Flooring and sound

You definitely should have installed underlayment between the old and new floors. They now manufacture it in varying thicknesses, and it really does mitigate sound. My building had the old 80% rule, but with a few test cases, we found that the underlayment (2/3" thick with added sound-deadening qualities) actually works better than thick wall-to-wall carpet for sound attenuation. I guess it's too late now for you: you're going to need to get area rugs for the areas you walk the most (or in the alternative, you could get new neighbors).

Good luck in any event.

It could be. Our building engineer recommend install sound-proof underpayment on our renovation plan.

Ya, wow. Putting in new floors w/no under layment. I feel sorry for your downstairs neighbors. You can either rip everything out and do it the right way or put on the 80% rugs.

It's like a musical instrument. You have wood on wood. All the more percussion. I don't know who would have advised you to do what you did, but I would imagine that it's significantly louder downstairs and you should do 80% rugs or rip out the floors and start over. Perhaps a floor guy can weight in here...

Start off by walking around the apartment without shoes, particularly women's high heels. Than learn to glide or shuffle around the apartment rather than walking like you do out in the street. If that doesn't do it, get the 80% carpeting in all rooms. I know you hate covering that beautiful new floor but that's what you'll have to do.

Your downstairs neighbors aren't "complainers" they just want the "quiet enjoyment" of their home.

If your building is "exposed beam" construction, i.e. where the ceiling meets the walls, you can see the beams covered in plaster, the building will carry more noise.

I agree with user Riccardo65 - installation of underlayment between the old and new floors is a must! I use Carlos Wood Floors for my wood floor refinishing and installation needs in Manhattan or Brooklyn. You can contact them at carloswoodfloors@gmail.com

Best,
Adam

Thanks for the feedback (mostly). To be clear, the GC dd install underlayment between the old and new though perhaps it's still louder than if it had been ripped out entirely.

Installing the underlayment between the old and new floors indeed muffles the sound so that neighbors are not disturbed. We too had installed these and were happy with the outcome.