Advanced solutions from Hush Acoustics can help to optimise the quality and appeal of LVT – luxury vinyl tile – flooring by providing a choice of highly effective sound reduction treatments for use during its installation, either from its acoustic underlay range or in the form of one of its fully tested acoustic floor systems.

This is particularly important for LVT laid over concrete floors where property owners and developers are usually focused on impact sound transmission, given how the material’s hardness and mass contributes to unwanted noise. With the right approach and acoustic products however, levels of airborne sound transmitting through the floor can also be minimised, an issue which is sometimes overlooked with concrete, and Hush Acoustics is ideally placed to assist to address both issues through its range of products and systems.

The popularity of LVT has grown significantly in recent years, with the estimated UK market for this type of floorcovering now valued at around £700m according to 2024 forecasts. With its appealing softness and warmth compared to laminate and engineered wood, plus its integral layer of underlay, it has become one of the go-to choices for use over concrete floors.

However, sound reduction measures may also need to be taken to ensure the potential for noise issues is reduced. Best practice to achieve the highest levels of acoustic performance is either to use an additional specialist acoustic underlay or an acoustic floor system, depending on the concrete floor condition and a variety of factors such as floor build-up height and budget.

In projects where the concrete floor is in good condition and the goal is to achieve a level of sound reduction that exceeds the performance offered by entry level LVT underlay, Hush Acoustics offers two specialist types of underlay that are easy and quick to install.

Hush Underlay for LVT Flooring has been purpose-designed for use with this type of floorcovering, offering impact sound reduction of 18 dB (ISO 10140-3:2010). Manufactured from recycled materials, this underlay a low-weight and low-gauge to provide excellent impact sound reduction for such a thin product – just 1.6mm, exhibiting no plasticiser migration in direct contact with PVC.

The low gauge means recovery is maximised of both the underlay and the tile when the products are subjected to point loading.

Another type of underlay that could be used is the Hush FFR Resilient Underlay. This is manufactured from fully recycled rubber and is suitable for many different types of hard and soft floorcovering. The specially selected rubber particles and fibres are designed to give excellent resilience yet upmost compressive strength, with excellent impact sound reduction provided up to 21 dB in the 5mm thick version.

In projects where a higher level of acoustic performance is required, especially where the Building Regulations apply, such as Approved Document E, installing a new subfloor under the LVT in the form of an acoustic floor system is recommended. Hush Acoustics offers a range of fully tested systems to suit different types of concrete floor and performance goals, suitable for both new build and conversion (Material Change of Use) projects.

For example, for floors constructed using a concrete slab, the HD1007 Hush System HDC can enhance the levels of both impact and airborne sound reduction. It does this by creating a floating floor and decoupling the ceiling below using battens without adding significant depth to the separating floor and ceiling overall.

For very high acoustic performance, the HD1037 Acoustic Batten 55 System MF is highly recommended, subject to the existing concrete floor being suitable. This combines resilient 55mm acoustic battens with a metal frame (MF) suspended ceiling to offer even greater decoupling and separation, with the benefit of creating a service void that can be filled with Hush Slab sound absorbers for increased airborne sound insulation.

Find out more about the products and systems available from Hush Acoustics at www.hushacoustics.co.uk or call 0114 352 0728.