Can stairs be soundproofed?
Yes, stairs can be soundproofed to reduce noise in your home and you can soundproof against your neighbours stairs. To soundproof your stairs, you can add acoustic underlay to the treads. This will absorb impact sound at the source. Acoustic mineral wool and soundproofing panels can be installed into the cavity under the stairs. This will minimise the transference of impact noise around your house and through to your neighbours.
If you can hear your neighbours going up and down their stairs, wall soundproofing can be used on your side. To reduce impact noise (footfall), it is best to decouple the wall using isolation clips. If you haven’t got the space, then direct to wall panels will reduce airborne noises (talking and music).
Fix creaking stairs
To fix creaky stairs there are three methods: watered down wood glue in the cracks, tread supports from underneath, or, reinstalling the treads. We will now look at how to fix your creaking stairs, starting with the easiest method of wood glue.
Easiest method to fix creaky stairs
The easiest method to fix creaky stairs is to add a little water to wood glue (good PVA) and mix thoroughly. Add this to the cracks between the treads and risers with a paint brush and try to get as much glue into the cracks as possible. This will reduce friction between the risers and treads and is the easiest way to reduce stairs creaking.
Measure the distance from the edge of the tread to the supporting riser under it and add extra screws into this edge. Drill a pilot hole first with a countersink to ensure the screw head will be flush. This can be covered with wood filler if required.
To create quieter stairs that don’t creak, apply acoustic underlay to the treads. This helps absorb impact and dissipate it more evenly along the surface. MuteMat 2 would be a good choice as it is slim but uses a closed cell foam to control impact. The closed cell material compresses but returns to its original shape after. Carpets can be installed directly over the acoustic underlay and your creaking stairs are fixed!
Stairs that creak badly might need further intervention, there are two more methods to improve your creaking stairs.
Method 2 reducing stair noise
Method two for reducing stair noise is adding support from underneath. This is only possible if you have access to under your stairs. Extra support can be added to the treads where there is most strain on them in the middle. To do this, cut triangular wedges with a 90 degree corner that slots between the tread and riser. Add strong wood glue to the connecting surfaces and screw into place. Be sure that your screws are not too long or they will appear on the other side.
To soundproof your stairs and help mitigate any further creaking, add acoustic mineral wool to the under side of the staircase. Over the top, add acoustic plasterboard which can then be skimmed and painted. This will insulate you against creaking noises. Stair treads can also be fitted with acoustic underlay to treat impact sound at the source.
Professional fix for creaking stairs – acoustic underlay
A professional fix for creaking stairs is to fully restore worn or missing wedges and complete the previous two methods. This requires good access to your staircase from top and underneath. Inspect your staircase and check for worn supporting wedges underneath and replace as needed. Any gaps around the edges of the risers and treads from under or above should be filled. If the gaps are large, use a wood spacer and fit with good wood glue. Alternatively, use a wood filler for very small gaps.
As before, creaking stairs can be soundproofed with acoustic mineral wool insulation and soundproofing plasterboard installed underneath. Over the tops, new screws can be added to treads to help fix them into the risers securely. Acoustic underlay can be laid over the treads to absorb impact and reduce transference. Using acoustic underlay on stairs will require a carpet finish.
Fix for neighbours noisy stairs
A fix for neighbours noisy stairs is wall soundproofing which reduces the transference of noise. It is always best to treat noise at the source, but if your neighbours won’t fix their creaky stairs, you can still improve your problem. Impact noise is the biggest issue from stairs as you’ll hear people walking or running up and down them. Impact noise is harder to reduce than airborne noise as it has more energy, however, decoupling partitions will help.
Soundproof wall against noisy stairs
To soundproof a wall against noisy stairs, use a decoupled partition with isolation clips, MuteClips, to hold a new soundproofing wall away from the existing wall. This will reduce the width of your stairs by 60mm, so ensure you have enough space before starting. By decoupling the new partition, fewer impact vibrations can travel through and transmit into your home. It is important that a soundproof wall for stair noise is installed correctly, as too much contact between the existing structure will allow the vibrations to transmit.
We have installation guides for our wall soundproofing options, as well as an installer network who can professionally finish your job.
Will soundproof wall panels reduce stair noises?
Soundproof wall panels will not stop stair noises as wall panels are designed for airborne noise reduction and creaking stairs is impact noise. To reduce impact noise from your neighbours stairs, a decoupled partition should be installed instead. Soundproof panels will reduce some noise transference from your neighbours stairs, but this will mainly be airborne noise, such as talking.
Another way to reduce noise from your neighbours stairs is to ask them to fix their creaking stairs. Noises treated at the sources are much better contained. There are cheap and easy ways to reduce stair noise, so it is worth talking to them first.
Should my landlord soundproof stairs in common areas?
Yes, your landlord should soundproof stairs in common areas if they own them, in accordance with Part E legislation. The owners of the building should ensure that all common areas meet Part E regulations for the resistance to the passage of sound if the building was constructed or converted after 2003 in the UK.
If stairs run over your flat, the owner of the building can install acoustic mineral wool under the staircase with acoustic plasterboard over the top to insulate against noise. If this is too intrusive, the staircase can have an acoustic underlay added to the treads to help absorb impact at the source.
Why are stairs noisy?
Stairs are noisy when there is friction between the tread and the riser. These are two separate pieces of wood connected with screws or tap in screws and supported by wedges from underneath. Over time, the areas with most traffic and least support in the middle can rub against the riser. This causes a squeaking or creaking noise. Your stairs can be made quieter by replacing or adding more supporting wedges underneath.
The cracks between the risers and treads can also be filled with a watered down PVA wood glue mix. This will reduce the direct friction and reduce the noise.
