Metropolitan Insulation Services.

By contrast, modern open-concept design and bare floors promote echo-y spaces and room-to-room noise, with little regard for acoustics.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Nov

2013

£1.7m Noise Barrier in London

A group of residents in East London who have been campaigning for a concrete noise barrier at a cost of £1.7 million may see a political u-turn by councillors.

The council will have the final say on the matter on Tuesday. They are recommending that £300,000 be spent on enhancing the existing barrier on Veterans Memorial Parkway in London. But residents are fighting for a more robust solution of a concrete noise barrier to help to soundproof their neighbourhood from the noise pollution caused by London traffic.

Residents claim that the proposed work will not solve the problem. Local residents say;

“You can’t sit out in your back deck and have a decent conversation. The noise levels are ridiculous.” claims London resident Gerry Sunstrum, 69.

Oct

2012

Report shows profit increases…

…have not translated this news into higher build numbers

Despite profit increases, a report shows that many large builders have not translated this news into higher build numbers.

Industry figures have called for action on house building after an analysis of results from eight of the UK’s biggest house builders showed that big profit increases have not been matched by higher build rates.

An analysis by Building of the most recent full-year results from the eight major publicly listed housebuilders, shows that while pre-tax profits rose by 161% in 2011 to £556m on the previous year, the number of homes built increased by just 3% to 45,018. Operating profits also rose 47% over the same period.

The analysis comes amid deepening concern over the rate of house building in the UK, with the latest government figures for the period from January to March showing the number of housing starts fell 11% to 24,140 on the previous quarter – a drop of 15% on the same period in 2011.

Sep

2012

The cost of construction disputes is rising

Construction disputes in the UK are costing more and taking more time to resolve, a communication by EC Harris has found.

The average price of a disagreement in England jumped 35% in 2011 to £6.5m up from £4.8m the year before.

The Worldwide Construction Disputes report also found the time brought to resolve UK disputes had increased, from 6.75 months in 2010 to 8.7 months in 2011.

Sep

2012

Attic conversions Edinburgh

Metropolitan Insulation Services also specialise in high quality loft and attic conversions in Edinburgh. We are a highly competent team dedicated to creating warm, thermally efficient attic and loft spaces in Edinburgh, Call us now for expert advice.

Metropolitan Insulation Blog