Absorbalay 15 Acoustic Barrier Mat is a high-performance acoustic floor underlay designed to help reduce both impact noise and airborne noise through floor structures. Measuring 1200mm x 1200mm x 15mm, each mat covers 1.44m² and provides a slim acoustic layer for timber and concrete floor applications.
Absorbalay 15 is made from a closed-cell polymer core sandwiched between two high-mass acoustic barrier layers. This layered construction helps reduce footfall noise, vibration transfer and airborne sound movement through floors, making it a practical option for flats, apartments, bedrooms, living rooms, home offices and refurbishment projects.
Absorbalay 15 is used as an acoustic floor mat beneath suitable floor finishes. It is commonly installed over timber floorboards, chipboard decks, concrete floors and other suitable subfloors as part of a wider floor soundproofing system.
It is designed to help reduce noise passing through floors, especially where footsteps, dropped items, furniture movement, voices, TV noise or general room-to-room sound transfer are an issue.
Absorbalay 15 works by combining resilient and high-mass acoustic layers. The resilient core helps cushion and reduce impact vibration, while the dense acoustic barrier layers help add mass and reduce airborne sound transfer.
This combination makes Absorbalay 15 useful for floor soundproofing where both impact noise and airborne noise need to be considered. For best results, it should be installed as part of a complete floor build-up with properly sealed gaps, tight joints and suitable floor finishes.
Absorbalay 15 is mainly used to help reduce impact noise and airborne noise through floors.
Impact noise includes footsteps, dropped items, chairs moving, furniture movement and general footfall noise. Airborne noise includes voices, TV noise, music and general sound transfer between rooms or properties.
For higher-performance systems, Absorbalay 15 may be combined with acoustic mineral wool between joists, Tecsound acoustic membrane, acoustic sealant and an approved ceiling treatment below.
Absorbalay 15 is suitable for a range of domestic, residential and light commercial floor soundproofing applications, including:
Absorbalay 15 is a useful choice where a slim but high-performing acoustic floor layer is needed. At only 15mm thick, it can improve acoustic performance without adding excessive floor height.
It is also suitable for DIY and trade installation. The mats can be cut to size and laid across the floor, with joints kept tight and perimeter gaps sealed with acoustic sealant.
Absorbalay 15 performs best when used as part of a complete floor soundproofing build-up. The final result will depend on the existing floor type, ceiling below, joist void, floor finish, installation quality and how well gaps and weak points are sealed.
For timber floors, performance can often be improved by adding acoustic mineral wool between joists and sealing gaps in the floorboards before the mat is fitted. For higher performance, Absorbalay 15 may also be combined with Tecsound acoustic membrane or an approved ceiling solution below.
If you are unsure whether Absorbalay 15 is right for your floor, please contact our team before ordering. We can help advise on the most suitable floor soundproofing system based on your property, noise issue, floor type and available build-up height.
Absorbalay 15 Acoustic Barrier Mat is a 15mm acoustic floor underlay designed to help reduce impact and airborne noise through floor structures. It uses a layered construction with a closed-cell polymer core between two high-mass acoustic barrier layers.
| Product Name | Absorbalay 15 Acoustic Barrier Mat |
| Product Type | Acoustic floor underlay / acoustic barrier mat |
| Material | Closed-cell polymer core with high-mass acoustic barrier layers |
| Application | Floor soundproofing systems |
| Suitable For | Timber floors, concrete floors, refurbishment projects and acoustic floor upgrades |
| Mat Size | 1200mm x 1200mm |
| Thickness | 15mm |
| Coverage | 1.44m² per mat |
| Pack Size | 1 mat |
| Weight | 15kg/m² |
| Approx. Weight Per Mat | 21.6kg |
| Density | N/A |
| Fire Rating | TBC / confirm before compliance use |
| Main Noise Types | Impact noise and airborne noise |
| Installation Method | Loose laid or bonded to the floor with suitable adhesive, depending on application |
| Cutting Method | Can be cut with a hand saw, circular saw or jigsaw |
| Floor Finishes | Carpet, laminate, vinyl and engineered wood, when installed with the correct preparation and overlay where required |
| Standalone Product? | No — should be used as part of a complete acoustic floor system |
Absorbalay 15 can be used in a range of floor soundproofing applications, including:
Absorbalay 15 is used to improve acoustic performance through floors by combining mass and resilience. The high-mass layers help reduce airborne sound transfer, while the resilient core helps reduce impact vibration from footfall and movement across the floor.
It can be installed over suitable timber or concrete floor structures and used beneath compatible floor finishes. In timber floor systems, it can also be combined with acoustic mineral wool between joists for improved overall performance.
Absorbalay 15 is an acoustic floor mat, not a complete soundproofing system on its own. The final result will depend on the existing floor structure, ceiling construction below, joist void treatment, chosen floor finish, installation quality and flanking noise paths.
As with most floor soundproofing products, sealing gaps is important. Gaps in floorboards, perimeter edges, pipe penetrations and service openings can reduce the effectiveness of the acoustic build-up.
For best results, install Absorbalay 15 as part of a complete floor system with suitable preparation, tight joints, acoustic sealant and compatible floor finishes.
Absorbalay 15 mats are heavy and should be handled carefully. Store flat, dry and protected before installation. Make sure the floor is clean, dry and free from debris before laying the mats.
Cut mats carefully using a suitable saw or cutting tool. When cutting around pipes, corners and awkward areas, keep gaps as small as possible and seal any remaining spaces with acoustic sealant.
Absorbalay 15 Acoustic Barrier Mat is installed over a suitable floor surface as part of an acoustic floor soundproofing system. It can be loose laid or bonded to the floor using a suitable adhesive, depending on the project and final floor finish.
For the best result, the existing floor should be clean, dry, stable and properly sealed before the Absorbalay 15 mats are installed.
Check the existing floor before installation. The floor should be clean, dry, level, stable and free from loose debris.
Remove skirting boards where possible. Check the floor for protruding nails, screws, loose boards, damaged sections or uneven areas. Any loose floorboards should be fixed down before the acoustic mat is installed.
Fill gaps in floorboards and around the perimeter with acoustic sealant before starting. Sound can travel through small gaps, so airtightness is important at every stage of the installation.
Make sure the floor is ready for the Absorbalay 15 mats. The floor should be:
If installing over timber floorboards, check that the boards are secure and do not move excessively. If installing over concrete, make sure the surface is dry, sound and suitable for the chosen floor finish.
Before laying the mats, seal any obvious gaps and sound leakage points. Pay close attention to:
Use acoustic sealant where suitable. The aim is to reduce air paths through the floor before the acoustic mat is installed.
Measure the room and plan the layout before cutting. Absorbalay 15 mats measure 1200mm x 1200mm and cover 1.44m² per mat.
Start from the corner furthest from the door and work across the room. Plan the layout to keep joints tight and minimise unnecessary small cuts where possible.
Cut the mats to suit the room layout, edges and obstructions. Absorbalay 15 can be cut with a hand saw, circular saw or jigsaw.
Cut carefully around:
Keep cuts neat and avoid leaving large gaps, as gaps can reduce acoustic performance.
Lay the Absorbalay 15 mats across the floor with the joints as tight as possible. The mats can be loose laid or bonded to the floor with a suitable adhesive, depending on the project requirements.
If bonding the mats, make sure the adhesive is suitable for polyurethane materials and that the floor is clean and free from dust before applying it.
Leave a small 2mm to 3mm perimeter gap around the edge of the room where the mat meets the wall.
Once the mats are in position, fill this perimeter gap with acoustic sealant. This helps reduce sound leakage around the edge of the floor system.
Check all mat joints and cut areas. The joints should be close-fitting with no obvious open gaps.
If small gaps are present, fill them with acoustic sealant. Soundproofing tape may also be used where required, depending on the system and floor finish.
Once the Absorbalay 15 mats are installed and sealed, fit the chosen final floor finish.
Absorbalay 15 can be used with several types of floor finish, but the correct method depends on the finish being installed.
Carpet can usually be laid directly over Absorbalay 15. It may be loose laid, glued or fitted using gripper rods, depending on the carpet system.
Where gripper rods are used, a timber batten may be required around the perimeter to provide the correct finished height for the carpet gripper. Seal gaps between the batten, wall and Absorbalay with acoustic sealant.
When fitting laminate flooring over Absorbalay 15, a layer of 6mm plywood should be bonded to the top of the Absorbalay before the laminate floor is installed.
This provides a suitable surface for the laminate floor and helps protect the acoustic mat below. Always follow the laminate flooring manufacturer’s installation requirements.
For engineered wood or vinyl floors, check the floor finish manufacturer’s requirements before installation. A suitable plywood or board overlay may be needed to create a stable surface above the acoustic mat.
Do not install a floor finish directly over Absorbalay 15 unless the finish is suitable for that method.
For timber floors, acoustic performance can be improved by fitting acoustic mineral wool between the joists before installing Absorbalay 15.
This usually involves lifting floorboards, fitting the mineral wool into the joist void and then relaying the floorboards before installing the Absorbalay mat. The mineral wool should fit neatly between the joists without being heavily compressed.
Absorbalay 15 can also be used with Tecsound acoustic membrane as an upgraded floor system.
Where Tecsound is used, it is normally installed below the Absorbalay layer. Roll it out tightly, cover the full floor area and avoid leaving gaps before laying the Absorbalay mats above.
Absorbalay 15 helps reduce impact and airborne noise through floors, but the final performance depends on the full floor and ceiling construction. Existing floorboards, joist voids, ceiling type, perimeter gaps, service penetrations and flanking paths can all affect the result.
For best results, seal gaps carefully and combine Absorbalay 15 with suitable acoustic upgrades where required. If you are unsure how to use Absorbalay 15 in your project, please contact our team before installation.
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