Noise and Hard Floor Surfaces

Research has shown that the trend for installing hard flooring surfaces has led to an increase in noise disturbance to neighbours - particularly in apartments and flats. These floorings include:

• timber laminates
• sanded floorboards
• ceramic tiles.

This can lead to significant stress for affected occupants, and tension and disputes between neighbours.

I'm thinking of installing laminate flooring, what should I do?

• Check your lease if you live in a flat or apartment. Because of the known problems with noise transmission to neighbours some leases prohibit hard floor surfaces.
  
  
• Seek expert advice on the best resilient underlay to place beneath the floor. The underlay is there to provide sound insulation between you and your neighbours, particularly to the 'clatter, click' of impact noise. Not forgetting that the right underlay can extend the life of your floor.
  
  
• Use rugs in areas of high foot traffic.
  
  
• Avoid wearing shoes indoors - particularly hard soled and heeled shoes. Instead, why not wear soft soled slippers or no shoes.

My neighbour has installed laminate flooring and I'm constantly disturbed by the noise of them walking, what should I do?

Register your concern using our |online noise reporting form and we will contact you to discuss your specific complaint in more detail.

Further information

More detailed information is available from the |DEFRA website.