I was worried the attic would sound like a bowling alley from below. It doesn't.
Flooring is one of those decisions that feels minor compared to the structural work, but it affects how the room looks, feels, and sounds every single day. Here's what I went with, what the alternatives are, and what I'd tell anyone doing it now.
The standard approach
Every attic conversion starts with the same base: OSB (oriented strand board) laid over the joists as the subfloor. This is what the builder installs as part of the structural work. It's solid, flat, and provides the foundation for whatever floor finish you choose on top.
The OSB stays hidden - your chosen flooring goes over it. The question is what that finish should be.
Why I went with LVT
I chose LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile) and I'm happy with it. It looks like real wood, it's warm underfoot, durable, and completely waterproof - which matters when you've got an attic kitchenette with plumbing and ensuite up there. It clicks together over a thin foam underlay, and the whole stack (OSB + underlay + LVT) has been surprisingly good for sound. Noise from the attic has genuinely not been an issue.
The one downside worth mentioning: LVT installers are in short supply in Dublin and Ireland generally. Finding someone available can take time, and the good ones are booked out weeks in advance. Laminate or carpet fitters are much easier to find. If you're on a tight timeline, that's worth factoring in.
The alternatives
Carpet is the most forgiving option for noise - it absorbs footfall better than anything else. It's warm, soft, and readily available. The downsides are that it's harder to clean (especially near a kitchenette or ensuite), stains more easily, and can look dated faster. For a bedroom-only attic with no kitchen area, carpet is a perfectly good choice and probably the most common one in Dublin conversions.
| Flooring | Sound | Waterproof | Cost | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpet | Best | No | €€ | Easy to find |
| Laminate | Noisier | Limited | € | Easy to find |
| LVT | Good | Yes | €€ | Fitters scarce |
| Engineered wood | Good | No | €€€ | Moderate |
Soundproofing - do you need to worry?
This depends entirely on how the room will be used.
Bedroom or home office
Noise is rarely an issue. You’re sleeping or sitting - not jumping around. The standard OSB + underlay + flooring stack is more than adequate. I’ve had zero complaints from the floor below.
Kids’ playroom or home gym
Consider additional acoustic underlay under your floor finish. The thicker the underlay, the more sound it absorbs. Carpet is the best choice here if noise is a real concern.
Washing machine in a kitchenette
A rubber anti-vibration mat underneath is essential - the vibration transfers straight through the joists without one. See our kitchenette guide for more on this.
What it costs
€25-€50/m²
LVT supplied and fitted
€625-€1,250
Typical attic (~25m²)
Carpet and laminate will come in lower. Engineered wood will be higher. For a full picture of what a conversion costs, see our attic conversion cost guide for Dublin. The OSB subfloor is typically included in the builder's quote as part of the structural work - the floor finish is usually a separate cost you arrange yourself.
The bottom line
I'd recommend LVT if you can find a fitter and the budget allows. It looks great, handles water, and the sound has been no issue at all. But realistically, laminate or carpet is what most Dublin conversions end up with, and for good reason - they're cheaper, fitters are plentiful, and they do the job. Don't overthink it. Pick what suits your use case and your budget.
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