First Floor Extension - Hollow Sounding Floor

ben0101

Good evening all We have recently purchased a 1930's semi with a 2-floor rear extension. The upstairs floors' floor sounds hollow (for want of a better term) in that when downstairs you can hear footsteps, talking and even number 1's when someone's using the en-suite. You also feel like you have to tip-toe when walking around upstairs as footsteps resonate badly. I've looked under the floor by removing a downlight from the downstairs ceiling and there is no insulation whatsoever in there - it's just a void approx. 6" high with joists supporting the first floor chipboard.

Am I right in thinking I can just pack the 'inner' of the floor with insulation? How do they normally build extensions/new builds? as it seems very 'cheap' to me.

Thankyou very much for reading Hopefully someone can help.

Doozergirl

That's how they build them, but yes, you can put batts of acoustic insulation between the joists to improve it.

stuart45

Better than the old method of sand pugging between the joists.

teneighty

Doozergirl wrote: »

That's how they build them, but yes, you can put batts of acoustic insulation between the joists to improve it.

That's how they used to build them.

It's been a Building Regulations requirement to have mineral fibre quilt in the floor void of upper floors within a single dwelling house, including extensions since 2003. Also internal partitions between bedrooms, bathrooms etc.

If you are going to retro fit something you really need a fairly dense mineral fibre quilt, not just any old insulation. Hell of a job though trying to drag it through between the floor joists.

ben0101

teneighty wrote: »

That's how they used to build them.

It's been a Building Regulations requirement to have mineral fibre quilt in the floor void of upper floors within a single dwelling house, including extensions since 2003. Also internal partitions between bedrooms, bathrooms etc.

If you are going to retro fit something you really need a fairly dense mineral fibre quilt, not just any old insulation. Hell of a job though trying to drag it through between the floor joists.

Thank you for that. Looks like the floors' coming up then! When you say 'drag through the joists', what do you mean? Would you not just line 'between' each joist, sitting the quilt on the downstairs ceiling? (never done this before so please excuse my ignorance).