Soundproofing Rubber Sheet

Dense Acoustic Rubber Sheet for Walls, Floors, Ceilings and Machinery

Good soundproofing comes down to mass, sealing and separation. This acoustic rubber sheet gives you the mass and the damping. It is heavy for its thickness, limp rather than rigid, and comes in 14 thicknesses from 1.5mm to 25mm. At 3mm it weighs 4.2 kg/m², and you buy only the length you need.

First, identify your noise problem

Different noise needs a different fix. Find yours below.

• Voices, TV or music through a wall or ceiling: this is airborne noise. It needs mass and an airtight build. Fit the sheet between layers of plasterboard, with mineral wool in the cavity.
• Footsteps or dropped objects through a floor: this is impact noise. Lay the sheet as a resilient layer under a floating floor, so the new floor is not fixed to the structure.
• Machine hum felt through the floor: this is vibration. Stop it at the source by cutting thick sheet into pads for under the machine feet.
• Drumming or rattling metal: this is panel resonance. Bond thin sheet to van walls, ducts, hoppers or machine guards to damp it.
• Echo inside a room: this is a room acoustics problem, and it needs soft absorbent panels. Rubber sheet stops sound passing through a structure, so it is not the right fix for echo alone.

Which thickness do I need?

Weight matters when you choose. A 1.25m wide sheet weighs about 5.25kg per metre at 3mm and 17.5kg per metre at 10mm. Check that your fixings can carry it, and plan on two people for longer, heavier lengths.

What results to expect

• Mass has limits: doubling the weight of a layer adds around 5 to 6dB. That is a useful gain, not a cure, so separated layers usually beat one thicker sheet.
• Gaps undo good work: sound leaks through sockets, pipe holes and floor edges. Seal them with acoustic sealant, or the noise will go around the sheet.
• Bass is the hardest: low sounds such as bass, plant hum and traffic rumble need more mass and an air gap. Choose 8mm or above.
• The whole build sets the result: the dB reduction you get comes from the complete wall, floor or ceiling, not the sheet alone.

How to fit it

• Walls and ceilings: fix the sheet over the studs or existing board, then cover it with plasterboard. Butt the joints tightly or overlap them, and seal the edges. Use mechanical fixings as well as adhesive, because the sheet is heavy.
• Floors: loose-lay the sheet on a clean, level floor, then lay the floating floor on top. Use a perimeter strip so the new floor does not touch the walls.
• Machines: cut pads larger than each foot. If the machine is bolted down, use isolating washers or sleeves, because a rigid bolt carries vibration straight through the pad. For heavy or high-speed plant, ask an engineer to check the load.
• Metal panels: clean and degrease the panel, then bond the sheet with contact adhesive.
• Cutting: use a sharp knife and a straight edge. Thicker sheet takes several passes.

How much to order

One metre of 1.25m wide sheet covers 1.25m². One metre of 2m wide sheet covers 2m². Measure your area, divide by the width and add 5 to 10% for trimming. For bigger jobs, we also sell full 10m x 1.4m rolls.

Good to know before you buy

• Is it the same as mass loaded vinyl? It does the same job as a heavy, limp barrier layer. Compare products by kg/m², because weight is what blocks the sound.
• Will it soundproof a room on its own? No single product does. Combine it with insulation, extra plasterboard and well-sealed gaps for the biggest improvement.
• Building Regulations: where work must meet Part E, follow a tested construction. This sheet is one component, not a certified system.
• Fire safety: this sheet is not sold with a fire classification. Check the requirements before using it in ceilings, escape routes or commercial fit-outs.