Month: September 2014

Thermal Insulation

Thermal insulation is a term used for products that reduce fluctuations of internal temperatures by acting as a barrier between the weather outside and the inside of the home. There are many items in the home that use insulation like boilers and pipes, but buildings need help to be more energy efficient. Home insulation reduces the amount of heat escaping in the winter and protects it from absorbing heat in the summer.

Most insulation products are made by using glass or rock that has been melted down at temperatures well in excess of 1,000°C and spun into strands of wool. A binding agent is then added to hold the strands together. These strands are formed into rolls to fit between ceiling joists to install in cavity walls.

In addition to temperature control, insulation can also be used to control sound. Acoustic insulation is can be found in walls, ceilings and even floors, but specialised soundproofing is usually reserved for special areas like home theatres.

If you live in an area where there is extreme external noise from cars, airplanes, trains or industrial machinery, you may also want to look at ways to keep the noise pollution out and your sanity intact.

Luckily Metropolitan Insulation can help with any of your needs, whether it is for domestic, commercial or even agricultural.

Posted by admin in Thermal Insulation

Metropolitan Sound Proofing

If you are thinking about soundproofing a home, office or industrial space, consider exactly what kind of noise you want to stop, where it’s going coming from.

Usually, the majority of sound volume comes through your windows especially old single glazed, untreated windows. Another source may be through walls and ceilings. Varied frequencies are transmitted more effectively through certain types of materials. If you’re unsure where the sound is coming from, an assessment by a professional soundproofed will help you to find out.

Flanking noise involves sound waves being transmitted through gaps in walls, vents, plumbing, power switches and outlets.

Structural noise is generated by banging on one side of a wall/floor to the other side (example: people walking above particularly on a bare floor).

Windows
Double or triple glazed windows will block sound effectively. The layers of air provide a barrier for any sound passing through. It’s difficult for sound vibrations to travel through dense material-air-dense material than to pass a vibration through a single-paned window. The majority of the sound’s energy is lost in the passing between the different mediums with double glazing.

Walls
Soundproofing your walls may be easy or very difficult, depending on what stage of construction you are in. It’s considerably easier to install soundproofing while the framing is exposed. Retrofitting soundproofing is possible, but you run the risk of other issues hidden behind the wall that may have a negative impact on the effectiveness of the soundproofing.

Ceilings
Ceiling spaces are fairly simple to soundproof because they are easy to access regardless of what stage of construction your home is in. But ceilings can present a few issues like ductwork and ventilation, which may still allow a certain amount of flanking noise through.

Floor coverings
There are many ways inside your home that sound energy can bounce off. Think of a room where there are soft furnishings, curtains and carpet. There is considerably less echo than a very stark room with bare floors, hard furnishing and exposed windows.

Once you know where you need soundproofing, the next step is to get in touch with professionals who can advise you on the best materials to use. Metropolitan Insulation can help.

Posted by admin in Soundproofing