option to leave to contractors
Limits#
DIY floor soundproofing has these limits:
① Low-Frequency Vibrations Hard to Stop with DIY
- Low-frequency vibrations hard to stop with DIY
- Serious countermeasures needed
② “Non-Destructive Countermeasures” Limit Because Fixed Construction Impossible in Rentals
- Fixed construction impossible in rentals
- Non-destructive countermeasures are limit
- Limited effectiveness
③ Doesn’t Become Fundamental Countermeasure for Entire Room
- Partial countermeasures are limit
- Doesn’t become fundamental countermeasure for entire room
- Also consider option to leave to contractors
Optimal Realistic Countermeasure Routes by Persona#
Child-Rearing Generation#
Optimal countermeasure route for child-rearing generation:
① Thick Mat + Rug Double Structure
- Price: ¥10,000-15,000/10㎡ (approx. $67-100/10㎡)
- Features: Effective with double structure, good appearance
- Effect: Reduces children’s footsteps
② Reinforce Only Space for Jumping Play
- Price: ¥5,000-8,000/2㎡ (approx. $33-53/2㎡)
- Features: Countermeasure only necessary parts
- Effect: Effective with partial countermeasures
③ Vibration-Proof Rubber Under Furniture
- Price: ¥1,000-2,000 (approx. $7-13)
- Features: Simple construction
- Effect: Reduces vibration from furniture
Adults on Second Floor/Rentals#
Optimal countermeasure route for adults on second floor/rentals:
① Partial Construction Laying Only Around Desk and Chair
- Price: ¥5,000-10,000/2㎡ (approx. $33-67/2㎡)
- Features: Countermeasure only necessary parts
- Effect: Reduces daily life sounds
② Change Casters to Quiet Casters
- Price: ¥2,000-4,000/leg (approx. $13-27/leg)
- Features: Easy to change
- Effect: Reduces caster sounds
③ Be Especially Conscious at Night
- Be especially conscious of sounds at night
- Countermeasure effects easily felt
Music Students#
Optimal countermeasure route for music students:
① Stand-Alone Vibration-Proof Stand + Vibration-Proof Rubber Legs
- Price: ¥10,000-20,000/stand (approx. $67-133/stand)
- Features: Vibration countermeasures on stand for instruments
- Effect: Reduces vibration from instruments
② Piano-Specific Insulators
- Price: ¥15,000-30,000/unit (approx. $100-200/unit)
- Features: Vibration countermeasures specific to piano
- Effect: Reduces vibration from piano
③ Consider Floating Floor at Contractor Level
- Serious instrument performance requires floating floor structure
- DIY has limits
- Also consider option to leave to contractors
Game Streamers#
Optimal countermeasure route for game streamers:
① Vibration Pad Under Chair
- Price: ¥2,000-4,000/piece (approx. $13-27/piece)
- Features: Simple construction
- Effect: Reduces vibration from chair
② Rubber Legs to Suppress PC and Desk Vibration
- Price: ¥500-1,000/leg (approx. $3-7/leg)
- Features: Simple construction
- Effect: Reduces vibration from PC and desk
③ “Work Space Specialized” Rather Than Entire Room
- Countermeasure only work space
- Effective with partial countermeasures
- Can keep costs down
Judgment of Cases to Leave to Contractors#
Consider option to leave to contractors in these cases:
① Strong Heavy Vibrations Like Drums or Wood Bass
- Heavy vibration instruments have limits with DIY
- Serious countermeasures needed
- Consider option to leave to contractors
② Already Receiving Complaints from Lower Floor
- If complaints already received, urgency is high
- Reliable countermeasures needed
- Consider option to leave to contractors
③ Playing Instruments Daily
- Daily instrument performance requires serious countermeasures
- DIY has limits
- Consider option to leave to contractors
④ Structural Problems That DIY Cannot Solve
- Structural problems cannot be solved with DIY
- Serious construction needed
- Consider option to leave to contractors
Summary: Floor Soundproofing is Specialized Countermeasure Effective Only for “Those Who Need It”#
Highly Effective for Vibration-Type Noises#
Floor soundproofing is a countermeasure highly effective for vibration-type noises.
Sounds with High Effectiveness
- Footsteps, dropping objects
- Instrument keystrokes, drum vibrations
- Chair movement sounds, caster sounds
Voices and High Frequencies: Walls, Windows, and Doors Are Priority, Not Floor#
For voices and high frequencies, walls, windows, and doors are priority, not floor.
Sounds Not Needing Floor Soundproofing
- Voices, speech
- TV sounds, music
- High-frequency sounds
Priority Countermeasures
- Wall, door, and window soundproofing
- Floor soundproofing not needed
Most Important: Separate “Those Who Need It / Don’t Need It” with Persona Diagnosis#
To determine whether floor soundproofing is needed or not, most important is separating “those who need it / don’t need it” with persona diagnosis.
Diagnosis Flow
- Check your own situation
- Determine those who need it and those who don’t
- If needed, select optimal countermeasures
Success Shortcut: Avoid Unnecessary Construction, Start with Optimal Partial Countermeasures#
Avoid unnecessary construction, starting with optimal partial countermeasures is the success shortcut.
Success Points
- Select countermeasures matching your own case
- Start with partial countermeasures
- Consider serious countermeasures if needed
Floor soundproofing is a specialized countermeasure effective only for “those who need it.” First diagnose your own situation, then only those who need it practice effective countermeasures. Understanding the difference between vibration sounds and airborne sounds, and selecting optimal countermeasures is important.