
Floor insulation underlayment and acoustic membranes

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| Why do I have to buy an Acousti-Tech membrane rather than another product? We know that your biggest concern is to invest in a competitive and long lasting product which you will not be disappointed you. We also made this statement one of our priorities. Performance and credibility of Acousti-Tech products are established every three years by the Canadian Centre of Building materials (CCMC) as well as numerous ASTM tests (accomplished in real buildings) and by an ISO 9001:2000 quality control. Expertise acquired over the years has made our Acousti-Tech membrane products ones you can trust. |
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| Why must I invest in a high quality soundproof and thermal membrane? As a condominium or house owner, you will appreciate the peace of mind, the thermal comfort and the quiet mood provided by an Acousti-Tech membrane. You will wish that this performance continues year after year. You will also be happy with the added value to your residence when the time will come to sell. |
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| What does FIIC means? FIIC means Field Impact Insulation Class. It is a measurement which determines the sound insulation degree of the impact noise of a floor / ceiling framework. The more FIIC you have, the best the acoustical sound insulation is. An impact noise is generated by steps, fallen objects or furniture displacements. Acousti-Tech membranes reduce noise transfers between floor / ceiling structures. Some manufacturers use an IIC result instead because it gives 2 - 5 upper points results. It does not represent reality because an IIC test is done in a laboratory with perfect conditions while a FIIC test is done in a real building. The second one is more realistic and more reliable than a laboratory test. |
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| What does FSTC means? FSTC means Field Sound Transmission Class. It is a measurement which determines the sound insulation degree of the travelling air noise across structure floors / ceilings and walls. Air noise is generated by the sound of voice, music or television. Normally, walls or thick floors stop most part of sounds. The more FSTC you have, the best the acoustical sound insulation is. Some manufacturers use a STC result instead of FSTC because it can give 2 - 5 upper points results. It is not representative because a STC test is made in a laboratory with perfect conditions, while a FSTC test is made in a real building. The second one is more realistic and more reliable than a laboratory test. |
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| Will the acoustical properties be durable over time? Yes. The high quality synthetic grains, combined with needle punch technology and a strict quality control assure that the membrane will keep an absorption memory and a structural stability over time. This technology has been proven in several application products. |
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| I do not live in a condo and I would like to install your membranes in my home, is it possible? Sure, and it gives an added value to your home. Indeed, the Comfortima membrane provides a hotter floor in the bathroom and protects your joints against fissures in the kitchen. Acousti-Tech Premium and Acousti-Tech VP membranes are perfect under floating floors because they will give you a humidity protection and an improved stability between the support and floating floor and they will warm your feet. For the glued floor coverings, Acousti-Tech 7000, 5000, 3500 and Acousti-Tech Lead membranes will permit you to enjoy a solid wood floor. These membranes will also control the reverberations in the room to produce a more agreable noise surrounding. |
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| Will my new floor still be guaranteed if I do not use the membrane recommended by the manufacturer? Acousti-Tech membranes respect the demands by floor manufacturers. Finitec Canada gives a 25 year guarantee with all its Acousti-Tech products. For more informations, please refer to the "Guaranteed" section on our Internet website. |
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| Can I use your membranes with a heating floor system? Yes. The heating cables are often installed over a concrete slab. Concrete is very cold. The heating cables loose effectiveness trying to warm up the concrete slab. Acousti-Tech membranes block the cold coming from the concrete slab and reflect warmth directly on the floor. Therefore, they increase heating floor systems. |
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| What advantages would I have to use your membranes under my ceramic floor? Ceramic tiles and natural stones are cold on your feet. The Comfortima membrane will comfort your feet by keeping your floor warmer. Your ceramic joints and tiles will also be protected against microfissures that come from concrete slabs. |
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| Are mechanical properties really important? Absolutely. The membrane levels the subfloor imperfections. This is quite important for floating installations. In a glued installation, the Acousti-Tech membrane keeps its structure undamaged under the pressure of the floor which swells or shrinks because of the temperature and humidity variations. The membrane also protects ceramic tiles against microfissures coming from the concrete which cause joints to crumble. |
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| Why do I need to install an acoustical membrane in my basement? Basements are more humid than upper floors. It is important to control humidity to keep your floor beautiful. Acousti-Tech Premium and Acousti-Tech VP membranes have an aluminized film to parry steam which provides an efficient humidity control (PERM 0.09). While protecting your floor against humidity, the membrane parries steam, reflects surrounding warmth and blocks the cold coming from the concrete slab to keep your floor hotter. Besides that, the soundproof ability of the membrane parries steam rendering the sonorous surrounding more agreeable. |
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| How can I be sure of the quality of a steam protection membrane? The quality of a steam protection membrane is evaluated in PERM. PERM is a measurement which calculates the quantity of water or steam which goes through the membrane. In the floor industry, a steam protection membrane must have a PERM of at least 1 and less to protect a floating floor from humidity. Products with a PERM of 1 and less control steam emissions of 3lbs or less within 1000 square feet. Beyond 3lbs of steam emission, specialized products are needed to correct the extreme humidity of concrete. Acousti-Tech Premium and Acousti-Tech VP membranes have a PERM of 0.09 and respect the norm asked of 1 PERM and less. |
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| How can my floor be hotter? The Acousti-Tech membrane blocks the cold coming from the concrete slab to prevent it from cooling the floor and the aluminized film reflects the room’s temperature. It increases the performance of the heating system by increasing the desired temperature at a decrease energy expense. |
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| Which Acousti-Tech membrane to choose? First, you must evaluate your needs; sound insulation, humidity control or tempered surface. In case of a sound insulation need, you must look for your acoustical building recommendations. Then, you need to identify the type of installation needed and the floor cover that will be used. Finitec Canada offers a large range of Acousti-Tech membranes (floor insulation) for glued or floating installations which respond to floor manufacturers’s requirements. |
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| Can we stick the membrane on the parquet? Yes. However, it is important to use AD-844 or AD-532+ adhesives. Normally, the glue used for parquet contains water and it enhances the risk of of the parquet to get warped. Please ask our customer service in the case of warped parquet. |
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| Is it possible to nail a hardwood floor across Acousti-Tech membranes? Acousti-Tech membranes provide numerous benefits in a residence such as the reduction of surrounding noise and an appreciated thermal comfort. During the installation of the membrane, it is important to cover all the surface of the floor and to keep the membrane undamaged in order to enjoy its maximum performance. A nail in the membrane will reduce its acoustical effectiveness. However, it is possible to nail the membrane if you are looking for an acoustical comfort without the effectiveness required in condominiums. Nailed Acousti-Tech membranes will bring comfort to your feet and a significant appreciated acoustical well-being. |
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| Can I stack two membranes under my floor to get more elevation? No. The installation will not be structurally stable. If you want to create an elevation, it is preferable to use a sheet of plywood under the membrane. |
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| Can I install your membranes under a vinyl floor? Yes you can do it, but you must install a plywood between the membrane and the floor. |
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| Can I install your membranes under a carpet? Definitely. Acousti-Tech membranes do not break up over time. You can take the carpet off without worrying if the membrane will produce dust and if i twill come off in pieces. In addition, your carpet will retain its softness. |
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| Do Acousti-Tech membranes respect the environment? Unquestionably! Every membrane is recyclable, non toxic, odorless, resistant to mold and mildew. According to the Canada Green Building Council, our membranes are in accordance with the LEED norms. |
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| Where can I find the Acousti-Tech and floor insulation products? They are available across Canada. Please contact our customer service to find your nearest retailer. |
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