Just lately, the carpet in our bedrooms has really been bugging me. Thanks to two teenagers who love nothing more than a good preen which seemingly involves spraying themselves (and clearly missing) with numerous lotions and potions, splattering make-up all over the place and constantly knocking over drinks, they are starting to look really grim. Then there is the dog who, in his old age, seems to have decided that he can have his run of the house, and who I often find curled up in the master bedroom leaving behind a mound of fur.
Increasingly, I have been thinking that other types of flooring – namely wooden floors – would be so much easier to keep clean but, practically speaking, is it a good idea?
The carpet is soft underfoot and protects downstairs from the noise of footsteps and the loud phone conversions between the teens and their friends. Even with it, you can clearly hear noises from overhead when sitting downstairs, so I reached out to the experts for their advice.
Is wooden flooring upstairs a good idea?
We have engineered wood flooring in a number of rooms on the ground floor of our house and I love how easy it is to keep clean, as well as the fact that it doesn't absorb pet odours. I really like the idea of using it for our bedroom flooring but am worried that it will mean that downstairs becomes really noisy when anyone is walking around up there.
Ian Tomlinson, MD at Chaunceys Timber Flooring, has some reassuring words for me. "Wood flooring can work exceptionally well upstairs, but the key is thinking about acoustics from the outset, rather than treating it as an afterthought. One of the biggest misconceptions is that choosing a hard floor automatically means you'll have to live with increased noise transfer throughout the home, when in reality the right installation approach can make a significant difference."
Adam Robertson, MD at Urbane Living, agrees that, when installed properly, wooden flooring can be a great option for upstairs spaces. "Wood flooring can work very successfully on upper floors, provided the installation is approached correctly from the outset. The biggest factor in managing noise is not necessarily the flooring itself, but what sits beneath it."
Chaunceys Timber Flooring is a family-run company based in Bristol with Ian becoming the Managing Director in 2012. They have been supplying sustainable, high-quality timber flooring to homeowners, award-winning architects, design and build companies, and renowned interior designers since 1988.
Adam Robertson is the co-founder and managing director of Urbane Living, a specialist flooring company recognised for its expertise in parquet, bespoke carpets and runners. With a background in design and a strong eye for detail, Adam is passionate about all things related to quality timber, from floorboards to wall panels.
How do you soundproof wooden flooring properly?
One of my main concerns is that taking up the carpet and fitting engineered wooden flooring will mean that the noise of anyone clattering about upstairs is going to be louder than it is already. Is this something I'll just have to accept?
According to Ian Tomlinson, if I want peace and quiet downstairs, I should be concentrating on the underlay. "The most important factor in reducing sound transfer is the underlay. A high density acoustic underlay helps isolate the flooring from the subfloor, limiting the vibration that carries noise into the rooms below."
Adam Robertson points out that the way the flooring is laid matters too when it comes to soundproofing a ceiling. "For the highest quality installation, I would always recommend fully bonding the wood floor to the subfloor rather than opting for a floating installation. This makes a real difference to both the feel underfoot and the acoustic performance."
What type of underlay is best for wooden flooring upstairs?
Just as when choosing the best underlay for carpets, the underlay you use beneath wooden flooring matters more than ever when installing it on the upper storeys of a house.
"There are two main options worth considering," picks up Adam Robertson. "The first is a cork and rubber underlay, though it's worth knowing that this requires double the amount of adhesive because you will need to glue the underlay to the subfloor.
"The second option is a premium acoustic panel, which typically has a hard top surface, often MDF, that allows you to bond the wood floor directly to it," he explains. "Both are effective, but the choice will often come down to the specifics of the project and the subfloor you're working with."
"Standard foam underlays may seem like a cost effective option, but they rarely provide the level of acoustic performance needed upstairs," adds Ian Tomlinson. "Look for high quality rubber, compressed fibre or cork based acoustic underlays that have been specifically designed for upper floor installations and independently tested for impact sound reduction."
The combination of cork and rubber brings with it fantastic acoustic properties with brilliant thermal properties, meaning this underlay is ideal for laying under wooden flooring in bedrooms. Each roll covers 10m².
Does wooden flooring require a different sub-base to carpet?
Our carpet upstairs is laid over the old timber floorboards, which have a void beneath them. While fitting underlay sounds pretty straightforward, I'm wondering whether there are other steps I should take too.
"When homeowners are looking to reduce noise travelling from children's bedrooms or busy family spaces above – which is a very common concern – the overall floor construction becomes just as important as the flooring itself," explains Adam Robertson.
"A floor build up that incorporates mineral wool insulation between the joists, plywood over the joists and a fully bonded wood floor on top will provide excellent sound insulation for most households," continues Adam.
"Add a few well-placed rugs and soft furnishings, and there is no reason why you can't enjoy the character and practicality of wood flooring upstairs, without compromising on comfort or acoustics."
Shop bedroom rugs
Available in seven subtle colourways, this rug is ideal for throwing down in upstairs bedrooms with hard flooring due to its luxurious thick pile. It comes in a range of sizes, up to 300 x 200cm.
Available in a range of sizes, right up to 200 x 290cm, and in an array of beautiful colours, this cosy rug promises an experience akin to walking on a cloud thanks to its 5cm deep shaggy pile – making it perfect for bedrooms.
If I'm throwing a rug down over the wooden floors in my bedroom I need it to be washable. This vintage-style one can go straight into the washing machine. It comes in sizes up to 240 x 300cm.
FAQs
Is solid or engineered wood flooring better upstairs?
There are two main types of wood flooring: solid and engineered.
Solid wood flooring, as the name suggests, is made up purely of solid wood, sawn into planks. Engineered, on the other hand, is made up of a top layer of solid wood veneer – the thickness of which varies – bonded to several layers of high-density fibreboard (HDF) or plywood.
"We generally recommend engineered wood flooring for upper storeys as it offers excellent stability and is less prone to movement over time, which can help minimise the risk of creaks developing," says Ian Tomlinson. "Installation methods also play an important role, with glued installations typically delivering better acoustic performance than mechanical fixing methods."
Whatever type of flooring you decide to lay in the upper storeys of your home, make sure you are aware of the most common flooring mistakes people make so that you can avoid doing the same. And, if you already have squeaky floors upstairs, make sure you rectify the issue before fitting new flooring.
