It is perhaps one of the most common concerns, when fitting a new hardwood floor that the noise created when you walk across the product, will take the gloss off how great the floor looks. However, this doesn’t have to be the case, and the common misconception that hardwood flooring is indeed noisy can easily be dispelled – if the correct underlay is used and the floor is fitted properly.

When easy-to-fit hardwood flooring and lesser quality laminates were introduced a few years ago, the poor quality underlay and low quality products led to the belief that hardwood floors were noisy beasts which should be avoided at all costs. However, with time, hardwood flooring has been shrugging off these unwarranted blips in its reputation, thanks to new high quality products and the resurgence of professional fitting techniques.

When a new hardwood floor is installed, a quality underlay should always be used. Underlay can vary in terms of how thick it is and the material with which it is made. Lower quality underlay includes basic 2mm foam, which can deaden some of the reverberating noise, but higher quality underlays which are usually much thicker can do a great deal more than simply provide a level surface over which to fit the floor.

The quality of the underlay, its thickness and its capability to deaden noise from the floor above are all reflected in the product’s price. However, the investment here is really important, as the heat insulation, sound insulation and deadening qualities of a superior underlay should never be overlooked.