Soundproofing Floors: Acoustilay Installation

For installing on stairs, Acoustilay is cut to size as specified by the installer. Pieces are simply cut to length from the large tile. For airborne and impact sound insulation, Acoustilay 8 or 15 can be used, or Acoustilay 3 for impact sound insulation only. When used for impact sound insulation only, a piece is cut and placed on the tread, level with the edge. It is secured by gluing or tacking along the side and back edges. When airborne insulation is required, a piece is also fixed to the riser with adhesive, tacks or staples. For Acoustilay 3, a piece is cut longer than the tread to form over the nose and down the riser as with a conventional underlay. For Acoustilay 8 & 15, when used with a carpet gripper, a Perimeter Strip is first nailed to the tread/riser. For Acoustilay 3 the gripper is nailed direct to the timber.

For concrete stairs, where mainly impact noise insulation is required, Acoustilay 3 or 8 can be used. A piece is cut and bonded to the tread. The carpet is then bonded to this, or fixed by gripper as described above.

Acoustilay MDF should be bonded to the Acoustilay in a number of situations. Such a layer will protect the joints of laminate or solid wood flooring from flexibility, eliminate the risk of point loading on Vinyl floor coverings and avoid carpet rucking in office environments, where wheeled chairs and furniture are used. Some wood floor manufacturers may allow their product to be laid directly upon Acoustilay.

Timber sheet materials can be laid onto Acoustilay. This will give a small increase in airborne noise insulation, but will reduce the insulation against impact noise. The Acoustilay should be first bonded to the floor using acrylic adhesive and the boards bonded to the top of the Acoustilay. The boards' edge detail should be a minimum of 50mm away from any Acoustilay joint and an isolation gap left between the wall and the boards to avoid transmission into the structure. The isolation gap can be filled with Perimeter Sealer or another resilient material. Boards should also be glued or fixed together, ensuring no fixings pierce the Acoustilay. In areas where the floor covering is returned up the wall a timber fillet is placed around the perimeter, the same thickness as the Acoustilay. This will give a solid edge.

When using Acoustilay you should never fix directly through the product into the floor below due to the risk of sound bridging. When items need to be fixed directly to the floor they should be mounted and fixed onto an MDF board the same height as the Acoustilay used. The Acoustilay is then butted up to the MDF board.

Perimeter Strips (For use with carpet gripper). These are installed around the perimeter and nailed to the floor. The carpet gripper is nailed onto the Perimeter Strip bringing the gripper level with the surface of the Acoustilay.

A permanently tacky, water based acrylic adhesive. Suitable for bonding carpet tiles and Acoustilay to sub floor. May also be used at low coating weight as a release system to allow easy removal of floor covering.

High performance acrylic adhesive providing high tack, good grab and permanent bond. Suitable for bonding carpet and timber to Acoustilay.

For sealing the gap between thicker timber surface layers and the skirting. It will fill gaps up to 10mm wide. It is 3mm thick expanding to 15mm with a self adhesive edge. This is fixed to the timber or the skirting and expands over 24 hours to fill the gap.

1200mm long x 25mm wide Acoustilay 8 Strip is 6mm thick, Acoustilay 15 Strip is 9mm thick.

Rolls 8m x 15mm wide x 3/15mm thick Adhesive: Release Tackifier 10 ltr. bottle coverage up to 50m2 per bottle depending on substrate. Acrylic Adhesive: 5 ltr. tubs coverage up to 20m2 per tub depending on substrate. Acoustilay MDF: 1200 x 1200 x 6mm. For use as an interlayer board.

Use a sharp long bladed trimming knife. Score the surface then run through with knife several times to avoid tearing. When shaping use large scissors or tin snips.

Must be laid flat and kept dry.

Dimensions

Acoustilay installed on stairs with perimeter strip

Acoustilay laid with staggered joints.

The Perimeter Strip nailed to the floor, with the foam edge seal compressed to the skirting and gripper nailed on top.

Acoustilay detail to be used beneath kitchen units or bathroom fittings.

1. Acoustilay Description
2. Acoustilay Installation
3. Acoustilay Specification

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