Metropolitan Insulation Blog

29
Jun
2018

How To Soundproof A Garden Room

Garden rooms are all the rage at the moment and whether you are a musician or someone running a business from home, you will no doubt be interested in how to insulate your room.

Good sound insulation starts with the construction of your garden room. Many people opt for timber but this is actually one of the worst materials you can use. Not only are timber garden rooms and sheds noisy to walk around but they are pretty useless if you want to use one as a garden studio to practice the guitar. At least they are if you don’t wish to annoy your neighbours!

Keeping a structure insulated is all about adding mass to walls and ceilings. At least 2 layers of breeze block should be used with a cavity in between. This will perform considerably better than using timber.

Once construction is complete all you need to do then is install extra soundproofing onto the internal walls to further reduce the amount of noise escaping from the walls.

The weakest areas where sound is likely to escape are windows. As most of us like to have a window to gaze through, this should be double glazed and sealed correctly to stop sound escaping through.
The best solution is to have no windows but this often isn’t practical for other reasons.

Posted by admin in Hotel Soundproofing, Metropolitan Insulation, Soundproof A Garden Room, Soundproofing
29
Jun
2018

Could Your Fireplace Be The Source Of Your Noise Issues?

If you are noticing that noise from your neighbours is worse during the evenings when they are watching TV then the culprit could be thin walls around your fireplace.

This was the case recently when we were asked how to advise on this issue.

TV’s are often placed above TVs in terraced housing with the chimney breast providing an ideal area to hang a tv from the wall. Of course this wasn’t the case in the old days when people simply sat their TVs on a stand which was usually a few feet away from the wall.

To exacerbate the problem, some older terraced housing may have alcoves which were once popular places to display ornaments and so on. These areas will not have the extra layer of brock you see around the chimney breast therefore sound can more easily find its way through.

So often the way to reduce noise levels is simply to add soundproofing to the areas where the wall is at its thinnest to improve insulation against your neighbour’s noisy TV and any other noise that may be coming through the wall.

For more advice on sound insulation and sound proofing in your home, contact us today.

Posted by admin in Fireplace, Insulate Your Home, Insulating Your Loft, Metropolitan Insulation, Noisy Neighbours, Soundproofing, Soundproofing Apartments, Soundproofing Commercial Property
20
May
2018

When Does Asbestos Become Dangerous To Health?

Asbestos is a fairly inconspicuous material that often lies hidden within the structure of an old building and even if the material is disturbed you’re probably not going to see what does the damage with the naked eye. It’s important then to understand when and how asbestos becomes dangerous.

As you have probably gathered asbestos is dangerous when it is disturbed in some way and the dangerous dust and fibres are then allowed to escape into the air. If you’re close by then there is a risk that you breathe in the fibres which then pass either into your lungs or possibly your digestive tract as well.

Once these fibres enter into the lungs they can embed themselves into the lungs causing scarring which hardens the tissue and makes it difficult to breathe when the lungs are unable to expand and contract properly. Other potential dangers include rare types of cancer that are triggered by the presence of asbestos fibres in lung tissue.

The results are invariably fatal which is why asbestos has been banned in construction since 2000.

If you are concerned about asbestos in your building, we offer an encapsulation service which takes away the risk of asbestos being inadvertently broken up and leading to dangerous health consequences.

Posted by admin in Asbestos, Asbestos Encapsulation, Asbestos Exposure, Insulate Your Home, Insulating Your Loft
05
May
2018

Concerned About Asbestos Exposure?

Advice On How To Keep Yourself Safe

Most people are aware of the dangers of Asbestos exposure but few people know what to do when faced with the risk of contamination from asbestos fibres when it discovered. With this in mind, here are some tips on how to limit your exposure and keep yourself safe.

Be aware of what is dangerous and what isn’t

Asbestos is a dangerous material but only when it is disturbed and broken up. Asbestos can be presnt in the structure of a building for years without anyone knowing it is there or suffering any ill effects. It is only during refurbishment or other work is done that the asbestos is discovered. The kneejerk reaction for some people is to try and remove the material but that only increases the dangers. This leaves two safe options, get experts to remove it (expensive) or use a process called encapsulation which will add a protective layer around the asbestos so that it doesn’t present a danger.

Places where you are likely to find asbestos

Of course the best way to stay from asbestos is not to do any major refurbishment or building work on a property built prior to 2000 when the material was banned from use in construction. This isn’t always possible so if you are in any doubt contact someone who knows how and wher to find the material to check whether or not any is present in your property.

Posted by admin in Asbestos, Asbestos Encapsulation, Asbestos Exposure, Insulate Your Home, Insulating Your Loft, Metropolitan Insulation, Soundproofing
26
Apr
2018

Will The World Be Quieter In the Future?

It might feel like our world is getting noisier. Overcrowding, increases in traffic both in the air and on the ground all combine to make us feel trapped in a world that offers few areas where places of genuine peace and tranquillity are few and far between.

Fortunately for those who appreciate a bit of peace and quiet, sound proofing technology is improving as new and innovative ways to tackle the noise problem become mainstream.

For example one of the biggest noise problems we have is from aircraft. Nearly 9,000 flights a day operate in UK airspace during busy seasons and any homes that lie within these flight paths will experience at least some noise from passing aircraft 24 hours a day.

The good news is that noise may soon become a thing of the past as engineers continue to work to make passenger planes quieter. Even now planes make far less noise than in the past and experiments are ongoing to make them even quieter by reducing the speed and volume of air leaving turbo jets.

If noise from traffic is a problem in your neighbourhood then a new invention that greatly improves the soundproofing quality of windows may soon be available. The window that separates air from sound and then blocks any sound waves will ensure that outdoor noise is virtually eliminated for those who live in busy towns and cities.

So along with household appliance such as vacuum cleaners that have become noticeably quieter in recent years, technology may prove to be the saviour of our peace and quiet.

Posted by admin in Bad Acoustics, Control Sound, How To Soundproof Doors, Metropolitan Insulation, Noisy Neighbours
10
Apr
2018

Do I Need An Insulation Contractor?

Do I Need An Insulation Contractor To Install Insulation In My House?

Insulating your home correctly is one of the best long term investments you can make. Not only will it help save money on heating costs by improving thermal efficiency, it will also help reduce external noise. So with this in mind, do you need a specialist insulation contractor to install your soundproofing or can it simply be left to your builder?

The most important thing to consider when installing soundproofing and insulation is experience. Insulation can certainly be done as part of the building work process and most construction companies will have experience of the task.

Like any other trade, however, specialists will have the edge and in most case more knowledge of the latest and most efficient materials. It might even work out cheaper to use a specialist contractor than using a general contractor when it comes to the work and the long term benefit.

With specialist knowledge you will gain access to a wider choice of insulation materials including the ones that may be the best fit for your property rather than being forced to make your selection from what the general contractor has in stock.

If you would like to find out more about our insulation services, contact us today.

Posted by admin in Home Insulation, Insulate Your Home, Insulating Your Loft, Metropolitan Insulation
22
Mar
2018

SoundProofing & Complying With Part E of Building Regulations

Satisfying Part ‘E’ of building regulations relating to noise may seem like an onerous task but it is a necessary for residential buildings from general housing to student halls and care homes.

As well as being part of building regulations better soundproofing contributes to everyone having a better quality of life free from the intrusion of noise from neighbours. Unfortunately, many treat Part E of building regulations as a target rather than a minimum standard and this creates problems particularly when renting out properties. For example, if soundproofing only marginally passes the requirements of Part E, tenants may be put off and move elsewhere.

To satisfy part E it needs to be shown that the various aspects of soundproofing are present including the decoupling of floor joists from ceilings. This is one of the most effective ways to limit noise from footsteps on floors above.

Stud walls and the application of acoustic mineral wool adds sound insulation to walls to limit noise from adjoining rooms. Mass is a further consideration and if you use higher mass mineral wool this will improve soundproofing further and go well beyond the standards required for Part E.

Damping and air tight seals are further areas that will improve sound insulation and ensure that you’re not just complying with Part E but committed to creating a better environment for the people who spend their time in the building on a daily basis.

Posted by admin in Commercial Property, Construction, Home Insulation, Hotel Soundproofing, Insulate Your Home, Insulating Your Loft, Metropolitan Insulation, Soundproofing
10
Mar
2018

Advice On Insulating Barn Conversions

Insulating a barn conversion is no easy task using conventional insulation methods. Not only do you have a large space with high ceilings, but also it is desirable to retain some of the original features to make the property more appealing. With this in mind here is some advice on approaching the insulation of your barn conversion.

Most barns will have wall made of brick or stone without the cavity you get in a conventional house. This presents the first problem. How do you insulate the wall without spoiling it appearance inside and out? To meet building regulations you will need to fit the required level of insulation. This can be done by fitting internal partitions or cladding.

When it comes to the roof things can get a bit trickier. Barn roofs are often removed so that alterations can be made which can be an expensive and time consuming process.

Fortunately polyurethane foam applied via a spray can provide a cost effective and speedier alternative to other methods of insulation. The foam can simply be sprayed onto the underside of roof tiles and this can even be done without the need for a ventilated airspace.

Posted by admin in Construction, Home Insulation, Insulate Your Home, Insulating Your Loft, Metropolitan Insulation, Soundproofing, Soundproofing Apartments
23
Feb
2018

Soundproofing for Hospitals and Clinics

Hospitals and clinics have particular requirements when it comes to sound proofing and arguably it is of greater importance than in most other buildings.

Noise can lead to stress related illness and this isn’t something anyone wants in a healthcare setting, yet hospitals are often filled with people and activity day and night and this can make it hard to sleep which is not something a patient is going to appreciate.

Creating quiet, peaceful environments for patients will not only reduce the harmful effects of noise but also potentially speed up recovery which reduces costs.

Another factor to consider is privacy. Consultation rooms must provide the utmost privacy while details are being discussed. A patient is unlikely to want to communicate in an environment where they can be heard by passers-by.

Soundproofing solutions for hospitals and clinics might include insulated ceiling tiles and the installation of other special noise control products such as insulated wall panels that not only reduce the reverberation of sound in rooms but also the transfer of noise between them.

We have several years of experience working on sound insulation for healthcare settings and understand the unique requirements of the sector. If you want to find out more about us and our services, contact us today.

Posted by admin in Metropolitan Insulation, Soundproofing Commercial Property
02
Feb
2018

Read This Before Insulating Your Loft

Whether you already have some insulation in your loft or you need to start from scratch, here are some handy hints on the best ways to insulate.

When insulating a loft you will have two options – warm roof or cold roof. The latter might sound odd as we’re insulating right?
The problem with cold roof insulating is, you are only insulating the floor of the loft, which is only insulating the floors below against heat loss. The rest of the loft will be freezing cold in the winter and hot in the summer.

If you plan to store items in your loft, they will soon turn damp and musty in this environment. So the best solution all round is add warm roof insulation which can be sprayed on by a specialist like us for maximum coverage.

If you already have loft insulation, then there is the possibility that it doesn’t meet the current recommended thickness of 250mm to 270mm. Back in the 1980s the requirement was just 100mm. No wonder it was so cold in houses at that time!

If you are installing cold roof insulation you may need to strip out the existing insulation and replace it with new material to meet the correct thickness. Insulation panels tend to be supplied at standard thicknesses so the work can be done in one go.

If you require advice on insulating your loft, why not give us a call?

Posted by admin in Insulating Your Loft, Metropolitan Insulation