Product FAQ
GenieMat® RST
- Where do I use GenieMat® RST?
In floors to isolate impact footfall and airborne noise transfer. Most commonly used in structures with concrete sub-floor and/or resilient ceilings.
- Which thickness should I use?
Concrete sub-floor with resilient ceilings: GenieMat® RST02 or GenieMat® RST05
Concrete sub-floor without resilient ceilings: The thicker the better. Significant gains with even the thinnest GenieMat® RST, near 60 STC/IIC performance with the thickest GenieMat® RST.
Wood sub-floor with resilient ceilings: GenieMat® RST02 or GenieMat® RST05
Wood sub-floor without resilient ceiling: Many components to consider, read Maximizing Rubber Underlayment Performance for detailed information.
- What type of flooring can be installed over the GenieMat® RST?
GenieMat™ RST is tested for use with all flooring types. Tile, stone, vinyl, VCT, hardwood, laminate, carpet, and other similar flooring types can be installed directly to GenieMat™ RST.
Fixed flooring, such as tile, stone, vinyl, VCT, and glue down hardwood, requires the GenieMat™ RST to be glued to the sub-floor.
Floating floors, such as laminate, nail-down hardwood, and carpet do not require the GenieMat™ RST to be glued to the sub-floor.
- What level of performance should I expect?
- Performance will vary depending on the assembly. We provide limited reference to performance in the downloads available on the GenieMat® RST product page. Submit information on your assembly via email for a performance evaluation. Include detailed information about each layer in the assembly from the drywall ceiling to finished floor.
- Is cork or foam better than rubber?
No, not even close.
Cork and common microcellular foams will rate about one-third the performance of a truly resilient recycled rubber like the GenieMat™ RST.
- My HOA is requiring a certain rating for my remodel, will GenieMat® RST work?
HOA’s across the USA will require new floors to meet certain STC or IIC requirements. The requirements are often so high that the customer will never achieve the rating. Any rating in a wood structure well over 55 STC or IIC is likely not possible using GenieMat™ RST without decoupled ceilings. Any rating in a concrete structure well over 60 STC or IIC is likely not possible using GenieMat™ RST without decoupled ceilings.
This is not a limitation exclusive to GenieMat™ RST, but a limitation on the physics of the structure in relation to sound isolation.
- Where do I use GenieMat® FF?
- GenieMat® FF is used most often to meet high STC/IIC performance spec in commercial projects. Installation is similar to the GenieMat® RST.
- What type of flooring can be installed over the GenieMat® FF?
GenieMat™ FF is tested for use with all flooring types. Tile, stone, vinyl, VCT, hardwood, laminate, carpet, and other similar flooring types can be installed over the GenieMat™ FF.
Fixed flooring, such as tile, stone, vinyl, VCT, and glue down hardwood, requires a monolithic layer (double layer 1/4″ HardiBacker or double layer 1/2″ plywood) to be adhered directly to the GenieMat™ FF before installing the finished floor.
Floating floors, such as laminate and carpet do not require a monolithic layer or adhesive.
- What level of performance should I expect?
- Performance will vary depending on the assembly. Submit information on your assembly via email for a performance evaluation. Include detailed information about each layer in the assembly from the drywall ceiling to finished floor.
- My HOA is requiring a certain rating for my remodel, will GenieMat® FF work?
HOA’s across the USA will require new floors to meet certain STC or IIC requirements. The requirements are often so high that the customer will never achieve the rating. Any rating in a wood structure well over 60 STC or IIC is likely not possible using GenieMat™ FF without decoupled ceilings. Any rating in a concrete structure well over 65 STC or IIC is likely not possible using GenieMat™ FF without decoupled ceilings.
This is not a limitation exclusive to GenieMat™ FF, but a limitation on the physics of the structure in relation to sound isolation.