One concern that many have with wooden floors is the amount of noise they create. There are ways that you can reduce the noise without covering your hardwood floors with carpet. After all, what’s the point of spending money on hardwood floors if you are going to cover them up.
Why are hardwood floors noisy?
Upholstered furniture and drapes can reduce the noise from hardwood floors.
The reason that hardwood floors are noisy is that they create the perfect solid surface for sound waves to bounce off of, creating echoes of every step throughout the house. The trick to reducing the noise from hardwood floors is to block the sound waves. There are several ways that you can interrupt sound waves and reduce the noise.
Blocking the sound waves
To prevent the sound waves, you need to add some texture to the walls and windows that will absorb the sounds waves, instead of bouncing them back and forth like a pinball machine. Having drapery and curtains will significantly reduce the sound, but you can also hang quilts and other decorative fabric on a large solid wall to catch some of the noise. The heavier and thicker the material, the more sound it will absorb.
Furniture
If you’re not into hanging tapestries and quilts on your walls, look for furniture with plush fabrics to catch the noise. Merely adding some cushions to wooden chairs in the dining room, or a few decorative pillows, ottomans, table-cloths, and blankets will create a more quiet space, despite hardwood floors.
Regulating the indoor temperature
A “no shoes” policy will significantly reduce the noise.
The sounds of a squeaky floorboard are eliminated by maintaining the temperature inside the house. When the temperature changes, your hardwood floors will react by either expanding or contracting. With higher temperatures and more moisture in the air, floorboards will expand and rub up against each other causing noise. On the other hand, shrunken and dried boards will also create some sound. The more consistent your indoor air quality, the less your floors will complain and make noise.
No shoes
Finally, a “no shoes” policy will greatly reduce the noise. Not wearing shoes indoors will also protect your floors from unnecessary wear and tear.
To talk to a hardwood flooring expert about your floors, contact T&G Flooring in Denver.