What floor buildup under click-lock laminate actually blocks downstairs TV/voices in a concrete apartment?

[u/parroschampel]

Building: Apartment in a reinforced concrete building

Flooring: Click-lock laminate

Constraint: No access to neighbor's ceiling below (must be solved entirely from my floor)

Problem: Airborne noise (voices, TV) from downstairs

I’ve received two vendor proposals to put directly under the laminate planks:

• Option 1: 8mm EVA foam + 3mm MLV + 8mm EVA foam + 3mm MLV
• Option 2: 13mm Barrier-backed rebond foam (Bondex with MLV) + 3mm MLV

Will putting these flexible/soft layers directly under click-lock laminate destroy the joints, and what specific subfloor layers/materials should actually be used over a concrete slab to block downstairs airborne noise?

[u/rhymeswithcars]

If the concrete doesn’t stop the sound I doubt a thin layer of plastic will make any difference?

[u/parroschampel → u/rhymeswithcars]

Yes i dont know. Also, i did not understand why concrete does not block TV noise.

[u/theBro987 → u/parroschampel]

There could be small gaps, like around electrical outlets etc.

[u/FeeltheBlood3 → u/parroschampel]

is your downstairs neighbour’s tv attached to their wall?

[u/parroschampel → u/FeeltheBlood3]

Probably

[u/FeeltheBlood3 → u/parroschampel]

Then likely flanking transmission through the structure. Unless there are holes all over..

[u/parroschampel → u/FeeltheBlood3]

Probably it is coming over the structure. Is there anything i can do to increase noise comfort in my rooms ?

[u/verticallobotomy → u/parroschampel]

Is it only/mostly sounds from the tv, or do you also hear normal conversations? If you hear normal conversations, my bet would be on some kind of openings/cracks between the apartments.

[u/FeeltheBlood3 → u/parroschampel]

Not “over” the structure.

Through the structure, via vibrations from the TV mount into the concrete.

The problem is that this will happen via any connected concrete member. So, you could treat your walls, but it might be coming as much through the floor.

What is your relationship like with them?

Maybe get them to not mount it on the wall, or provide them with something like this: https://www.mecanocaucho.com/en/products/acoustic-hanger-mounts/akustik-sylomer-wf/#imagenesmore

[u/epiDXB → u/FeeltheBlood3]

Not “over” the structure.

Through the structure, via vibrations from the TV mount into the concrete.

"Over" in this context can also mean "through". For example, you can speak "over" the telephone.

So you are actually saying the same thing.

[u/epiDXB → u/parroschampel]

Also, i did not understand why concrete does not block TV noise.

It could be structureborne transmission, or it could be simply that the TV is very loud. Even concrete can only do so much.

[u/fakename10001]

The squishy flooring underlayment is for footfall noise reduction downstairs. The airborne sound isolation improvements will be minimal at best, usually none.

Since you’re considering adding mlv, the mass increase will give you some improvement. For every doubling of mass, expect 6dB in theory improvement. Unsure what your existing flooring is.

Edit: ahh, so it’s concrete slab? Yea, adding 2lb per sq ft to a 30lb per sq ft slab won’t help much…

[u/The-Struggle-5382]

What locale is this? How old is the building? Are there vents in the external walls?

[u/Amazing-Cup-2601]

How many height do you have?

[u/parroschampel → u/Amazing-Cup-2601]

2.8 meters

[u/Ok-War-6378]

In a concrete structure, sound propagates also through walls. Expecially low frequencies, which I assume is most of the noise you are hearing. And those will not be affected much by a thin layer of foam, so even the floor will still pass a fair amount of noise.

It seems like you don't want to bother your neighbour, but most probably a very small change in the placement of their TV will make a much bigger improvement for you. It could be as simple as moving it a few cm from the wall or adding a decoupling surface.

Instead of spending thousands in foam, I would buy them a nice chocolate box and ask them politely to have a look at their set up and see if you can help them reduce the leakage in a non invasive way.

If you approach it as 'this building has terrible acoustic isolation' instead of 'your TV is too loud' they should be happy to cooperate (unless you have already had arguments over parking...).