IIC measures the reduction of impact sound, like footsteps, while STC measures airborne sound, like voices. Carpet naturally excels in these ratings. Hard surfaces like laminate, LVP, or hardwood require high-quality acoustic underlayment to achieve comparable performance. When selecting flooring for multi-story buildings, check the local building codes or homeowner association requirements to ensure your chosen flooring and underlayment combination meets the necessary sound reduction metrics.

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