Loud Neighbors? Can Thick Carpet and Padding Help Reduce Noise?

Noisy Neighbors! Can Heavier Carpet or Thicker Padding Help Reduce Noise, Stomping Feet and Bothersome Sounds from Neighbors?

Hi Alan,

I just checked out your website, CarpetProfessor.com, as I want to purchase and install a very durable, soil and stain resistant carpet in my heavy-traffic rental apartment, by end of this month. I also want to reduce the sound coming from my upstairs neighbors.

I own a fairly-new three-floor, two-family home, with the first two floors owner-occupied and the 3rd floor is a rental. The rental has 2 bedrooms, a storage room, living room and dining area, a very long staircase from ground floor to the rental apartment and another staircase inside rental apartment to the terrace.

I believe the two staircases have about 44 steps total. I just remodeled the rental apartment and removed all the old carpet as my last tenants soiled and stained the carpet beyond recognition.

I tried to get expert carpet advice, but my first two tries ended in disaster.

I tried National Floors Direct and found their salesperson a fraud and a scam using high pressure sales tactics.

He was more interested in getting a down payment from me than recommending or advising me on best carpet and padding.

He wanted a $2,000 down payment for a carpet he first priced at $7,500 and then dropped the price to $4,500 if I paid the deposit before he leaves. This was a very bad experience and scary.

Then I tried Empire Today, which sent an inexperienced salesperson to me and that did not go well.

I found the guy only interested in making money and did not care if I made wise and informed choices.

Then I found your website. Your free information about carpet and padding was very valuable to me so I thought I would ask for your help.

I need to install new carpet throughout the entire rental apartment by end of this month.

Best Carpet and Pad Options for Loud Neighbors?

The owner-occupied floors and the rental floor are not sound proof and we are very concerned about loud noise coming from the upstairs tenants’ floor. I originally wanted to install tiles in the tenants’ floor but decided against it because tiles do not reduce the noise or absorb sound.

I know a good quality carpet and padding does help reduce and absorb sound, so I decided I would install carpet in the rental floor and on staircases. However, I am still trying to figure out the best type of noise or sound reducing, durable, soil and stain resistant carpet and padding to purchase. So here are my main questions:

Q. What carpet and padding would you recommend for the rental apartment, bedrooms, living and dining rooms and storage room to reduce the sound from stomping feet and other loud noises coming from the upstairs apartment?

Q. I see where you recommended a commercial-grade carpet for the staircase, but would this help reduce noise or sound better than a residential-grade carpet and pad?

I live in Queens, NY near your recommended Bay Ridge Carpet & Linoleum Carpet Dealer. I plan to check out this company tomorrow or so and I hope they are still trustworthy and honest as you indicate on your website.

Which Carpet and Padding Will Reduce Noise Best?

Alan please reply to my email and questions ASAP. I really need your help and recommendations on best carpet and padding to purchase to meet my needs. I took your Carpet Foot-traffic Test and the results show I have Heavy-Traffic. Thanks, and God Bless, Kim

Reply:

Hi Kim,
Your dealings with Empire and National is par for the course. Sorry you had to go through that. It is well known that most nationally advertised retailers use high-pressure sales tactics and their sales reps have limited knowledge about the products they sell. I always recommend buying from a locally owned and family run carpet dealer.

I can’t tell you what grade of carpet you need to to buy, as there are so many options for you to consider. If you allow pets, then you might want to consider installing a lower priced carpet. Pets that have frequent wet accidents can ruin an expensive carpet just a fast as an inexpensive carpet. You already know how much damage some tenants and their pets can do. If your tenants will be staying for many years and have no pets, then a better grade of carpet might be a better option.

Does thick carpet or padding help reduce noise and sound?

I think you should select at least an 8-pound density “Rebond” type padding to help reduce noise from your upstairs tenants.Rebond is the most economical padding and it does a great job of supporting the carpet and has excellent sound deadening properties.

The padding thickness to choose will depend on the type and style of carpet you select. In most cases a 7/16″ padding thickness will be appropriate. Some dealers have higher density pads and increased thicknesses. Too much padding thickness can cause your carpets to develop wrinkles. A half inch thickness is where I would draw the line for a frieze, plush or textured style carpet. Looped Berber styles are not a good choice for rentals because they tend to snag easily.

I do think it would be wise to select a commercial-grade carpet for your stairs and use a synthetic-fiber padding. It is a dense pad and has anti-microbial properties. It will last longer and help quiet the sound of stomping feet. Stairs always take a beating and a commercial grade carpet and pad is more durable and will save you money in the long run.

Loud Neighbors? Will Carpet or Padding Reduce Noise?

Bear in mind that you will still have some noises and sounds from neighbors that you will need to live with and tolerate. Even the thickest carpet and padding can only do so much to reduce the noises and sounds from people living near you.

Yes, Ritchie’s Bay Ridge Carpet is still my #1 carpet choice in Brooklyn and they can help you select a carpet that will serve you best and help reduce the noise from your upstairs neighbors!

Link;
http://www.CarpetProfessor.com/preferred_carpet_store_in_new_york_NY.htm

Be sure to print out my discount carpet coupon to save up to $100 on your purchase. Let me know how it goes! Please tell Ritchie I sent you!

Kind Regards,

Alan aka The Carpet Professor
www.carpetprofessor.com

Reply:

Thanks Alan and God Bless you. You are the best. I will tell Ritchie you sent me, Kim

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