How To Soundproof Doors

Spray foam insulation is an ideal solution for securing tiles on the roofs of listed and historic buildings.

Feb

2024

Soundproofing Solutions for Your House

Is unwanted noise disturbing the tranquility of your home? Soundproofing your house can be the solution you’ve been looking for. At Soundproofing Solutions, we specialize in providing effective soundproofing solutions tailored to residential properties. Enjoy peace and quiet in every room of your house and create a serene environment for relaxation, work, or family time.

Why Choose Our Soundproofing Services?

1. Expertise and Experience: With our extensive expertise and years of experience in soundproofing, our team has the knowledge and skills to address various noise-related issues in houses. We stay updated with the latest soundproofing techniques and technologies to deliver outstanding results.

2. Customised Solutions: We understand that every house is unique, and your soundproofing needs may vary. Our experts offer personalized soundproofing solutions tailored to your specific requirements and preferences. Whether it’s reducing external noise, preventing sound transfer between rooms, or creating a quiet home office, we have the expertise to find the right solution for you.

3. Comprehensive Soundproofing Options: We offer a wide range of soundproofing products and solutions to suit your house’s needs. From acoustic insulation for walls, floors, and ceilings to soundproof doors and windows, we have the products and expertise to enhance the soundproofing performance of your house. Our high-quality materials effectively block and absorb sound, creating a quieter and more peaceful environment.

4. Professional Installation: Our skilled soundproofing team provides professional installation services to ensure that your soundproofing solution is implemented correctly. We pay attention to detail during the installation process, maximizing the effectiveness of the soundproofing materials and minimizing any potential disruptions to your home.

5. Increased Comfort and Privacy: Soundproofing your house enhances your overall comfort by reducing noise disturbances from external sources such as traffic, neighbors, or nearby construction. It also helps maintain privacy within your home, preventing sound from traveling between rooms or floors. Enjoy a peaceful and private living space where you can relax, concentrate, and unwind without unwanted noise intrusions.

Contact Us Today for Soundproofing Your House!

Ready to transform your house into a quiet and tranquil haven? Don’t let noise disrupt your comfort and well-being at home. Contact Soundproofing Solutions today to schedule a free consultation. Our soundproofing experts will assess your specific needs, recommend the most suitable solutions, and provide a detailed quote for your project. Enhance the serenity and enjoyment of your home with our top-notch soundproofing services. Say goodbye to noise and hello to peace and quiet in your house!

Nov

2023

4 Reasons People Soundproof Their Homes

Most people in the UK live in cities, and whilst living in the city can be convenient, it also means being subjected to high levels of noise pollution.

Your home should be a peaceful sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Over time, being subjected to noise pollution at home can takes its toll.

Here are just a few reasons why so many people now choose to soundproof their homes.

Traffic noise pollution

If you live close to a busy road or a noisy flight path it can be very frustrating being unable to do anything to stop or reduce the noise. The constant, annoying rumbling and roaring of traffic can take its toll, having both physical and psychological effects on your health and wellbeing. Soundproofing your home to can be an effective way of blocking out noise from traffic and minimising the effect it has on your life.

Health and wellbeing

As well as being annoying, studies have found that noise pollution can also be bad for our

Keep sound in

Soundproofing isn’t always installed to keep sound out, it’s also useful for keeping sound in and preventing you from becoming the noisy neighbour. Many musicians choose to soundproof their homes to allow them to practice and play their instruments at any time of day without the risk of upsetting or disturbing those living around them.

Privacy

Some properties are built with very thin walls that allow sound to easily travel from one house to the next. If you can hear every footstep, cough, sneeze and conversation going on next door, then they can hear you too. Installing soundproofing will enhance your privacy and help you to feel more comfortable and relaxed in your home.

Find out more about Metropolitan Insulation’s soundproofing services or request a free consultation by giving us a call on 0800 028 4042.

Feb

2023

Soundproofing Services in Manchester

Are you tired of dealing with unwanted noise disturbances in your Manchester property? Whether it’s the bustling city sounds, neighboring activities, or internal noise, soundproofing can transform your space into a quiet oasis. At Soundproofing Solutions, we are your trusted soundproofing experts in Manchester. Our team specializes in providing effective soundproofing solutions tailored to your specific needs. Say goodbye to noise disruptions and enjoy the tranquility you deserve.

Why Choose Our Soundproofing Services?

1. Expertise and Experience: With years of experience in the industry, our team of soundproofing professionals in Manchester has the knowledge and expertise to tackle various noise issues. We stay up-to-date with the latest soundproofing techniques, materials, and technologies to deliver exceptional results.

2. Customised Solutions: We understand that every property is unique, and your soundproofing requirements may differ. Our experts provide personalized soundproofing solutions tailored to your specific needs and budget. Whether you need to soundproof a residential space, office, restaurant, or any other environment, we have the expertise to find the right solution for you.

3. Quality Materials and Products: We believe in delivering lasting results, which is why we use high-quality soundproofing materials and products from trusted manufacturers. Our selection includes sound-absorbing panels, acoustic insulation, soundproof doors, windows, and more. We ensure that the materials used in your soundproofing project are effective, durable, and visually appealing.

4. Professional Installation: Our skilled soundproofing team in Manchester provides professional installation services to ensure that your soundproofing solution is properly implemented. We pay attention to detail, ensuring that all components are installed correctly to maximize their effectiveness and deliver the desired results.

5. Free Consultation: We offer a complimentary consultation to assess your soundproofing needs. Our experts will visit your property, evaluate the noise issues you’re experiencing, and provide personalized recommendations. We consider your specific requirements, budget, and desired outcome to create a customized soundproofing plan.

Contact Us Today for Soundproofing in Manchester!

Ready to transform your Manchester property into a peaceful and quiet oasis? Don’t let unwanted noise disrupt your comfort and well-being. Contact Soundproofing Solutions today to schedule your free consultation. Our team of experts will guide you through the soundproofing process, answer your questions, and provide a detailed quote for your project. Say goodbye to noise disturbances and hello to tranquility with our top-notch soundproofing services in Manchester.

Sep

2022

The Incredible Benefits of Insulating Your Loft

When it comes to creating an energy-efficient and comfortable home, insulating your loft should be high on your priority list. Many homeowners often overlook this simple yet highly effective home improvement measure. Insulating your loft not only helps you save on energy bills but also offers numerous additional benefits. In this blog, we will explore the incredible advantages of loft insulation and why it’s a wise investment for any homeowner.

Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings:

One of the most significant benefits of insulating your loft is increased energy efficiency, leading to substantial cost savings in the long run. Without proper insulation, your home loses a significant amount of heat through the roof. By insulating your loft, you create a thermal barrier that prevents heat from escaping, effectively trapping warmth within your living spaces. As a result, you can reduce your heating requirements, lower energy consumption, and enjoy noticeable reductions in your heating bills.

Enhanced Comfort and Temperature Regulation:

Insulating your loft doesn’t just help with energy efficiency; it also greatly improves the comfort level within your home. With proper insulation, you can maintain a more consistent and comfortable indoor temperature throughout the year. During cold winters, the insulation prevents heat loss, keeping your home warm and cosy. In summer, it acts as a barrier against external heat, reducing the need for excessive air conditioning and keeping your living spaces pleasantly cool.

Noise Reduction:

Loft insulation has an additional benefit that often goes unnoticed—noise reduction. The insulation material absorbs and dampens external noises, creating a more peaceful and tranquil living environment. Whether it’s the sound of traffic, noisy neighbours, or the pitter-patter of rain, a well-insulated loft can significantly minimise unwanted noise, allowing you to relax and enjoy a quieter home.

Environmental Impact:

Investing in loft insulation isn’t just beneficial for your wallet; it’s also a positive step toward reducing your environmental impact. By reducing energy consumption, you contribute to lower greenhouse gas emissions and help combat climate change. With an energy-efficient home, you actively participate in conserving natural resources and promote sustainable living practices.

Increased Property Value:

A well-insulated loft can add value to your property. Potential buyers are increasingly mindful of energy efficiency and look for homes that are insulated and equipped with green features. By insulating your loft, you not only make your home more appealing to buyers but also increase its overall market value.

Condensation Prevention:

Condensation can be a significant issue in homes that lack proper insulation. Moisture buildup can lead to dampness, mold growth, and subsequent damage to your property. Insulating your loft helps regulate the temperature and reduces condensation, protecting your home from these potential problems and ensuring a healthier living environment.

Conclusion:

Insulating your loft is a smart investment that offers a multitude of benefits. From reducing energy bills and enhancing comfort to noise reduction and environmental sustainability, the advantages are undeniable. By taking this simple step, you can create a more energy-efficient, comfortable, and eco-friendly home while also increasing its value. So, if you haven’t already done so, consider insulating your loft and reap the incredible rewards it brings.

Oct

2020

Soundproof Foam VS Acoustic Foam

The misconception about foam being soundproof exists mostly because people lack the understanding of the differences between sound absorption and soundproofing.

It is natural to assume that if products like foam absorb sound, there will be none that is left to escape the room.

Unfortunately, sound is not like a fluid that gets absorbed and trapped in something like a sponge. The way sound behaves needs to be understood clearly here.

Sound waves are nothing but vibrations and when they strike a surface, they tend to vibrate it.

Sound does not ‘pass’ through a wall or ceiling but merely vibrates it. These vibrations are further transferred to the other side and that is how sound transfer takes place through walls, ceilings, and other surfaces.

1. Walls and Ceilings

The most common myth is that panels made of foam can be stuck on walls and will reduce the amount of sound from entering or leaving a room.

The foam that you see stuck on the walls of studios is not meant for soundproofing but is meant for sound absorption. The products that do the actual soundproofing in a studio are something else.

What You Should Be Doing Instead

You should first of all try to make your walls heavier. You can add mass to your wall by:-

Extra Drywall

Installing an additional layer or two of drywall will help to reduce sound transfer. A 5/8” thick drywall sheet weighs 2.31 pounds per square foot. That’s some serious mass and is a great substance for reducing sound transfer.

Coming back to foam, there are many varieties available and their densities vary depending on the type and grade. However, the foam would have to be several inches thick to match the mass of drywall.

Pros

Low cost.
Lots of mass.

Cons

Effort and workmanship required to install.
Involves modification of structures, so not an option for rented apartments.

Floors

Impact Noise
Airborne Noise

Impact noise is the noise caused as a result of footsteps or furniture being moved on the floor.

Airborne noise is the sound that is normally transmitted through the air and these include traffic noise, dog barking, neighbors yelling, and everything else.

Sep

2020

New Trend for Soundproofing Your Home

The average city dweller spends his or her time surrounded by noise– traffic, television, cell phones, and unwanted office gossip. But people who want a quieter life are finding ways to outfit their homes with sound-proof accessories, such as curtains that mute noises from outside. This is one of several ways to make staying home much more peaceful and reap the health benefits of silence.

Noise pollution affects many people and homes, causing health effects such as stress and anxiety. There are many fancy methods to isolate yourself from sound, but soundproofing is expensive and typically reserved for technical uses, such as for a recording studio.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is only safe to be exposed to loud noises for a maximum of 8 hours. Many of us who live in urban areas or noisy towns receive a lot more noise than recommended. Because of this, there has been a significant rise in home soundproofing through the use of soundproof curtains and other methods.

However, there are several simple home hacks you can use to significantly reduce the amount of noise you hear.

One popular way to achieve a quieter living space is through your furniture. When you have an empty room, sound bounces off the walls a lot easier since there is nothing to absorb it. These bouncing waves reach your ear and you perceive ‘sound’, but the simple addition of heavy and soft furniture can absorb a great deal of these waves. Add heavy tables and sofas with a lot of cushion to absorb the most amount of sound. Books also help and look great on your coffee table!

If you want to get fancy with your soundproofing you can add acoustic panels to your walls and ceiling. These are used mostly in studio sound booths during music recordings, but many manufacturers craft these panels for use in your home. These panels work much in the same way as furniture works– by providing a thick, soft and permeable surface which effectively absorbs sound waves.

Don’t Forget Your Doors!

You’d be surprised at how sound finds its way into our homes through the smallest cracks and spaces. One place we often ignore when we think about sound leakage is our doors. Gaps beneath doors let a considerable amount of noise through, but there is an inexpensive solution. Sealant tape can easily block these gaps without hindering your doors from opening or closing. A more expensive but permanent solution is a mounted seal that uses metal and rubber and lasts a lot longer than tape.

Reducing noise in your home will not only give you peace of mind, but is also attributed to many health benefits. Some of these include lower stress levels, better concentration, increased brain function, and greater focus for self-reflection. The benefits of good rest are also widely studied, and the solution is as simple as installing a set of soundproof curtains.

Aug

2020

How to soundproof an apartment door: Painless DIY Solutions

Why soundproof a door and who should do it?

If you’ve recently moved into a new apartment and discovered that on some nights you’re wide awake as you listen to your neighbours’ conversations in the hallway, your flimsy doors may be to blame.

As a light sleeper myself, loud noises from the hallway have kept me up on countless nights.

With the recent trend of people working from home, you may also be looking to dedicate a space for your new home office with optimal sound-proofing properties so you can work in peace.

If those situations sound familiar to you, it might be time to think about how you can soundproof your doors to get a good night’s sleep.

How they work and if they can be effective

Soundproofing a hollow door works just like soundproofing a room does.

The problem usually arises because most doors have hollow cores, often trapping air inside.

The trapped air then acts as an excellent medium for noise or sound, but a terrible choice if you want to keep the noise out.

Hollow core doors are the most typical interior doors used nowadays in houses.

Beneath its surface is an inner cardboard honeycomb core surrounded by a softwood frame.

Considering this thin surface and the air-filled core, there just isn’t much to block the transmission of sound.

However, you can minimize the sound transmission by adding sound-insulating material on the door, which will significantly help in creating a more peaceful environment in the comfort of your own home.

Continue reading to find out how you can soundproof an apartment door. Here are a few products readily available on Amazon for you.

Note that these methods will allow you to minimize the noise transmission but will not completely block out noise.

If you wish to get rid of any outside noise once and for all, you might want to look into getting a solid core door.

We will explore that option at the end of this article.

Acoustic foam

A reliable go-to product when it comes to soundproofing is acoustic foams.

When installed on your door, these foams block noise while absorbing sounds.

As a result, they can eliminate any echoes from the house.

Since they are originally designed to improve the acoustics of a music room, you can count them to reduce the amplitude of noise level.

The best part is, they don’t require any special skills to install.

Because they are self-adhesive, it will be a hassle-free process for you.

Aug

2020

Loft Conversion – Is it worth the investment?

Certain features such as garages or porches have solid research behind them indicating the overall value they add to a home, but it can be difficult to assess less common features, such as a loft conversion, when deciding whether they’re worth the investment. As a homeowner, it can be easy to decide whether a renovation is worth it because personal value for the project comes into play. However, as an estate agent or landlord, you must consider how much value the project will ultimately add to your property and whether the cost is worth the investment. Take a look at whether a loft conversion is worth it in the long run.

Is a loft conversion worth the investment?

Renovating a loft can quickly add up to a major expense for your latest investment, which may lead you to question whether it’s worth it. If a loft conversion is done well — and especially if you are converting it into a bedroom or bathroom — it could provide a 50% to 75% return on investment (ROI). Not terrible when compared to low-ROI projects like adding a pool. Adding an ensuite bedroom and bathroom does cost about twice as much as simply enclosing the space into a room that could be used as a home office or storage space, but you are essentially adding a room count to your investment. Your two-bedroom, one-bath home can now be considered a three-bedroom, two-bath, adding a lot of value to its sale potential or rental desirability.

It is important to consult not only a licensed architect and contractor to create a functional space but also your local realtor to determine whether the market demand is there. Keep in mind that loft conversions are usually, but not always, smaller spaces, so demand in urban settings will probably be higher since space is already at a premium. A loft conversion is likely only worth the investment if done appropriately, but ultimately, you will need to do market research to ensure your investment is worth the returns.

Jul

2020

Negative Effects of Sound Pollution

Every sound in a structure can be traced back to its acoustical roots. Creaky door hinges are rusty, too tight or in need of a good oiling. Floorboards squeaking or groaning are either incorrectly fastened or not plumb or true.

As for ominous loud ticking clocks, either you’ve been watching too many scary movies or you have very thin walls with no acoustical insulation and thin drywall layers. This too can be easily solved with a variety of wall types from traditional staggered stud to new high-performance ultra-thin ZR walls.

Unintended Negative Effects of Noises

The impact of subway noise on surrounding neighbourhoods shows that increased cardiovascular disease is related to sleep disorders caused by rail noise in urban areas. While most spooky sounds are low frequency noise, subways do create a wider variety of noises than wind turbines or deep footsteps, thereby having a wider and deeper range of effects. These are similar to having a spooky bad dream including, but not limited to:

Increased heart rate
Lack of deep REM sleep
Increased blood pressure
Elevated anxiety and stress levels

Last, but not least, is our favorite means of long-distance travel, airplanes. Because of new engine designs, noise from aircraft is getting better with each generation. Nevertheless, there is still a significant impact on local environments and the people living there. Similar to subway noise, physiological issues include:

Cardiovascular issues
Cognitive issues in children
Elevated anxiety
Decreased attention spans due to sleep deprivation.

Jun

2020

Soundproofing and Acoustic Treatment: What’s the Difference?

Sound can be divided into two types: direct and indirect. Starting from the source, the sound travels in outward directions all around.

Direct travels in a straight line, whereas the reflected or indirect, randomly bounces in the room and between its surfaces.

Indirect sounds are echoes, reverbs, vibrations and similar. Direct sound remains the same, but the reflected change the original sound.

The change is either good or bad, depending on the size of the room, and its properties.

What Is Soundproofing?

The purpose of soundproofing is to block or minimise the level of sounds, both those traveling in and outside of the room.

So, the main idea is to have the sound focused – do not let the desired one get out, and, at the same time, do not let the unwanted ones come in!

This can be done either by blocking or sealing.

Sealing refers to all those tiny gaps, particularly in windows and doors.

What Is Acoustic Treatment?

Quite opposite from the previously mentioned, where the main idea is to block the sound, the purpose of acoustic treatment is to control the sound.

This particularly refers to indirect sounds, such as echoes, vibrations and similar.

So, it’s about controlling the sound that’s exclusively inside the room.

Soundproofing or Acoustic Treatment – Which to Choose?

Before you get down to business, be sure to know what exactly are you looking for? Do you want to reduce the echo?

Or you want to block all the sound except for the one you are making?

These are some of the questions you have to answer so that you know what the problem you have to deal with is.

Besides this, the dimensions of your room, as well as its shape are key factors.

If it’s in a building, that means dealing with numerous outside sounds as well.

The simple evaluation of the acoustic properties of your room is the best way to decide what you need.

Sometimes the help of a professional is needed in order to adjust the room as best as possible.

For more information and advice on what would be the best option for you, contact Metropolitan Insulation today and we’ll happy to help.

Metropolitan Insulation Blog