People are always looking for solutions when it comes to controlling sound in any room. One of the most significant issues comes down to footsteps and squeaky floors, but there is a solution out there that helps with that.
In fact, it is useful and inexpensive, which is precisely what people are looking for. Soundproof joist tape is something that many people have been using over the years, and it has proven to be extremely valuable.
For some people, this is the first time they have ever heard of soundproof joist tape, so they might not know what it consists of. This is a closer look at what joist tape does, how it works, and where it can be purchased.
What Is Soundproof Joist Tape?
The purpose of Soundproof Joist Tape (Amazon) is to apply to the top of the floor joists to create a buffer between that and the subfloor.
By doing this, there is a massive decrease in the amount of audible impact sound; whether it is coming from the footsteps, people have walking across the floor or something else. It also eliminates floor squeaking, as that usually happens when the subfloor ends up rubbing against the joist.
While the primary purpose for joist tape is to use on the floor, some people also use it on the ceiling and walls. This is because it can act as a bit of a decoupler between the studs and the drywall, which helps out with soundproofing as well.
It does not work the same as decoupling, mainly because the drywall is still attached to the studs, but it does provide a little bit of assistance.
Joist tape is great for soundproofing, but there is another major reason why so many people look into purchasing this. What it mainly helps with outside is the overall protection of a deck’s substructure.
It allows the wood to breathe a bit, while also protecting all of the screw holes from moisture. This will help preserve the life of a deck overall, and do much more than just simple soundproofing.
No matter where the tape is located, it does help with thermal rating to some degree. It can block heat/cold transfer, which helps out considerably in the end.
All in all, soundproof joist tape is a useful option to turn to. A lot of people have counted on it as a fix that works. There might be some other solutions out there that work just as well, but it is inexpensive and easy for anyone to use.
Here’s an article talking about Assessment of Footstep Noise through Wood‐Joist.
Joist Tape Shopping Tips
While there are a few well-known brands out there for joist tape, it depends on what a person is trying to do with the joist tape when shopping for the right option.
Some frame themselves as very versatile for multiple settings, but everything from the material to the thickness plays a role.
Material
This is the major decision right away with joist tape. There are two main types of material used for joist tape, and that is asphalt or butyl.
Most people prefer to use butyl tape, as it can handle a wider range of temperatures overall. This makes it great for outdoors, and it also creates a bit more stickiness when originally put down.
Asphalt joist tape is still perfectly fine, and companies like DeckWise and Co-Fair products use precisely that. It all comes down to exactly where the joist tape is actually used.
Installation
There is really nothing too crazy about installing joist tape, so do not worry too much about the different processes. Try to find something that involves very minimal cuts, and little to no overlap. This makes everything very even and easy to install.
Thickness
There is good and bad using different thicknesses out there for joist tape. If someone goes with a very thin option, they can get a very close application process, but it might not last as long or be as effective.
However, go too thick, and it becomes something that just does not fit right, and requires a lot of extra maintenance.
Most people like to stay in the 25 mm range more or less with joist tape thickness. Again, it comes down to exactly where a person plans on putting the joist tape in their home.
Price
There are budget joist tape options out there as anything else, but it is so inexpensive that it is really not worth trying to save a few extra dollars. Go with a trusted brand with joist tape, and do not look back.
Unless a person is looking to invest in a ton of this tape, there really is not going to be enough of a difference to make people too frustrated. Most rolls come in either 50 feet or 75 feet, which will cover a lot of areas.
What Companies Produce Soundproof Joist Tape, Where Can It Be Purchased?
The most popular noise proofing joist tape out there comes from Green Glue (Amazon), and they sell the product the same way they sell just about any of their products.
They have several certified distributors located throughout the world, but some people prefer to deal with them directly as well. It takes a little more time to have shipments when ordering online, but the price might be a little more affordable.
Most store locations are all pretty much the same as far as how much they charge. Some lesser-known companies produce something that is very similar, which is one way to save a little bit of money.
Green glue is known for several other soundproofing options that they sell, so people trust what they bring to the table. They make it very easy for people to use, as they can peel it and stick the tape very easily without having to do much else.
When used on flooring, gravity helps to make sure that it does not move too much at all, so the tape itself is not as sticky as one might expect.
Some other trusted companies out there that offer joist tape include Imus Seal, Deckwise, and Trex Protect.
The great thing about this tape is that it works indoors and outdoors, which always helps out as far as versatility is concerned. When used on untreated wood, it can protect it from rotting and aging in general.
Other Solutions To Fix Floor Joist Noise
The reason why so many people turn to soundproof joist tape is that it is straightforward to apply.
There are other solutions out there that work without question, but it can sometimes be quite a bit more complicated.
Insulation Between Floors
The only way to truly block sound is to separate the different surfaces. That means adding some type of material that does exactly that.
Some insulation between floors is one way to go. There needs to be a sound barrier in the open joist spaces to handle everything effectively.
To pull it off, remove the ceiling drywall and put some type of insulation in the joist space. This is where a joist tape might come in handy, but if that is not the case, putting in some type of insulation works as well.
After that, apply new ceiling drywall, and go from there. There is also the option of using resilient channels to soundproof the drywall, even more, thus adding a second layer of drywall and going from there.
Flooring Underlayment
Many people will put flooring underlayment to smooth out a surface and make a flooring installation that much easier.
While that indeed serves a certain purpose, there is also the ability to use it as some soundproofing material, as long as everything is picked out appropriately.
There are a few different types of foam that make sense, such as polyethylene foam, and acoustic foam. Acoustic foam does a little bit better as far as soundproofing is concerned, but it can be a little too thick for some people.
If the goal is to not really mess with the floor height too much, polyethylene foam might be a better choice.
Felt helps as far as noise conduction is concerned, but it is pretty expensive compared to other options. It is heavier than foam, and a lot denser. This is why so many people will turn to this if they have it in the budget.
Acoustic Underlayment Made of Recycled Wood
This specific type of wood is thicker than most other plywood products out there, which really helps out with killing sound right away.
It elevates the floor in a bit, but that comes in handy since it creates a bit of dead air. There is much less sound that can transmit from one floor to the next in this case.
Cement
Getting some cement under the floor obviously will provide quite a bit of a sound barrier, but it is just not feasible in a lot of situations.
Do not be someone who automatically jumps to cement and tries to hope for the best, because it is not going to work in too many settings. It is going to be a great option if it is available, and is going to be much more effective overall than joist tape.
Is investing in soundproofing joist tape worth it?
The cost of soundproofing joist tape, plus the ease of actually using it, make it something that a lot of people should look into as long as they are having any trouble with noise.
Maybe it’s not going to make the biggest difference in the world, but it is one of those things that is too easy to use, not to give a try at least.
There are many people who have spent a ton of money on other soundproofing material that does not work nearly as well. Maybe it will not be as effective as some might like, but since it can be used on all the different surfaces in a home, it makes sense to at least play around with.
Start by using it on the floor first, since it is most effective in that location. If it is something that seems like it is working, the ceiling and the walls also can use the treatment.
It is about as simple as it can get from an application process, but if it is part of larger construction, it might be best to leave it to a professional. They can attach the tape and continue going on with the other work instead of slowing things up by letting someone else do it.