Description
Sound Isolation Mat for Tile, Hardwood, & LVT
Floor Blokker is an acoustic sound barrier underlayment, a sound isolation mat that goes between the subfloor and the finish floor. It is two layers bonded together: a limp 1 lb/sf mass loaded vinyl (EVA) layer that adds weight to the floor, and a polyester scrim that isolates the finish floor from the subfloor. The result cuts both kinds of floor noise, the footsteps you feel and the voices and TV you hear.
It is 1/4 in thick and compresses to 3/16 in under the finished floor, so it barely changes floor height. Contractors use it in apartments, condos, hotels and offices because it is the most cost-effective way to meet the STC/IIC 50 building code requirement on common wood and concrete floors.
Floor Soundproofing Membrane: How It Blocks Noise
A floor carries two kinds of noise. Impact noise, like footsteps and dropped objects, travels through the structure as vibration and is rated by IIC. Airborne noise, like voices, music and TV, passes through as sound and is rated by STC.
Rubber and felt underlayments soften impacts but add almost no weight, so they do little for airborne noise. Floor Blokker does both: the scrim layer absorbs the impact, and the vinyl layer adds mass that blocks sound passing through the floor. That vinyl layer is also impermeable, so Floor Blokker doubles as an air and moisture barrier under the finished floor. It is made from post-industrial recycled material, contains no PVC, and is 100% recyclable at end of life.
Sound Attenuation Matting Specs
Full floor-ceiling assemblies tested with Floor Blokker. Building codes for multi-family typically require IIC 50 and STC 50; every assembly below clears both.
| Finish floor & assembly | Footsteps (IIC) | Voices & TV (STC) |
|---|---|---|
| LVT6 in concrete slab with ceilingBest result | 70 | 60 |
| Laminate8 in concrete slab with ceiling | 58 | 58 |
| LVT6 in concrete slab, no ceiling | 56 | 50 |
| Engineered hardwoodWood joist with 1.5 in gypsum concrete | 55 | 54 |
| Ceramic tileWood joist with 1.5 in gypsum concrete | 55 | 50 |
| Ceramic tile6 in concrete slab | 51 | 53 |
Floor Blokker is also tested in UL L500 series floor-ceiling assemblies. More results are in the Floor Blokker IIC lab tests from our sister company, Commercial Acoustics.
Soundproofing Ceramic Tile Floors
Tile is the loudest floor there is, and most underlayments are not rated to go under it. Floor Blokker is approved by the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) for light commercial use under ceramic and porcelain tile.
- Black (EVA) side down. Under tile, the vinyl side faces the subfloor.
- Use a polyurethane adhesive. Adhere the mat to the subfloor with a premium polyurethane-based vinyl tile adhesive. Do not use water-based latex adhesives.
- Keep grout joints tight. Mortar joints no wider than 1/8 in, with a polymer-fortified grout.
How to Install Floor Blokker Under Hardwood, Laminate, & LVT
- Install late in the build. Once the space is dried in, ideally after drywall, and cover it with the finish floor within two weeks.
- Seal the walls first. Run acoustical caulk along the base of shared walls before the mat goes down.
- Put the right side up. For nail-down or glue-down hardwood, glue-down LVT and carpet, the black EVA side faces up. Check the instructions for floating floors.
- Butt the edges. Lay pieces edge to edge across the room with no overlaps or gaps.
- Use 5mm LVT or thicker. Thinner LVT may not be stiff enough over the mat. Test a sample first.
The Floor Blokker installation instructions (PDF) cover each floor type. One installer can lay about 2,000 sq ft a day.
Acoustic Sound Mat vs Rubber Underlayment
| Floor Blokker | Acoustic Rubber Underlayment | Floor Blokker Lite | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Made of | Mass loaded vinyl + polyester scrim | Recycled rubber crumb | Polyester felt + vapor film |
| Footsteps (Delta IIC) | 26 | 20–26 by thickness | 25 |
| Voices & TV | ✓ Blocks them, STC 25 min | – Very little | – Not blocked |
| Under tile | ✓ TCNA approved | ✓ Glued down | – Laminate & hardwood only |
| Moisture barrier | ✓ Built in | – Add a separate barrier | ✓ Built in |
| Thickness | 1/4 in, one option | 2mm to 10mm | 0.10 in |
| Best for | Blocking noise both ways in apartments & condos | Matching a thickness to the floor height | Quieter footsteps on floating floors |
For every option side by side, see our guide to the best soundproof underlayment for floors.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a sound isolation mat?
- A thin layer between the subfloor and the finish floor that keeps noise from passing through. Floor Blokker adds a mass loaded vinyl layer, so it blocks airborne noise as well as footsteps.
- Can Floor Blokker go under ceramic tile?
- Yes. It is TCNA approved for light commercial use under ceramic and porcelain tile. Lay it black side down, adhere it with a polyurethane vinyl tile adhesive and keep mortar joints to 1/8 in.
- How many rolls do I need?
- Each roll covers 100 sq ft. Measure the floor, divide by 100 and add about 10% for cuts. A 12 x 15 ft room is 180 sq ft, so order two rolls.
- Does it work under LVT?
- Yes. Use LVT 5mm or thicker, glued down with the black EVA side up. Over a 6 in concrete slab with a ceiling below, it tested at IIC 70 and STC 60.
- Should I use Floor Blokker or rubber underlayment?
- Choose Floor Blokker when you need to stop voices and TV as well as footsteps. Choose rubber when footsteps are the only problem or you need a particular thickness.
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