Condo soundproofing in Vancouver
Quieter floors and walls built into your condo renovation, specified to meet your strata’s sound rules.
Condo soundproofing in Vancouver: quick answers
Short answers to the questions we hear most.
- What is the best way to soundproof a condo floor?
- Install the new floor over an acoustic underlay with ratings that meet your strata’s rules. On our Yaletown condo kitchen the building required laminate over an underlay rated IIC 73 and STC 72 so the floor would not carry sound to the suite below.
- What do IIC and STC mean?
- IIC (Impact Insulation Class) rates how well a floor stops impact sound such as footsteps. STC (Sound Transmission Class) rates airborne sound such as voices. Higher numbers block more sound.
- Can you soundproof walls in a condo?
- When walls are open during a renovation, options include acoustic insulation, resilient channels, mass-loaded vinyl, sealing outlet boxes and solid-core doors with seals. Our condo soundproofing guide covers each one.
- Does my strata need to approve it?
- Flooring changes almost always do, and many stratas ask for the underlay specification with the renovation request. QUAY prepares it for you.
Sound control is planned in, not added on
Noise in a condo travels through floors, shared walls, doors and the gaps around outlets and pipes. The cheapest time to deal with it is during a renovation, when floors are up and walls may be open.
QUAY Construction specifies acoustic flooring and sound control as part of condo renovations across Vancouver, and supplies the specs your strata needs.
Back to condo renovations in VancouverCondo soundproofing options
We recommend what fits your suite, your building’s rules and the work already planned.
Acoustic underlay
Rated underlay under hardwood, laminate or tile, specified to the strata’s minimum IIC and STC.
Floating floors
Floors decoupled from the slab with rubber or cork underlayment to cut impact noise.
Acoustic insulation
Sound-absorbing insulation in open wall cavities between rooms and units.
Resilient channels and MLV
Resilient channels or mass-loaded vinyl behind new drywall on shared walls.
Sealed penetrations
Acoustic putty and sealant at outlets, switches and pipe openings.
Solid-core doors
Solid-core doors with acoustic seals and sweeps in place of hollow-core doors.
Strata sound rules, met on day one
This Yaletown building required laminate flooring with an acoustic underlay rated IIC 73 and STC 72. QUAY included the specification in the strata request, which was approved in October 2024, and installed it as part of a kitchen expansion of about $43,000 + GST.
Elevator bookings and work hours were confirmed with the strata before work started.
Two ratings. Two kinds of noise.
Strata flooring rules usually quote both numbers, and they measure different things.
- IIC, Impact Insulation Class: footsteps, dropped objects and furniture moving, carried through the floor
- STC, Sound Transmission Class: voices, music and TV, carried through the air and the structure
- Higher is better for both, and the rating applies to the whole floor assembly, not just the underlay
- Check your bylaws: many buildings set minimums and ask for the product data sheet
Condos we have quieted down.
Real QUAY condo projects with acoustic flooring specified for the strata.
View Renovation ProjectsYaletown condo kitchen expansion
Laminate over an acoustic underlay rated IIC 73 and STC 72, as the building required. Kitchen about $43,000 + GST, started November 2024.
West End condo, whole suite
Light engineered hardwood over an acoustic underlay through the whole suite. QUAY prepared the strata application, insurance, neighbour notice and underlay specification.
Kitsilano condo kitchen
Full strata application with an indemnity agreement and the acoustic underlay specs prepared before work started. About $60,000, completed 2022.
Strata renovations
How we handle strata approvals, testing and building rules on every condo project.
Quiet floors. Finished in the details.
Acoustic layers sit under the finishes, so the design does not have to change.
One condo. One accountable team.
Planning, pricing, approvals and construction are coordinated through one renovation process rather than managed as isolated pieces.
One Point of Contact
Design, trades, materials and scheduling are coordinated by QUAY, so you are not managing separate contractors or chasing updates.
Fixed-Price Proposal
Scope and pricing are established before construction so you know what is included and what the renovation is expected to cost.
Plan Before Construction
Approvals, materials, trades and sequencing are settled before demolition starts.
365-Day Warranty
Our workmanship is backed by QUAY's 365-day We-Fix-It-Free warranty after project completion.
Local service. Across the region.
We renovate condos throughout Vancouver and the surrounding municipalities.
All service areasClear before construction. Organized through completion.
Each stage is defined before the next begins so decisions, approvals and trades stay connected.
Discovery Call
We discuss your home, priorities, timeline and expected investment to decide the right next step.
On-Site Consultation
We review the space, measurements, building conditions and the approvals the project will need.
Scope & Proposal
The work is defined through a detailed scope, selections, pricing and schedule before anything is opened up.
Construction
Trades, materials and inspections are coordinated through one schedule with consistent communication through completion.
Plan the renovation. Understand the investment.
Soundproofing costs least when it is part of a renovation already planned.
Acoustic underlay is installed with the new floor, and wall upgrades are simplest when drywall is already coming off. We price the options you choose as part of a fixed-price proposal before construction begins.
Condo soundproofing questions answered
What IIC rating do Vancouver stratas require?+
It varies by building. One Yaletown strata we worked with required IIC 73 and STC 72; check your bylaws or ask the property manager.
Can I soundproof without replacing my floor?+
Rugs and furniture help a little, but real impact-noise control comes from the floor assembly, so it is best done when the floor is replaced.
Is hardwood allowed in condos?+
Often, over an approved acoustic underlay. Our West End condo project has engineered hardwood throughout over an acoustic underlay.
Will soundproofing walls make rooms smaller?+
Some methods add thickness to a wall. We explain the trade-off for each option before you choose.
Does QUAY Construction provide a warranty?+
Yes. Completed work is backed by our 365-day workmanship warranty.
Want a quieter condo?
Tell us about your home, your priorities and when you'd like to renovate. We'll help you determine the right next step.