HEY THERE! Oops sorry, was that too loud? I hope I didn't disturb you. It’s not like you need any added extra noise in this day and age is it, what with all the machines constantly whirring, non-stop traffic and 24 hour reruns of Absolutely Fabulous blurring out the box. Okay so maybe that last one is just an issue in my house but whatever your guilty pleasure at home or pet peeve at work, noise reduction is something we can all benefit from and I’m here to tell you how carpet tiles can go a really, really long way to contributing to this.
From overexcited kids in the classroom and rowdy teenagers in the corridors, to constant telephone conversations in the office and the annoying buzz of the photocopier, carpet tiles can help hush ‘em all. Even if you’re just dreaming of a better nights sleep in your own bedroom or looking to kitting out a luxurious hotel, this marvellous modular creation that we sing the praises of is a great place to start.
The science of it all
If you’re anything like me, you might not have been listening very carefully in science lessons so I thought I’d include a little recap to refresh your memory. So in a nutshell, we are able to hear things as any given sound creates a vibration, which then travels through the air rapidly in a series of waves. These sound waves then continue their journey until they hit a surface that either absorbs them, lets them pass through and away, or continues to reflect them back around the room.
As you can probably guess, surfaces with sound absorbing properties are the way to go for a bit of peace and quiet. However, before we explore your options in a little more detail, I want you to understand what you’re dealing with because when it comes to interiors, there are two troublesome contenders.
Internal sound - this is the noise being created within a space like the sound of a busy day at the office or a hungry toddler fighting for their right to eat jelly and ice cream for dinner.
Impact noise - this is the noise seeping in from surrounding areas. Like you need that too, right?
Less is more (noise)
As I mentioned above, surfaces with the ability to absorb sound waves are the aim of the game here but unfortunately, this doesn’t come hand-in-hand with the minimalist interiors we all love so much today. While hard flooring, glass panels and exposed brick might be all the rage, they do absolutely nothing for obliterating excess noise.
Modern offices, public spaces and even some homes remove walls, partitions, doors and good old fashioned insulation in favour of trendy aesthetic but with the right products, you can have it all and your floor is a pretty good starting point. It is one of the largest continuous spaces in any room after all.
Here’s what you can do about it
Basically, whether you’re at home or in the office, excess noise and unwanted sounds can be a right royal pain in the behind. There’s no doubt about it. So now we understand a little bit more about the behaviour of sound waves and what they’re getting up to while they’re whizzing around the room like stealthy invisible ninjas, we can begin to do something about combatting them.
Cosy up with carpet tiles - Using carpet tiles as a floor covering will drastically improve your ability to reduce the levels of unwanted noise for they will absorb the sound waves that traditional hard flooring will merely reflect back into the room.
Indulge in some InstaLay - Give your carpet tiles a little extra defence against the din by backing them with some insulating InstaLay before laying them on the subfloor. This might cost a bit more but hey, if it means you get an extra hours or sleep or boosted productivity during your working day, it’ll be worth it.
Pick the right products - Internal noise and impact sound will be no match for a good quality carpet tile so I’ve brought a teeny tiny selection together to whet your appetite. Both Modulyss tiles are enhanced by a 100% PES fleece covering, while Tessera opts for polyester fleece and Nouveau uses a plush pile height to fend against any racket.
YouTube
