MuteMat 2 Acoustic Underlay For Timber Floors

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Acoustic Underlay

MuteMat® 2

Dimensions: 1200mm x 1200mm x 10mm (1.44m2)

Weight: 12kg

Compliance: Compliant with both Part E Building Regulations (England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland).*

Installation: Please see the installation tab below.

Where: Floor application only, suitable for a wide range of floor finishes that include laminate, engineered wood and luxury vinyl tiles.

A two-ply, flexible and high performing acoustic matting for floor soundproofing, its application is perfect for rooms that are limited in available space, for timber and concrete structures, and suited for almost any floor finish including luxury vinyl tiles and engineered wood.

More Information

MuteMat 2 Acoustic Underlay for Part E Building Regulations Compliance

Underlay for Part E Building Regulations Compliance
Achieving good levels of Sound Insulation to ensure you pass your sound test and achieve Part E compliance can seem a daunting task. We have put together a myriad of commonly used soundproofing wall and soundproofing floor solutions, with the simple aim of achieving passing your Part E sound test. We have selected a range of products, including acoustic underlay, which we have tested frequently and are confident in their onsite performance. So look no further your sound testing, acoustic design and product supplier is looking right at you.

MuteMat® 2 is a floor soundproofing material that features strong performance against both airborne and impact noise. It is suited for both timber and concrete structures, and it is both slim and straightforward to install. To achieve the best possible solution for soundproofing, you will need to incorporate them into ‘Systems’, and it is here you will find MuteMat® 2 in a range of options. Each offers ways of increasing acoustic performance, for example, fitting it on top of acoustic cradles to create a fully floating floor, or by adding them to joist structures alongside sound insulation for a vast improvement for airborne and impact noise, or use in concrete buildings as a standalone for impact reduction.

Information

10mm x 1200mm x 600mm.
For improving both airborne and impact noise issues.
Application to both concrete and timber subfloors.
Resistant to mould, fungi and rot.
Compliant with both Part E Building Regulations (England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland) and Building Standards Technical Handbook 2017 for Scotland for impact transmission.

As a two-ply soundproof material, MuteMat® 2 comprises of a layer of six millimetres closed cell foam, this provides a separating layer from the floor and most importantly is compressible, which helps to reduce impact noise such as footsteps. There is also a Mass Loaded Vinyl layer at four millimetres in thickness to provide damping of airborne sound, its flexible mass it will help to break down airborne sound energy while helping to spread the load of impact.

The subjective nature of noise means that a problematic or irritating noise for you will not be the same for others. Your sensitivity to a specific sound or event will vary, and this could be disruption from footsteps above, the low hum of a washing machine or even from casual conversation. Acoustic issues vary for homes or workplaces, but it is MuteMat® 2 that offers you flexibility across your specifications for performance, cost and thickness.

FAQs

Can I use carpet instead of using MuteMat® 2 for soundproofing a floor?

MuteMat® 2 is high performing against impact noise, and this is because the dense layer of mass loaded vinyl spreads the load – although the mass loaded vinyl is not practical on its own against impact noise, in this case, it is. The carpet will offer some sound proofing qualities against impact noise, but not to the degree of which a dedicated sound insulation material provides, and this is because it compresses easily underfoot.

We often use the analogy here of running a 100mm race in slippers (a soft fabric material which allows a lot of contact and vibration to transfer into the body) or in running trainers (offering maximum resilience and specially designed for reducing the impact transference into the body).

Can I install my Tile or Wooden floor finish directly on top of MuteMat® 2?

Because of the compressibility of MuteMat® 2, which is essential for the reduction of impact noise, it is not suitable for installing tiled or wooden finishes directly on top; but it is a sure method in making sure replacements of carpet in apartments with laminate flooring receive the best sound proofing possible as to not disrupt your neighbours. An overboard is required with: ceramic tiling, laminate flooring, engineered wood flooring, luxury vinyl flooring such as Amtico and Karndean, and standard vinyl floorings such as lino.

Building Control will often want to see estimated acoustic performance values when trading off carpeted flooring with new hard floor finishes in residential complexes, and we can provide these to you or help liaise with your Building Control officer.

Do I require an adhesive with MuteMat® 2?

Concerning Building Regulations, you will most likely need to bond all sound proofing materials floor so that it exists as ‘fabric of the structure’, in other words, so you do not remove it at a later date after passing the regulations; this is usually up to the discretion of the acoustic testing engineer. With any hard finishes, you will want to bond MuteMat® 2 to the floor, and any over boarding then bonded to the top to reduce flex and movement in the flooring. Using adhesive will not increase it’s soundproofing qualities.

Do I need to install any over boarding with a Carpet finish?

You require no overboard with woven carpet finishes, but you will need to use a Carpet Gripper Strip around the perimeter to raise the gripper rods to a height to avoid a descending around the edges. Carpet Tiles may benefit from an over boarding to reduce the joins coming apart, and you will find these primarily in offices. Using MuteMat® 2 will add compressibility to the floor, so chairs with wheels will need an over boarding to provide stronger support.

Can I use MuteMat® 2 for soundproofing a wall?

Although there are no issues with using MuteMat® 2 to sound proof a wall, it is not the best material to use as it also cannot be decorated over. We have better options available for dedicated wall sound proofing projects which you can find here.

Can I use MuteMat® 2 for soundproofing stairs against footsteps?

Yes! MuteMat® 2 works perfectly for sound proofing stairs against impact noise, and stairs often present a real issue in noisy neighbour situations, especially when you share a partition wall where one or both sets of stairs are adjoining to the wall. In this scenario, you will want to reduce this noise by using a product like MuteMat® 2 on the stair tread and risers as wall soundproofing solutions won’t be nearly as effective, especially in areas that offer little space. Learn more on how to install MuteMat® on stairs.

Can I use MuteMat® 2 for soundproofing bathrooms or wet rooms?

When it comes to sound proofing wet rooms or bathrooms, the concern is often that water or vapour will become trapped in foam materials. MuteMat® 2 does not yield from these issues as the Cross-Linked Polyethylene Foam does not absorb moisture and offers high sound insulation against impact noise, tiling and lino floor finishes may require a form of water-resistant marine over boarding as opposed to standard ply or MDF as a bed to lay the flooring securely. You will still want to opt for acoustic mineral wool between the cavities in timber joist constructions to reduce the sound moving into this area and leaving a boom-like effect.

Can I use MuteMat® 2 for soundproofing a floor with underfloor heating?

We would recommend seeking advice from the Underfloor Heating specialist before proceeding with MuteMat® 2, and we are happy to send out samples to make sure it is compatible. In most situations, MuteMat® 2 would be best installed underneath as an option for sound proofing underfloor heating trays as the mass loaded vinyl layer will trap a vast amount of heat below it and the heating system will need to work harder to pass the heat through.

Does MuteMat® 2 come as a roll?

MuteMat® 2 is laminated together from two separate materials and does not come as a roll, and this means that each piece is stored safely without the two composite layers coming apart by keeping them in a roll form.

How do I cut MuteMat® 2?

You will want to cut MuteMat® 2 with a new Stanley blade and a straight edge or metal ruler, always cut away from your body and behind the straight edge.

Installation Guide

Installation methods will be different depending on what sub-floor you are installing onto, whether this is timber and joist construction or concrete. They will also differ with the chosen floor finishes, and we have explained the most common applications below.

Sub Floor Timber Construction

Removal of the existing floor to have access to the joists, this is very important for the successful treatment of airborne noise issues.

Use of high-density acoustic mineral wool between joist to reduce flanking transmission into adjacent cavities and cavity resonance, both detrimental to the overall acoustic performance.

Isolation Strips on top of the joist to decouple the sub-floor layer, breaking contact for the reduction of vibration and impact noise.

Perimeter Edging Strip installed around the perimeter of each room to butt all floor layers up against, and this will help protect against impact noise transferring into adjacent walls and causing flanking transmission.

Sub-floor reinstalled preferably as a floating floor; this would mean using a tongue-and-grooved board with the use of adhesive to keep them fixed, this will lead to fewer fixings into the joists. You may still require some mechanical fixings into the joists throughout challenging areas.

Please see floor finishes below to review the installation steps needed for each one.

Concrete Construction

We would only apply MuteMat® 2 in concrete structures in the instance of only reducing impact noise due to the separation required when it comes to significantly reducing airborne noise.

Install a Perimeter Edging Strip around the perimeter of each room; this acts as a buffer between the rigid floor finishes and the walls to reduce impact noise transferring into layers, and into the wall. This transference of sound leads to Flanking Transmission, a common effect causing the failure of acoustic tests and general soundproofing.

Please see floor finishes below to review the installation steps needed for each one.

For Woven Carpets

Woven Carpets are often a topic of discussion in soundproofing, but here we will keep it brief. Carpets do offer a little improvement over hard finishes for impact noise, but will not suffice for the alleviation of airborne noise. The installation method is very straight forward with MuteMat™ 2, and even the most basic of DIY skills would find it a straightforward process.

Whether or not you need to bond MuteMat™ 2 to the sub-floor is a question for Building Control, primarily if you are converting a property into multiple dwellings to satisfy Part E Building Regulations, for example, a single home into apartments, the answer would be yes. If not, it can be loose laid and bonded together at the joins with a heavy-duty cloth tape.

For timber, tiled and vinyl type finishes

These flooring types are often delicate, and we recommend anything under an 18mm in thickness to be accompanied by a 6 or 9mm ply to provide a stable base for the floor finish. Adhesives must be used to prevent any movement within the MuteMat; this will also assist in validating conversion properties so that they exist as ‘fabric of the building.’