Frequently Asked Questions

Soundstop is a commercial acoustical flooring system in which the sound-dampening layer is bonded to the plank instead of shipped and installed as a separate underlayment. One product carries both the finished wear surface and the acoustic backing, so a single install does the job of a floor plus a separate sound mat.

Soundstop uses a BA-cored construction with an integrated acoustic backing laminated to the underside of the plank at the factory. On the glue-down LVT, the acoustic soundpad arrives already attached to the back of every plank — there is no loose mat to source, schedule, or roll out under the flooring on site.

From the top down: a UV-cured wear surface (DiamondGuard™ / HealthGuard™), the printed decor film, the LVT body, and the attached acoustic soundpad on the bottom. On the 3 mm glue-down, for example, the plank is a 2 mm LVT body over a 1 mm attached soundpad — so the pad is about one-third of the plank's total thickness, bonded flush across the full underside.

It deletes a material and a trade. With a conventional floor you buy the finish and a separate acoustic mat, then schedule and install both. Soundstop combines them, which removes the loose-mat line item, shortens the install, and eliminates the risk of a mat being skipped, seamed poorly, or damaged before the floor goes down.

Ratings depend on the floor-ceiling assembly, the format, and the soundmat option. As an example, the 3 mm Soundstop Glue-Down tested on a wood-frame truss with gyp-crete assembly reached STC 61, IIC 56, and HIIC 68 — without any additional sound mat below it. The SPC Click builds and the concrete-slab assemblies carry their own ratings. Because STC and IIC are properties of the whole assembly rather than the floor alone, AFC matches the tested build to your project.

Testing was performed by independent laboratories (Intertek / B&C) under the ASTM airborne and impact standards — ASTM E90 (airborne sound transmission / STC), ASTM E492 (impact insulation / IIC), and ASTM E1007 (field impact). The full test matrix, grouped by assembly, is on the Soundstop page.

Yes. AFC keeps the independent lab reports on file and assembles the ones that match your assembly. Contact Advanced Flooring for testing reports and tell us the floor-ceiling build you're specifying.

STC (Sound Transmission Class) rates how well an assembly blocks airborne sound like voices and TV. IIC (Impact Insulation Class) rates impact/footfall noise through the floor. HIIC is a high-frequency impact measure. Higher numbers are better; many multi-family codes set minimums of STC 50 and IIC 50 for separating assemblies — talk to us about the target for your jurisdiction.

Two, both with the soundmat built into the plank:

• Acoustical Glue-Down LVT (3–5 mm) — bonds directly to the subfloor; the low-profile choice for slab and gyp-crete assemblies.
• SPC Click (5–6.5 mm) — a rigid-core floating floor carrying the same integrated soundmat; no adhesive, faster install, and the thicker builds carry the highest impact ratings.

Typical glue-down planks are 7″ × 48″ with an 8-mil wear layer, DiamondGuard™ / HealthGuard™ UV surface finish, over a 100% virgin LVT body with the attached acoustic soundpad. Exact thickness, wear layer, and soundpad build vary by format and item — ask AFC for the data sheet on the specific product you're specifying.

Fifteen wood-look colorways, shared across both Soundstop formats, so the floor reads continuously whether a given area is glue-down or SPC click. Browse them on the Soundstop palette.

Yes. On ground floors and slab-on-grade — where there's no occupancy below to isolate — AFC supplies a visually matching glue-down LVT without the acoustic core. The floor reads continuously across the building while you only pay for acoustic performance where the code actually requires it.

Buildings where footfall and unit-to-unit noise drive complaints: multi-family apartments and condos, hotels and short-term rentals, senior and student housing, and mixed-use residential over retail or amenity space.

Direct glue-down with SAR 5000 pressure-sensitive adhesive. Spread the adhesive to the center line, let it dry to tack, then set planks firmly without sliding, offsetting end joints at least 6″ and working out of three to four cartons for a random look. Roll the finished floor with a 100-lb three-section roller and restrict foot traffic for the first 24 hours. Full steps are in the installation guide — ask AFC for the current document.

Yes. Keep the flooring, subfloor, and adhesive at a constant 65–85°F (18–29°C) for 48 hours before, during, and 48 hours after installation, and acclimate the material in the room where it will be installed for at least 48 hours. After installation, room temperature should stay between 55°F and 95°F.

Subfloors must be clean, dry, flat, and sound — flat within 3⁄16″ over 10 ft (or 1⁄8″ over 6 ft). New concrete must cure a minimum of 6 weeks. Moisture must be tested (calcium chloride ASTM F1869 and in-situ RH ASTM F2170); if emissions exceed 6 lbs and/or 90% RH, a moisture barrier is required over the concrete. Quarter-inch luan plywood is required over all OSB substrates.

Yes — glue-down planks are individually replaceable. Warm the damaged plank with a heat gun to release it from the adhesive, lift it, warm the exposed adhesive, and set a new plank with a hand roller. Because color runs vary, keep attic stock from the original order for the cleanest match.

Sweep regularly with a soft-bristle broom and clean up spills promptly. Use felt protectors under furniture legs and soft rubber casters — never slide or roll heavy items across the floor. Place walk-off mats at exterior entrances, using urethane-backed mats marked non-staining (not rubber- or PVC-backed, which can discolor the floor). Keep pets' nails trimmed and limit prolonged direct sunlight, which can change plank color over time.

A 15-Year Commercial Limited Warranty for the resilient product in commercial applications, covering manufacturing defects and wear-through of the wear layer under normal foot traffic. It begins on the original date of purchase, applies to the original end-user, and requires installation and maintenance per the guidelines. Full terms and exclusions are in the warranty document — request it with your quote.

Common exclusions: improper installation or maintenance, moisture or hydrostatic pressure from the subfloor (moisture testing is the installer's responsibility), indentation from unprotected furniture or spike heels, discoloration from rubber-backed mats or excessive sunlight, and damage from accidents, abuse, or harsh chemicals. Installation on stairs, and residential product installed in a commercial setting, are also excluded. See the full warranty for the complete list.

AFC is a wholesale distributor serving contractors, architects, designers, builders, and developers. Homeowners are welcome to contact us and we'll point you to the right path for your project.

Yes — that's our job. AFC assembles the package: acoustic test reports matched to your assembly, product data sheets, installation and maintenance documentation, and warranty terms. One request and it's done, or call (512) 503-2106.