GenieMat® FF

View our Product FAQ for answers to common questions about GenieMat® products.

GenieMat® FF is a high-performance dimpled rubber underlayment engineered for floating floor sound isolation. Made from 92% recycled rubber, this durable material delivers exceptional impact and airborne noise reduction in demanding environments such as mechanical rooms, recording studios, home theaters, gyms, dance floors, medical facilities, commercial buildings, and multifamily housing. In addition to its acoustic benefits, GenieMat FF is resistant to bacteria, fungi, and moisture, and it contributes to LEED® certification points, making it an eco-friendly and long-lasting flooring solution. GenieMat FF Floating Floor Underlayment provides a simple, effective, and eco-friendly solution for reducing vibration, impact noise, and airborne sound. With its compressible elastomer design, easy roll-out installation, and moisture-resistant construction, it outperforms traditional isolation systems—making it ideal for commercial, industrial, and residential acoustic flooring applications.

Advanced Compressible Elastomer Technology

Unlike traditional vulcanized rubber systems that are dense and incompressible, GenieMat FF uses advanced compressible elastomer technology. This innovation allows for:

• Low natural frequency performance even under light loads
• Consistent sound isolation across the entire floor surface
• Simplified installation without the need for individual point isolators or complex layouts

Vulcanized rubber systems typically require heavy loads to achieve effective vibration isolation, making them less suitable for modern lightweight structures. GenieMat FF solves this problem by providing high-performance sound isolation at low loads, ensuring stable, uniform results across any project.

Simple and Efficient Installation

GenieMat FF is designed for easy roll-out installation — contractors simply unroll the underlayment across the subfloor. The product’s moisture barrier backing allows for direct concrete pour, eliminating the need for plywood formwork.

Additional benefits include:

• No fiberglass materials, preventing mold growth
• No extra engineering approval required
• Fast, reliable installation, even by less-experienced crews
• Strong, durable surface that withstands heavy foot traffic and trade work before the concrete or plywood overlay is installed

Performance Over Concrete Subfloors

GenieMat FF performs best when installed over or under concrete floors, whether full pour or lightweight concrete. The mass and rigidity of concrete allow the rubber to compress properly, creating superior resilience and impact noise isolation in otherwise rigid structures.

Performance Over Wood Subfloors

GenieMat FF can also be used over wood subfloors, though its performance may vary. To achieve results similar to concrete installations, you can:

• Reduce structural deflection between joists (see Fixing Structural Deflection).
• Add mass by layering approximately 7 pounds per square foot of material over the subfloor or GenieMat FF.
• Layering over the subfloor improves low-frequency sound control.
• Layering over GenieMat FF increases STC ratings by a few points while slightly reducing low-frequency performance.

Recommended materials include plywood, OSB, MDF, drywall, lightweight concrete, or cement board (e.g., HardiBacker®). Layering is optional but highly recommended to maximize sound isolation in wood-frame floors.

Enhanced Damping and System Integration

For maximum performance, add Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound between layers to improve impact and airborne noise damping. Pairing GenieMat FF with GenieClip® sound isolation clips or resilient channel ceilings further increases sound control. The highest-rated acoustic floor/ceiling assemblies combine resilient floors and decoupled ceilings, achieving industry-leading STC and IIC ratings for complete building sound isolation.

Read our article Maximizing Rubber Underlayment Performance for more detailed information.

Read our article Fixing Structural Deflection for more detailed information.

GenieMat® FF can be easily cut with a standard razor knife for quick fitting and precise installation. When first unrolled, the rubber may have a mild odor, similar to that of fresh paint. This temporary smell typically dissipates within a few days as the material acclimates to the environment. If the odor persists or you are sensitive to rubber smells, simply cover the GenieMat FF with a 4-mil plastic sheeting before installing the finished flooring. This barrier helps contain any residual scent while maintaining full acoustic performance.

Both installation methods ensure consistent sound isolation and long-term performance of the GenieMat FF floating floor system. Whether used under floating or fixed flooring, GenieMat FF creates a durable, resilient foundation for high-STC and IIC sound-rated assemblies in residential, commercial, and studio applications. Proper installation ensures the GenieMat® FF Floating Floor Underlayment delivers maximum impact and airborne noise isolation. Follow the steps below for both floating and fixed flooring systems.

INSTALLATION FOR FLOATING FINISHED FLOOR

Use these steps when installing floating hardwood, laminate, or carpet flooring over GenieMat FF:

1. Install GenieMat PMI perimeter isolation strip around the walls before beginning the main floor installation.
2. Cut GenieMat FF to fit tightly against the GenieMat PMI, ensuring full perimeter coverage.
3. Butt seams together — do not overlap.
4. Seal seams with standard duct tape, filling any gaps with acoustical sealant before taping.
5. Install the finished flooring directly on top of GenieMat FF, or over any additional acoustic layering if required by your floor system.

This method provides a stable, resilient floating surface with excellent soundproofing performance.

INSTALLATION FOR FIXED OR ADHERED FLOORS

When installing grouted, tiled, or fully adhered flooring, a monolithic substrate layer must be applied over the GenieMat FF before adding the finished flooring.

1. Install GenieMat PMI perimeter strip along all walls.
2. Cut GenieMat FF to fit snugly against the GenieMat PMI.
3. Continue installing each row, butting seams together and avoiding overlap. Complete one row at a time.
4. Seal seams with duct tape and fill small gaps with acoustical sealant before taping.
5. Add a double layer of 1/4" HardieBacker (cross-plied) or a double layer of 1/2" plywood (glued and screwed) on top of GenieMat FF to form a stable substrate. HardieBacker is preferred due to its dimensional stability and resistance to warping.
6. Install the finished flooring according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

GenieMat® FF is only available in one size of roll per thickness. Partial or larger rolls cannot be purchased. Overestimating by 5% provides enough material for most projects. We suggest drawing the room dimensions and planning the installation layout to determine the appropriate number of rolls for the project.

• GenieMat® FF06 Product Specs
• GenieMat® FF10 Product Specs
• GenieMat® FF17 Product Specs
• GenieMat® FF25 Product Specs
• GenieMat® FF Product Brochure
• GenieMat® FF Installation Manual
• GenieMat® FF 3-Part Guide Spec