Noise Pollution

Often overlooked the environmental impact is an important consideration when choosing insulation.

28
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.
Posted by admin in Acoustic blinds or curtains, Acoustic panels, Acoustic Treatment, Bad Acoustics, Block Noise, Commercial Property, Common Soundproofing Myths, Hidden Noise Hazards, Home Insulation, Hotel Soundproofing, How To Soundproof Doors, Improved Insulation, Insulate Your Home, Insulating Your Loft, Metropolitan Insulation, Modern Soundproofing, Noise pollution, Noisy household appliances, Noisy Neighbours, Sound Insulation for Old Houses, Sound Insulation Ideas, Soundproofing, Soundproofing Apartments, Soundproofing Commercial Property, Soundproofing for musicians, Soundproofing New Homes, Soundproofing Party Walls, Spray Foam Insulation
10
Jul
2020

Commercial and Domestic Soundproofing

What does soundproofing typically cost?

We charge per square meter, to keep our costs as low as possible from the outset. Many of our customers choose to stage their soundproofing room by room, ranging from utilising high-density acoustic sealant and wall panels to installing soundproofing walls, to ensure our soundproofing solutions provide them with satisfaction. Whatever your sound insulation choice is, we endeavour to make it as cost-effective as possible.

Whether it is for peace and quiet in your home, reducing loud noise in your office or meeting rooms or for new building regulations, we offer wall soundproofing, floor soundproofing and soundproofing solutions that are second to none in quality using the latest soundproofing foam technology.

We listen to what you need and want from a soundproofing project. We are able to provide full sound insulation with high-density wall panels for soundproofing installations in walls, floors and ceilings, all while still maintaining the beauty and aesthetics of your home or office designs with a minimum loss of room space and mess. 

Metropolitan Insulation Soundproofing use state of the art methods and materials to deal with all of your noise issues. We know our business and have soundproofing solutions for all your needs. If we don’t have an immediate answer for you, we have the resources to get you the answer as well as the products to get the job done right the first time.

Metropolitan Insulation takes pride in the services and materials we supply to customers and will work closely with you to make certain that noise intrusion throughout your home is no longer a part of daily life. We have been focusing on delivering the very best in soundproofing London throughout our establishment and are proud to be your first choice for service.

Posted by admin in Acoustic panels, Choosing Insulation, Commercial Property, Control Sound, Home Insulation, Improved Insulation, Insulate Your Home, Metropolitan Insulation, Modern Soundproofing, Noise pollution, Noisy household appliances, Noisy Neighbours, Office Soundproofing, Sound Absorption, Sound Insulation for Old Houses, Sound Insulation Ideas, Soundproofing, Soundproofing Apartments, Soundproofing Commercial Property, Spray Foam Insulation
20
May
2020

QUIET, PLEASE!

ACOUSTIC DESIGN FOR NOISE CONTROL.

State-of-art acoustic design can dramatically reduce sound transmission through shared walls and street-facing windows.

Today’s new homes, with their open-concept designs, quartz countertops, tile and hardwood floors, high ceilings, TVs mounted on walls and large floor-to-ceiling windows, are being embraced by builders, architects, renovators and homeowners alike for their clean, modern and minimalist ambience. But while these designs are pleasing to the eye, they are not necessarily pleasing to the ear.

A few decades back, heavy drapes on windows, carpeting on the floors and bulky furniture did much to deaden echoes in large rooms and suppress noises from other parts of the house. By contrast, modern open-concept design and bare floors promote echo-y spaces and room-to-room noise, with little regard for acoustics.

Posted by admin in Acoustic panels, Control Sound, Modern Soundproofing, Sound Absorption, Sound Insulation Ideas, Soundproofing, Soundproofing Apartments, Soundproofing New Homes
08
Jul
2019

The effect of noise pollution on health and wellbeing

Noise pollution above a certain level is not only disruptive and irritating, it can also be very damaging to health and wellbeing.

We’ve all experienced annoyance due to loud or persistent noises before. But did you know that noise exposure also causes physiological effects within our bodies?

Physiological effects of noise pollution

When noise exceeds a certain level, it can cause constriction of blood vessels and tightening of muscles, this then increases heart rate and blood pressure.

In fact, a study by Dr Yutong Samuel Cai, an epidemiologist at Imperial College London, found that long-term exposure to traffic noise affects our blood biochemistry, over and above the effects of exhaust fumes.

Over time and with prolonged exposure to the noise, these affects can leave us vulnerable to some serious health conditions.

Research has linked long-term exposure to high levels of noise pollution with a variety of serious health problems including:

  • High blood pressure
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Heart attack
  • Stroke
  • Type 2 Diabetes
  • Coronary heart disease

According to the World Health Organisation at least 1m healthy life-years are lost every year in western European countries because of environmental noise.

Short-term effects of noise pollution

As well as long-term health problems, in the short-term, exposure to noise pollution can leave us feeling stressed and disrupt our sleep.

Getting enough good quality sleep is extremely important to health and wellbeing, and disrupted sleep can cause symptoms like fatigue, inability to concentrate, and low performance levels.

In children, this can also reduce their cognitive performance and ability to learn. 

Soundproofing your home

If you live in a high noise area, soundproofing your home can help to protect you and your family from the damaging effects of noise pollution.

Here at Metropolitan Insulation we provide a wide range of soundproofing solutionsfor requirements and budgets of all shapes and sizes. 

For further help and advice finding a suitable and effective sound proofing solution, get in touch with our team of experts by calling us on 0800 028 4042.

Posted by admin in Control Sound, Hidden Noise Hazards, Home Insulation, Improved Insulation, Insulate Your Home, Insulation Reduce Noise, Metropolitan Insulation, Noise pollution, Sound Absorption, Sound Insulation for Old Houses, Sound Insulation Ideas, Soundproofing, Spray Foam Insulation
08
Jul
2019

5 common sources of external noise pollution

Noise pollution occurs when sounds exceed a certain level and become annoying and harmful to health.

Noise pollution is a common problem in today’s busy, built-up, technology-driven society, particularly within big cities.

Noise pollution created by external sources outside of our homes can be particularly difficult to deal with as we have no control over it, leaving us feeling helpless.

As well as being very annoying, studies have found that being exposed to constant noise pollution can be damaging to health too.

Here are five of the commonest sources of external noise pollution here in the UK.

Airports and flight paths– Living close to an airport can expose you to significant harmful noise pollution. Studies have found that the constant loud noise created by aeroplanes taking off and landing can be very damaging to health. There are noise limits and restrictions on night flights in place at many UK airports to protect those living close by from noise pollution.

Busy roads – According to the European Environment Agency,road traffic is the biggest source of noise pollution in Europe, accounting for about 70% of all noise pollution. In the UK there is no legal limit to road noise. Living close to a busy road can mean being subjected to the hum and noise caused by vehicles all day and all night long with no respite.

Industrial sources– Living close by to industrial businesses or factories can mean being subjected to the sounds of a variety of bangs, crashes, clanks, vehicles, and electrical whirring and buzzing.

Noisy neighbours– Neighbours that constantly play loud music can quickly turn into a constant source of stress and annoyance. As well as noise from domestic neighbours, people living close to busy pubs and bars may also experience high levels of noise pollution from music and anti-social behaviour.

Construction work – Although most construction projects are only temporary, more long-term construction sites can cause people living nearby a real headache. Councils can serve notices to those carrying out construction work to reduce noise nuisance for those living and working nearby.

If external noise pollution is disrupting your home life, you could benefit from soundproofing your property.

Here at Metropolitan Insulation we provide a wide range of different soundproofing productsand solutions to suit any requirements. Get in touch with our team of experts for further help and advice by calling us on 0800 028 4042.

Posted by admin in Excessive Noise, Improved Insulation, Metropolitan Insulation, Sound Insulation Ideas
20
Feb
2019

Points to Consider When Soundproofing A Historic Listed Building

If you own a listed building then you will be well aware of the constraints this puts on development work and even basic maintenance. Even soundproofing will require a certain degree of planning so as not to alter the character of the building. So how do you best approach insulating and soundproofing your listed building?

The first place to start is a survey of the building. This will give you all the technical details you need so you can plan the project and adhere to building regulations. The survey will also tell you what materials to use.

Once you have gained this information you can then put together a plan of the work you intend to do and submit it in order to get planning consent. This is critically important as anything that alters the character of a listed building or replaces existing materials with materials of inferior quality or that will cause deterioration in other parts of the building will be deemed unsuitable.

If you are not confident of managing this process yourself it is highly advisable to seek expert help even if the soundproofing you are installing will be largely hidden from view.

Posted by admin in Metropolitan Insulation, Sound Absorption, Sound Insulation for Old Houses
10
Feb
2019

3 Simple Sound Insulation Ideas

These simple sound proofing ideas will be ideal for most properties and in some cases even for historic listed buildings if you don’t wish to go through the planning permission process.

Acoustic blinds or curtains
If your building is poorly insulated against noise from outside, then acoustic blinds or curtains can go some way to reducing the amount of noise entering rooms. It is important to remember however that insulating your room this way will be good at reducing echoes in a room but only when they are closed which is ok at night but you will need other sound proofing measures for daytime.

Synthetic grass
Fake synthetic grass is popular with gardeners that like the low maintenance aspect of it but it is also being put to use as a form of insulation. Whether it is laid on floors or walls it has proven to be a good soundproofing material if you like your spaces green and natural looking.

Acoustic panels
The beauty of acoustic panels is they are effective at insulating sound coming through walls and they can be decorative. But if your property is listed you may still need planning permission to install them.

Posted by admin in Acoustic blinds or curtains, Acoustic panels, Metropolitan Insulation, Sound Insulation Ideas, Synthetic grass
12
Nov
2018

The Relationship Between Climate and Insulation

Most of us know that insulation is an important part of any building we occupy and increasingly so now that we are being forced to consider how much energy and consequently money we are wasting.

Money is also a factor in the type of insulation people choose for their homes. Often there are attempts to go it alone and do a DIY job to save even more. After all there are plenty of helpful videos available on Internet or advice from friends to teach you. What often cannot easily be gained from watching other people’s experiences is the insulating materials and methods you’ll need for different types of climate.

Climate is one of the key considerations when choosing insulations and depending on where you live in the UK some insulation types can be better than others. If you live in western parts of the UK the climate is often wet and windy for a large part of the year as this part of the country takes the brunt of weather coming from the stormy Atlantic. That said, temperatures don’t usually fluctuate too rapidly.

The east side of the UK can get very cold with temperatures fluctuating wildy at times as the cold North sea often exerts its influence. Weather in the east is also drier than the west.

In the South East, the weather is particularly dry through summer and also warmer with hotter summers.

So if you live in a colder climate keeping out cold will be the priority whereas in the warmer parts of the country keeping out heat while also protecting against the cold will be the priority.

Posted by admin in Climate and Insulation, Commercial Property, Home Insulation, How To Soundproof Doors, Insulate Your Home, Metropolitan Insulation, Soundproofing, Soundproofing Apartments, Soundproofing Commercial Property, Spray Foam Insulation, Thermal Insulation
26
Aug
2018

Can Fitting Insulation Reduce Noise As Well?

When most people fit insulation they do so to keep homes and other buildings warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Another benefit however is the additional soundproofing you can gain from certain types of insulating material.

The benefits are particularly felt if you live in the city where there will be a constant barrage of noise from traffic and so on. For example, a well-designed and insulated modern apartment building with will see a significant reduction in noise over older buildings that may not be insulated to the latest standards set in building regulations today.

There are of course different types of insulation and effective sound insulation that actually absorbs sound requires more specific materials and modifications fit for this purpose. Fitting thermal insulation alone will not eliminate problem noise and there are some types of insulation that don’t reduce noise at all such as reflective insulation which tends to be installed in attics underneath the roof.

Insulation that reduces noise comes in the form of material that is able to form a barrier between the source of noise and the interior living space. The vibrations that cause noise are absorbed by the insulating material and this creates the extra benefit of having insulation installed.

To gain the full benefits of sound insulation it is often necessary to insulate all areas where sound can be easily transmitted through walls ceilings and so on.

Posted by admin in Home Insulation, Insulate Your Home, Insulating Your Loft, Insulation Reduce Noise, Metropolitan Insulation, Spray Foam Insulation
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