Absorbalay 15 is a high-performance acoustic underlay that provides exceptional soundproofing for both airborne and impact noise. At only 15mm thick, it’s designed to fit seamlessly under various types of flooring, including carpet, laminate, vinyl, and engineered wood. Made from a premium closed-cell polymer, sandwiched between two high-mass acoustic barriers, Absorbalay 15 offers superb sound reduction and is straightforward for DIY installation.
What is an Acoustic Underlay?
An acoustic underlay is a specialised layer installed under flooring to reduce noise transmission through floors. Designed to dampen both airborne sounds (like voices and music) and impact noises (such as footsteps and furniture movement), acoustic underlays are essential in creating quieter, more comfortable spaces in homes and workplaces.
How Does an Acoustic Underlay Work?
An acoustic underlay works by absorbing sound energy and preventing it from passing through the floor. Absorbalay 15 achieves this by using a unique combination of materials, including a high-density polymer core, which effectively dampens vibrations and dissipates sound. Its layered design allows it to tackle sound across a broad frequency range, ensuring effective noise reduction for various types of sounds.
What Noise Does the Absorbalay Acoustic Underlay Stop?
Absorbalay 15 is engineered to reduce both impact noise (such as foot traffic, dropped items, and moving furniture) and airborne noise (like conversations, TV sound, and general ambient noise). Thanks to its advanced materials, it significantly minimises the transfer of these noises, providing peace and quiet in even the busiest environments.
Where Can the Absorbalay Acoustic Underlay Be Used?
This versatile underlay can be installed in both residential and commercial spaces. It’s ideal for timber and concrete floors, making it suitable for both new builds and refurbishments. Absorbalay 15 works well under carpets, laminates, vinyl, and engineered wood floors, making it a fantastic choice for living rooms, bedrooms, home offices, and multi-level buildings where soundproofing is essential.
How to Install the Absorbalay Acoustic Underlay
Installation of Absorbalay 15 is designed to be easy for DIY enthusiasts. Simply lay the underlay across the floor, ensuring the entire area is covered, and secure any overlapping edges with soundproofing tape if necessary. Once the underlay is in place, your chosen flooring can be installed directly over it. For added noise reduction, Absorbalay can be combined with an approved ceiling solution to create a fully compliant acoustic system.
What are the Benefits of the Absorbalay Acoustic Underlay?
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Superior Soundproofing: Provides high levels of sound insulation for both impact and airborne noise.
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Slim Profile: At just 15mm thick, Absorbalay 15 offers maximum soundproofing without sacrificing floor height.
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DIY Friendly: Easy to install for anyone with basic DIY skills.
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Durable and Resilient: With excellent crush resistance, Absorbalay maintains performance under high loads, making it ideal for active spaces.
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Enhanced Comfort: Adds a layer of comfort and insulation, keeping floors quieter and warmer.
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Compliant Design: Can be used as part of a regulation E compliant system for optimal soundproofing.
Need help calculating how many boards you need?
Have a look at our Absorbalay Solution Calculator which will walk you through what you need, and show potential upgrades which can enhance the performance of the system even further.
Absorbalay can be used as part of a regulation E compliant system, in conjunction with an approved ceiling solution (we can help you with that too!). We know you will discover that this is the most impressive mat on the market, so please call us on 0208 123 9710, or email us, if you would like to request a sample.
In addition to the acoustic performance it is vital to assess the "crush ability" of any mat based products, as this will have implications on its performance at higher load (i.e. running children). Many mats will perform reasonably in a test environment but come up short in a real world situation. In terms of "crush ability", the Absorbalay, we believe, is best in class. This also means it is more suitable for customers who are looking to add a floating floor to the surface.
As you can see from the test result below, Absorbalay performs very favourably against competing products, in the above system:
Impact (L'ntW) = 47dB
Airborne (DnTw) = 61dB
See our guide to what these numbers mean!
See our Datasheet for this product.
Installation Instructions
Detailed PDF installation instructions can be found here.
Notes on soundproofing
As with all rubber mat solutions, airborne sound reduction is limited. For best results, use acoustic mineral wool between joists and seal all gaps in floorboards with acoustic sealant. The key is to make the installation as airtight as possible.
Prior to starting work
- Absorbalay can be laid under all common floor finishes.
- Ensure the existing floor is clean and free of debris.
- Fill gaps in floorboards with acoustic mastic before laying the mat.
- Remove skirting boards and check for protruding nails or screws.
- Mats can be cut with a hand saw, circular saw, or jigsaw.
Installing Absorbalay 15 Impact Mat
- Lay mats loosely (with tight joints) or bond them with a suitable polyurethane adhesive.
- Leave a 2–3mm gap around the perimeter; fill with acoustic mastic.
- Joints should be as close as possible. Small gaps can be sealed with mastic if required.
Installing carpet over Absorbalay
Carpet can be installed directly onto the mat, or with gripper rods if required:
- Existing stretched carpet: Refit using double-sided carpet tape (available in DIY/carpet shops).
- Using gripper rods: Fix a 25mm x 10mm wooden batten around the perimeter before laying Absorbalay. Screw the gripper rods into the batten so they sit above the mat. Seal gaps between the batten and wall, and between batten and mat, with acoustic mastic.
Installing laminate flooring
Bond a 6mm plywood layer onto the Absorbalay mat before laying laminate flooring.
Upgrades
- With acoustic mineral wool: Install mineral wool between joists before laying Absorbalay. Cut slightly wider than the joist gaps so it holds in place. For pipes, split the wool horizontally and fit above and below.
- With Tecsound 70/100: Lay Tecsound first, directly over clean floorboards. Butt tightly to walls, cut with a sharp knife, and cover the full floor area. Absorbalay can then be installed on top.
Optional ply surface
If adding a 6mm ply surface, use a high-tack, solvent-free vinyl adhesive such as Bostik Laybond Vinyl. Some customers find priming the ply with diluted PVA helps adhesion.
Also see our SBx Board range for alternatives to rubber mats.
