Metropolitan Insulation Blog

16
Jan
2015

5 Steps To Insulating Your Home

Something as straightforward as insulating your loft correctly can save you £250 on heating bills according to the Energy Trust. This significant financial saving is just one reason to check if your loft is insulated or if the insulation you have is effective.

If your loft is insulated as all new build homes are today, then there is no need to worry, but older properties may well need an upgrade in loft insulation to improve energy efficiency. Unless you are confident that you can do the job to the required standard, then it is worth asking a professional to install insulation for you.

If you do decide to go it alone and do it yourself here are 5 steps to remember:

  • Check that your roof space doesn’t have any damp creeping in before you start your loft insulation project. Damp can lead to rot and applying insulation over this is not a good idea.
  • Wear protective gear such as overalls, gloves and a dust mask to prevent fibres irritating the skin and your airways. There are alternative insulation materials available such as sheep’s wool and recycled newspapers that may be more suitable if you don’t like the thought of handling mineral wool.
  • You should make accurate measurements of your joists and the floor of your loft to make sure insulation is cut to the correct size and fits properly.
  • It is recommended that the depth of insulation for mineral wool insulation is 27cm. This can vary, however, depending on the material you are using.
  • If you already have some loft insulation, you don’t need to remove it. Just add the new material on the top. Don’t put boards on top of your insulation as this will compress it and reduce its effectiveness.
Posted by admin in Home Insulation
15
Jan
2015

Global Growth In Acoustic Insulation Market…

…Expected To Reach $4,160 Million

A report released this month highlights that demand for acoustic insulation is expected to grow by nearly 6% globally by 2019.

Strict new government regulations are driving growth in all areas of the building insulation industry according to the report. Rising concerns about the health of people living and working in poorly insulated buildings and the need for greater energy efficiency are further reasons for a dramatic risein demand.

While growth is expected globally, Europe currently has the biggest market demand for acoustic insulation. The continent accounts for nearly 38% of total global consumption of insulation materials. Alongside Europe, there is also increasing demand for acoustic insulation in developing nations and innovations and expansion in this area will be further drivers of insulation industry growth in the next four years according to the report.

Asian countries for example have seen a rapid growth in their middle class populations and this has fuelled demand for more comfortable lifestyles. Corresponding growth in the manufacturing industries of developing nations in Asia as well as the building and construction industries has also contributed to further demand for building insulation and associated materials.

Posted by admin in Home Insulation, Thermal Insulation
22
Oct
2014

Gatwick Residents To Receive £3,000…

…For Insulation And Double Glazing

Living on a flight path isn’t fun if you don’t like noise and you happen to live one the of the UK’s busiest airports.

To improve matters for local residents, Gatwick Airport are giving residents £3,000 towards getting their homes insulated against noise from the many planes which pass over 24 hours a day seven days a week.

The offer is open to anyone who has a home near the airport and covered by the noise contour map.

Even though the amount of noise generated by modern commercial airlines has fallen by half in recent years with advances in aircraft technology, guidelines have been updated and approved by the Secretary of State for the Environment and the funding received by residents will be part of satisfying the new guidelines.

The loudest noise levels have reduced from 90km² to 41km² near Gatwick, but the airport remains committed to finding other ways to reduce noise. One is to have aircraft descend gradually and studies have also been commissioned to look at noise in particular areas of the airport.

Whatever the measures put in place, insulating against noise is an ideal quick fix way to make living near Gatwick a little easier on the ears!

Posted by admin in Home Insulation
09
Oct
2014

Households Offered Up To £7,600 Towards Energy Saving Improvements

Being ‘green’ doesn’t cost the earth as they say and it is about to cost a lot less now that households in the UK are being offered money for making energy efficient improvements to their homes and this includes home insulation.

The Green Deal fund has received an extra £100m in cash which will be made available for anyone who wants to make energy efficient changes to their property.

It is possible to apply for up to £7,600 towards the cost of anything from boilers to insulation and this will include £500 for those who have moved home within the last 12 months.

The fund is not means tested which is good news for people who may not have met the criteria for other state hand outs aimed at improving the energy efficiency of households.

The money will remain available until it runs out, so if you are planning to get your home insulated it would be wise to start the application sooner rather than later even though it will be November before it is revealed how people can apply.

The government has every incentive to offer households a cheaper way to insulate their homes with poor insulation responsible for wasting huge amounts of energy each year. Any reduction in energy usage is welcome given the government’s commitment to reducing CO2 emissions.

Posted by admin in Home Insulation
21
Sep
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
01
Sep
2014

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
21
Aug
2014

The History of Home Insulation

Exactly where did modern insulation evolve from? Although it’s doubtful this burning question keeps you awake at night, there is a very interesting story behind insulation and how the UK could benefit if every home invested in this vital, energy saving product. Have a look at this infographic for a walk through history. And if you would like to know more about how you can keep your home warmer, cooler and more energy efficient, call Metropolitan Insulation today.

Posted by admin in Home Insulation
01
Aug
2014

Insulating Your Home in the Summer

When thinking of insulation, people tend to think of how it is so important in keeping your house warm in the winter months. But keeping your home cool in summer months is just as important, particularly with the unusually warm temperatures currently being experienced across the UK. There are other things you can do that will contribute to a cooler home. Monitoring your energy usage will not only keep you comfortably cool when there is a heatwave, but it will also save you money. Here are a few simple tips to conserve energy:

Appliances
These mod-cons are also the biggest consumers of your total energy. A few ways to trim the excess usage with your regularly utilised appliances include using the cold water setting on the washing machine. And why not use the sunny days to line-dry the washing outside? Hand washing your dishes as soon as they are used will not only ensure everything is clean when you need it, but it will save you a bundle on your energy bill. Large appliances produce significant heat when in use, so the less you use them the cooler your home will be.

Windows
A very simple way to keep your house cool is to keep blinds and curtains closed in the day time. We all want to let the sunshine flood our homes, but this actually heats up your house. Keeping the sun out avoids the use of fans and air conditioning.

Air Conditioning
It’s more efficient to turn your air con on and off for short intervals rather running it at a steady temperature. In the interim, you can use fans to move the cooler air around the house if you don’t have central heating/cooling. Be sure you maintain your unit for peak efficiency.

Cooking
Your oven has one job-to make your food hot. The same goes for its effect on your home. Using a microwave is more energy efficient than the oven without emitting nearly as much heat.

Posted by admin in Home Insulation
20
Jul
2014

Noise Pollution Near Airports

New research suggests that living next to an airport can be bad for your health. The noise pollution created by the constant air traffic exposes vulnerable people such as the elderly to excess stress and worry.

The report by the Harvard School of Public Health has found that those elderly people affected are at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

The report was published in the British Medical Journal and is the first to expose a link between noise pollution and hospitalisation. Another report by the Imperial College of London found than 3.6 million residents in close proximity to Heathrow Airport were at a higher risk of stoke, and developing coronary heart disease.

Residents had a 3.5% higher chance of hospital admission due to heart problems, when aircraft noise rose to 10 decibels higher than the average.

Co-author of the study Jonathan Levy states;

Our study was not meant to evaluate interventions, but I think there are clearly things that can be done to reduce exposures to aircraft noise, such as soundproofing of homes that are close to airports, measure that can be taken by (the) FAA or others to reduce noise of their aircrafts,” Levy said. “This certainly could be a beneficial health measure.

Posted by admin in Soundproofing
01
Jul
2014

Noise Pollution Resolutions

A recent Metropolitan Insulation project was carried out in Catford on a shop with residential flats above. The residents of the flat were having issues with the levels of noise pollution coming through the ceiling from the shop below. And likewise, the shop was getting noise pollution from the residents of the flat.

A solution was required that caused minimal impact on the business and on the lives of the people living in the flats.

The work was undertaken to lift all of the floors of the flats and install 60kb acoustic bloc insulation between the floor joists.

At the same time, an acoustic ceiling from the shop ceiling was installed, with an aluminium framework, isolated by acoustic hangars and a double sound barrier board.

Both the shop owner and residents were delighted with the results and the work met with the Local Authority Compliance with Part E for noise reduction.

Posted by admin in Soundproofing