noise reduction

Quiet Mark is an international mark of approval given to certain low noise appliances by the UK’s Noise Abatement Society.

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
03
Sep
2019

What are thermal bridges?

Understanding thermal bridges can help you to strengthen your building’s insulation and minimise heat loss.

When insulating your home, you may hear the term thermal bridge, or cold bridge, thrown around a lot.

Thermal bridges are generally considered bad, so it’s important to understand what one is, so that you can minimise the risk of thermal bridges occurring in your home.

A thermal bridge is a weak point in your building’s insulation that causes heat loss. They are usually caused by a gap or hole in building materials, but also occur at areas made from highly conductive materials like wood, metal and steel.

As well as causing heat loss, thermal bridges can also cause condensation, mould and damp problems.

Types of thermal bridge

Construction– Construction thermal bridges are caused by a piece of construction material or a gap that runs through the building’s insulation.

Geometric– Geometric thermal bridges aren’t formed by physical materials or gaps; they can occur even when insulation is continuous. They are caused when the geometry of the thermal envelope causes increased heat loss and can be either two or three-dimensional.

Combined– Often thermal bridges will combine elements of both construction and geometric thermal bridging.

Repeating– This type of thermal bridge repeats at regular intervals throughout the thermal envelope. Examples of areas where repeating thermal bridges may occur include ceiling joists, ground floor joists, and steel wall ties.

Non-repeating– These are usually one-off thermal bridges caused by discontinuities. Examples include gaps around windows and doors or in internal wall or floor junctions.

Spray insulation is an excellent material for improving thermal insulation as it moulds to the shape of your building, effectively filling and sealing any holes or gaps in your building materials.

For more information about spray foam insulation, or to book a free consultation, give our team here at Metropolitan Insulation a call on 0800 028 4042.

Posted by admin in Choosing Insulation, Insulate Your Home, Insulation Reduce Noise, Metropolitan Insulation, Noise pollution, Noisy Neighbours, Sound Insulation Ideas, Soundproofing Apartments, Soundproofing Commercial Property
28
Nov
2018

Tips to Consider When Choosing Insulation

Once you have decided you need insulation for your home or other type of property the next step is to consider which type of insulation is best.

There is certainly no shortage of choice in stores and online making it difficult to decide which way to go. Some types of insulation will be better at absorbing sound while other types offer better thermal properties.

So, if you are having problems deciding on the best material here are some handy tips to help you.

Cost
The cost of insulation will vary widely. Some materials may seem cheap but as we will explore in the next point, the cheapest insulation isn’t always the easiest to install.

Ease of fitting
Insulation can come in a variety of different forms. Most commonly you can buy it in a role but it is also manufactured as solid boards and can come in spray form too. Some types such as spray foam will require specialist equipment and breathing apparatus to install and is usually applied by a professional.

Environmental impact
Often overlooked the environmental impact is an important consideration when choosing insulation. While you will save energy installing insulation it is worth finding out what the impact is to the immediate environment as well as externally.

Posted by admin in Choosing Insulation, Home Insulation, How To Soundproof Doors, Insulate Your Home, Metropolitan Insulation
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
22
Oct
2018

How Long Can You Expect Your Insulation To Last?

Most people will ask about how long things like roof tiles and flooring will last but few people consider insulation. One thing is certain, no matter what insulation you use, it won’t last forever and certain types of insulation are known to last longer than others. So let’s look at the different types of insulation commonly used and compare their lifespans and durability.

Spray foam insulation
Spray foam insulation has increased in popularity due to its excellent durability and ease of application. It is also much better at resisting mold growth and sealing any air leaks than alternative forms of insulation. You can also look forward to low maintenance over its lifetime. The only drawback is that its lifespan is around 80 years but this is a minor one unless you expect to still be around 80 years from so you can still technically say it will last you more than a lifetime.

Fiberglass Insulation
Fibreglass is the type of insulation you will find in most homes. The material is also extremely durable and provides an excellent defence against humidity. It is also cheaper than most alternatives which is why you will still find this type of insulation in most homes. This type of insulation is expected to last 100 years but wear and tear can take its toll and reduce lifespan if it isn’t inspected regularly.

Recycled Paper Insulation
Recycled paper is another excellent choice and the main thing it has going for it is its limited impact on the environment. This type of insulation can last for 100 years although it is less commonly used than other materials such as fibre glass and spray foam.

Posted by admin in Home Insulation, Hotel Soundproofing, Insulate Your Home, Insulating Your Loft, Insulation To Last, Metropolitan Insulation, Sound Absorption, Soundproofing, Soundproofing Apartments, Soundproofing Commercial Property, Soundproofing for musicians, Spray Foam Insulation, Super Materials, Suspended Ceiling Soundproofing, Thermal Insulation
05
Jul
2018

Areas Where You Can Use Spray Foam Insulation In Your Home

When most people think of insulation, they think of either loft or cavity wall insulation but there may be other spaces in the home or office that could benefit from spray foam insulation. Besides the loft, here are some other areas that can benefit from spray foam insulation.

Use spray foam insulation in cinema and media rooms
If you have a home cinema or media room then may want that room insulated to ensure sound doesn’t escape and disturb the rest of the household. Spray foam is perfect for this purpose because it disrupts the transmission sound. Depending on where the room is in the house it will also make it more energy efficient.

You can use spray foam in a crawlspace
Not every home will have a crawlspace but you may find them in some blocks of apartments and offices. Adding spray foam to your crawlspace means you will reduce the build up of moisture around heating and cooling systems which will help improve air quality.

Extensions
If you are building an extension, spray foam can help here too by ensuing the correct balance of insulation with the rest of the house.
If you are looking to get your home insulated, why not give us a call for an inspection and a quote?

Posted by admin in Sound Insulation for Old Houses, Soundproofing, Soundproofing Commercial Property, Spray Foam Insulation
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
20
Dec
2017

The Hidden Danger Of Asbestos And How To Deal With It

The number of deaths resulting from exposure to asbestos has peaked according to statistics, however there may still be hidden asbestos dangers lurking in homes as well as commercial building and schools.

A type of lung cancer called mesothelioma can result from even low levels of exposure to asbestos fibres and in 2014 2,567 people died as a result of the disease. While most people are aware of the dangers of asbestos it can be unwittingly disturbed during renovation projects leading to fibres finding their way into the surrounding air.

The use of asbestos was banned in the UK in 1999 as a result of the risks, however this doesn’t mean that the risk is eliminated either now or in the future in older properties that have yet to be modernised.

While having asbestos in the home is ok if it is left undisturbed, the risk to health is acute when it is disturbed. The cost of having a professional remove the material safely, however, can be high and there will be significant disruption during removal works.

To avoid this, homeowners can opt for asbestos encapsulation which coats the asbestos preventing fibres from escaping. The process is cheaper and faster than removal and in most cases safer.

Posted by admin in Asbestos, Metropolitan Insulation
10
Dec
2017

Builders – The Cost Effective Way To Deal With Asbestos

Most builders will have come across asbestos at some point for the simple reason that asbestos was still being used in buildings up until the year 2000, which isn’t that long ago.

Asbestos was used widely in the years prior to 2000 mainly for its flexibility and magical ability to resist heat. Just as importantly it was also a cheap material which is why it remains so abundant in buildings all over the country from industrial buildings, to schools and even residential properties where it can be found in places such as behind boilers.

Asbestos continues to present a major hazard to people in the building trade when it is disturbed. The tiny fibres released can get into the lungs when protective equipment isn’t used at cause deadly illnesses such as mesothelioma.

Discovery of asbestos has often presented builders with a problem; do they arrange to have asbestos removed or find ways to contain it?

Removal requires a specialist team of people wearing the correct safety gear to ensure it is removed safely. This can take a lot of time and lots of safety procedures will need to be adhered to,, otherwise there is a risk of prosecution if people are exposed to the dust.

The solution to this is encapsulation which coats the asbestos and protects it from damage. It also happens to be a cheaper alternative to removal.

Posted by admin in Asbestos Encapsulation, Insulate Your Home, Soundproofing
15
Nov
2017

Why Consider Asbestos Encapsulation?

The dangers of asbestos are well known, yet there are still many buildings in the UK that have some of this potentially deadly material which lies hidden in roof spaces in particular. Worse still, the material is often found in schools and other public buildings, particularly those built between the 1950s to 1980s.

While asbestos that remains undamaged and in good condition is often left in place, there is always the outside risk that it could be disturbed and emit particles that can cause all sorts of lung diseases from lung cancer to asbestosis, diffuse pleural thickening, and mesothelioma. This is why it was made illegal to use the material in construction in 1999.

If asbestos is present in a building, its removal is governed by strict regulations due to the considerable health risks. If these guidelines are not adhered to and lives are put at risk, this can result in hefty penalties including jail terms for those involved.

One way to avoid damage to asbestos and the associated risks is to use a process called encapsulation, which as the name suggests involves coating the asbestos. This prevents any disturbance which might damage the asbestos.

It is also cost effective in reducing the amount of down time and the associated costs of safe removal of the material.

Posted by admin in Asbestos Encapsulation, Commercial Property, Metropolitan Insulation, Sound Absorption, Soundproofing, Soundproofing Apartments, Soundproofing Commercial Property, Soundproofing for musicians, Soundproofing Party Walls, Suspended Ceiling Soundproofing, Thermal Insulation