Howdy all – I have a rental condo where I’d like to replace the kitchen linoleum with tile. But, the condo assoc is persnickety about that. The floors are not concrete, just wood joists. Has anyone come up with a tile installation that deadens some noise? Maybe two layers of 1/4″ backer? A cork layer? Space Shuttle heat shield tiles? Thanks for any and all advice.
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Two things help ... mass, and resiliant materials. A thickset floor would help, if you can stand the increased floor thickness. Unfortunately, resiliant materials would trend to flex, which would lead to cracking grout and tile.
Does the condo manager have a suggesstion?
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
The Tile Council does have details shown tile thinset over 1/2" cork.But it only shows it with the cork over concrete. And requres a minium of 8x8 tiles.
Yeah, what Ed said. If condo association is persnickety about the floors, why didn't they insist on better construction? (Oops, that was "out loud" . . . )
Yeah, I'd want to know what "quiet" installs they are happy with.
Going to thickset or building up with CBU or over an isolation material is just spreading the noise over a larger area. There's some sound transmission loss as a result, but a nitpicker downstairs will always have something to gripe about (just have to hope said crank is not president of the COA . . . )
Ok, so I googled, and found this: http://www.acousticalsurfaces.com/echo_eliminator/images/floorunder.pdf (see Method #3) Here's the product page for the material: http://www.acousticalsurfaces.com/echo_eliminator/qfloor.htm?d=0
I've not used it, this is just from a Google search--but, it could be an answer for you. Hmm, they also have a recycled rubber u/l product . . .
I was at Dal-Tile picking up some materials, and they had a bunch of sample cards on the counter. One is Dal-CIM 500, crack isolation membrane, sound control underlayment. No idea of the cost.
It is a peel & stick product, 40 mils thick (less than 1/16"), with a woven fabric on top. It says in part: "Passes ASTM E-90 and E-492 for sound reduction under thin-set tile. Ratings: IIC-67, STC-55"
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
There are some new products out. One is a ceramic tile fastened to a snap-together wooden base. The parts are snapped together then grouted.
Another is a similar product but is not actual tile and does not take grout. But it is a very high end and durable surface, not at all like vinyl tile.
Perhaps one of those would be quieter. A good large flooring store may have some suggestions.