*This article by INSTALL executive director David Gross was originally featured in The Construction Specifier.

Sight & Sound: How Certified Flooring Contractors Complement Natural Light & Acoustic Effects

Natural light sources and comfortable acoustics have become hallmarks of well-designed modern spaces, promoting health and well-being, sustainability, and aesthetic appeal. To achieve optimal light and sound effects, designers account for many elements, anticipating how they will all behave when assembled in one space. And in virtually every project, flooring is the one element that often has an outsized impact.

Typically representing the largest surface area of continuous material in an interior design, flooring products — and the level of expertise with which they are installed — are critical choices for projects where natural light and acoustics are priorities. As such, specifying a certified flooring contractor is imperative to ensure proper installation of the flooring material and its long-term performance. To appreciate the impact a certified flooring contractor can have on a project’s success, it helps to understand how these highly trained professionals address natural light and acoustics in their work. Here is a closer look at some skills they bring to the floor.

Avoiding glaring errors

Architects and designers often prioritize natural light in their projects because it enhances the aesthetic and functional aspects of a space while also providing energy efficiency benefits. As an aesthetic element, natural light can create a warm, inviting atmosphere and highlight textures, colors, and architectural features. It adds depth and dimension that often can’t be achieved with artificial lighting. Natural light also fosters a sense of openness and outdoor connection, which can be especially appealing in urban environments where green spaces are limited. Exposure to natural light has been shown to improve mood, productivity, and overall mental health, and daylight workspaces support concentration and reduce eye strain.

Natural light also offers energy savings. By maximizing natural light sources and limiting artificial lighting, architects and designers can help lower a building’s energy use and HVAC loads and support Green Building Standards. Incorporating natural light sources aligns with sustainability goals and certification programs like LEED that prioritize energy efficiency and occupant well-being. When using natural light, designers pay careful attention to window placement and orientation, precisely positioning windows, skylights, and light wells to illuminate daily activities and receive optimal light during daylight hours.

Flooring plays an important part in creating these effects and gaining these efficiencies by reflecting and intensifying light or by absorbing light and lessening its intensity. In spaces where natural light is a central feature, designers must carefully select flooring materials, assessing how the natural light will interact with the surface. For instance, surfaces like polished tiles, glossy vinyl, and light-colored flooring are highly reflective and will brighten a space. Conversely, matte and dark surfaces such as carpets, dark tiles, and darker woods will absorb light and create a dimmer atmosphere. Flooring choices can also influence the perceived size of a room. Lighter-colored floors make a space appear larger and airier, while darker floors can create a cozier, more intimate atmosphere.

One of the biggest challenges for flooring contractors working in areas with abundant natural light is managing the reflectivity and glare that accompany certain materials like concrete and ceramic tile. In these applications, natural light can showcase a stunningly flawless installation, but only if the installation is in fact flawless. The challenge for the contractor is that natural light can also highlight every imperfection, leaving no room for even the smallest error.

To deliver near-perfect results, an experienced contractor will start with impeccable subfloor preparation. A flat, smooth, and clean subfloor is essential, as any minor rift or ripple will be magnified in natural light. Other key installation strategies a certified installer will employ include:

• Seaming: Regardless of the flooring material, a knowledgeable contractor will position seams perpendicular to the natural light source whenever possible to draw less attention and scrutiny from the eye. Conversely, if seams are placed in line with the light source, the light will emphasize the seam, and the slightest deviation from a perfectly straight line or level surface will become a focal point.
• Leveling: Leveling is critical when installing materials like LVT or ceramic tile. Without consistency and precision, a condition called “ledging” can occur. Ledging refers to the shadows cast by any sections of flooring that sit slightly higher than their neighbors. In a large, open, natural-light-flooded space, ledging draws attention to these unsightly irregularities.
• Polishing: While some degree of shine is often desired with hard flooring materials, it can easily cross into unpleasant glare and reflectivity without proper care. Intense glare from sunlight can be blinding to occupants and mirror-like surfaces can be unwanted or at worst inappropriate for certain clothing choices. To achieve a desirable level of reflectivity and shine, experienced contractors work with architects, designers, and specifiers to calibrate polished finishes using a scale from matte to highly polished.

Precise polishing of materials like concrete and ceramic tile can even be used to earn green credit by enhancing natural light and lessening the need for artificial illumination.

The complexity of working with natural light underscores the need for an experienced, certified flooring contractor who understands the unique challenges it presents. From subfloor preparation to strategic seaming, precise leveling, and controlled polishing, each step requires meticulous attention to detail to ensure the flooring enhances rather than detracts from the lighting effects.

Sounding off

In both residential and commercial spaces, managing sound is critical for creating environments that are functional, comfortable, and conducive to their intended purpose. Whether it is minimizing footfall noise in a multi-family residence, reducing echo in an open office, or protecting privacy in a healthcare setting, flooring plays a pivotal role in controlling sound transmission and absorption. In every case, achieving optimal acoustics requires more than just selecting the right materials; it demands expertise in how those materials are installed.

Certified flooring contractors possess a unique skill set, combining technical knowledge of flooring materials with specialized installation techniques to address the complex relationship between flooring and acoustics. These professionals understand the nuances of soundproofing underlayments, acoustic qualities of different flooring materials, and other advanced products designed to dampen noise and improve sound quality. Examples of soundproofing underlayments installers may choose from include:

• Rubber: Made from recycled rubber, these underlayments provide excellent impact noise reduction by absorbing vibrations and sound energy before they travel through the subfloor. They are durable, resistant to moisture, and suitable for many flooring types, including hardwood, tile, and laminate.
• Cork: Cork’s cellular structure naturally absorbs sound and prevents it from transferring to adjacent spaces. It also offers thermal insulation, making it a dual-purpose solution. Cork underlayments are often used under hardwood and laminate flooring.
• Foam: Made from polyethylene or polypropylene, foam underlayments reduce sound by creating a cushioning layer that minimizes impact noise such as footfalls. Foam is commonly used under laminate or engineered wood floors. Some foam options are enhanced with an additional sound barrier layer for improved performance.
• Felt: Comprising recycled fibers like jute or synthetic materials, felt underlayments are dense and provide excellent sound absorption. Felt is often used in conjunction with hardwood or engineered wood flooring to dampen impact and airborne noise.
• Acoustic mats: Typically made from rubber or synthetic materials, acoustic mats are placed beneath the flooring to act as a vibration barrier. They are especially effective under tile or stone flooring, where hard surfaces can amplify sound.
• Mass-loaded vinyl (MLV): MLV is a dense, flexible material underlayment that blocks airborne noise. It can be combined with other underlayment types to enhance soundproofing for virtually any flooring material.

By absorbing impact noise and reducing airborne sound transmission, underlayments help create quieter, more comfortable environments when appropriately matched with flooring material and properly installed.

One environment that is particularly sensitive to sound control is health care. A hospital, for example, has a wide range of flooring needs. In areas like check-in/check-out, lobbies, and waiting rooms, sound dampening and absorption are often accomplished with soft flooring like carpet. Sound control in these areas helps protect patient confidentiality by limiting voice travel. It also contributes to creating a quieter, more calming environment.

Comparatively, patient treatment areas have different priorities. Harder, more durable materials like luxury vinyl tile (LVT) are necessary for rigorous sanitation practices as well as patient and equipment mobility. In hallways and patient rooms, flooring must be easy to clean and provide a smooth surface for rolling equipment, such as gurneys, wheelchairs, and carts. Sound management is a consideration in these areas, but it must be balanced with other priorities like safety, hygiene, and controlled movement. Flooring contractors who work in health care must follow specific protocols, and many complete Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) training to learn these specialized skills. For specifiers, the ICRA credential is an easy way to identify flooring contractors who understand these unique requirements.

In commercial spaces like educational facilities, fitness centers, and corporate environments, designers have far more freedom with flooring materials that meet their aesthetic and acoustic needs. Popular flooring materials that offer color and style choices and acoustic enhancements include:

• Carpet and carpet tiles for occupant comfort, sound absorption, and design flexibility. Carpet products are ideal for quieting spaces like reading areas and theater aisles.
• Cork for its eco-friendly, naturally resilient qualities and sound absorption. Cork is perfect for quiet zones in libraries and backstage areas in theaters.
• Rubber offers exceptional durability, effective noise reduction, and a non-slip surface, and it is well-suited for high-traffic, heavy-use spaces like fitness and recreation facilities.
• LVT with acoustic backing can deliver the look of harder materials like wood or stone with sound-dampening properties, making it a versatile choice for corporate and retail spaces.
• Felt and textile flooring provide the softness of carpet with modern design aesthetics and excellent sound absorption, making them popular for creating unique spaces.

Delivering the desired look, performance, and acoustic effect of a flooring material requires a technical understanding of how the chosen material responds to sound. It also requires expertise in subfloor preparation and installation techniques specific to each material.

Perfect harmony Successful natural light and acoustic effects are impacted by many features of well-designed spaces, but flooring is one of the largest. By specifying a certified flooring contractor, building professionals gain peace of mind that installation will be executed with technical expertise and attention to detail. These experts can also recommend renewable materials and innovative solutions that support sustainability initiatives, including earning green building credits. With the right team in place, there’s nothing left to do but enjoy the sights and sounds of success.