Office Soundproofing

You can read the full press release from the ProPG: Planning and Noise initiative here.

Apr

2017

Common Soundproofing Myths

Like most other things in life that require a significant investment of cash to achieve, there are plenty of myths about how to save money on soundproofing. However, as we will show, most of them will only be partially effective at best.

Use egg cartons
One of the most common myths about soundproofing is that you can collect a load of egg cartons and use them to soundproof your walls. Using egg cartons for soundproofing will not only look unappealing they are likely to be completely ineffective because they won’t stop the transfer of energy through solid walls, which is what causes noise in the first place.

Hang some thick curtains
Having thick curtains will reduce sound coming through your windows as will double glazing but it won’t stop sound coming through walls and ceilings. To soundproof an interior, you will need to install soundproofing to all these areas.

Use mattresses
You often hear about cash strapped rock bands setting up their own recording studios using mattresses to sound proof walls. These can be partially effective in absorbing sound because they create that natural barrier and mass between sounds being emitted and walls. This kind of setup is only really a temporary fix as it unlikely you will get mattresses to shut out sound coming from all parts of the room.

Mar

2017

UK ‘must insulate millions of homes’

More than one home every minute will need to be refurbished in the UK between now and 2050, experts say.

The authors of a report to Parliament say 25 million existing homes will not meet the insulation standards required by mid-century.

The UK needs to cut carbon emissions by 80% by then – and a third of those emissions come from heating draughty buildings.

The government said it would devise policies as soon as possible.

But critics say ministers have been far too slow to impose a national programme of home renovation which would save on bills and improve people’s health, comfort and happiness. It would also create thousands of jobs.

Successive governments have been criticised for failing to tackle the UK’s poor housing stock – some of the worst in Europe.

Local authorities have limited cash to insulate council homes, and landlords and owner-occupiers have proved reluctant to invest large sums in disruptive improvements that will save on bills, but take many years to pay off.

The report from a group of leading construction firms – the Green Building Council – says four out of five homes that will be occupied in 2050 have already been built.

That means 25 million homes need refurbishing to the highest standards by 2050 – at a rate of 1.4 homes every minute.

Who pays?
The authors say this huge challenge also offers an unmissable opportunity under the government’s infrastructure agenda. The fiddly business of insulating roofs, walls and floors creates more jobs and has more benefits than any existing infrastructure priority, they maintain.

The question is how to pay. The government’s Green Deal scheme for owner-occupiers collapsed amid a welter of criticism that interest rates for insulation were too high, and that the insulation itself was too much hassle.

It says the construction industry needs certainty about what it is expected to deliver, and measurement to discover what is already being built. This should stimulate innovation, it says.

Julie Hirigoyen, head of the GBC, told BBC News there was a great prize to be grasped in upgrading building stock: “People will have warmer homes and lower bills; they will live longer, happier lives; we will be able to address climate change and carbon emissions.

“We will also be creating many thousands of jobs and exporting our best skills in innovation.

“Driving up demand for retro-fitting homes is essential for any policy to be a success – the Green Deal told us just offering financial incentives isn’t necessarily the only solution. We need to make it all easy, attractive and affordable.

“The good thing is that the business community is really starting to recognise the opportunity.”

VISIT THE BBC FOR MORE INFORMATION

Feb

2017

How To Soundproof Doors

You may have a well-insulated home or office, but sometimes noise from outside is the problem and this can often be due to doors not having adequate sound insulation. Here’s how to fix the problem.

Soundproofing doors will have the additional benefit of improving insulation against draughts and it will also provide extra security besides providing sound insulation, so it is definitely worth investing in.

Soundproofing measures for doors should include draughtproofing to exterior doors as standard and if it’s a porch, install secondary double glazing. You can even install toughened glass which will contribute towards both sound insulation and security. When sound proofing doors, don’t forget to fill joints around the doors with acoustic sealant.

Sometimes noise can come from internal doors. In offices and apartment blocks noise will often be heard coming from corridors and so on so in these cases you will find similar benefits from draughtproofing.

Replacing old or lightweight hollow core doors with heavyweight solid core doors is also an option. These will help disrupt the transmission of noise between neighbouring flats for example.

If you are looking for advice and or help on soundproofing your home of office our experts are always happy to help.

Dec

2016

Metropolitan’s Latest Installation

Metropolitan’s latest installation has been well received and a great success.

The site which is a very upmarket Scandinavian poultry restaurant, The Holy Birds is situated in Middlesex Street close to Tower Bridge.

The objective of the exercise was to reduce airborne noise to the flats above. Also the issue of reverberation
noise is combated. When the restaurant is full the noise generated is dissipated by our system.

This is another example of low density open cell acoustic foam being used successfully.

It can be left open as in this instance or covered up also. The product is BBA certified and can have a zero fire rating added
also.

Modern semi commercials like this benefit hugely from technology.

Dec

2016

Tips For A More Peaceful 2017

Christmas is coming, which means lots of time for celebration and the noise that comes with it. While noise is unlikely to be a problem when we’re all celebrating, when the new year comes, the emphasis usually turns to enjoying a bit of peace and quiet, but what if this peace is interrupted by noisy neighbours or family members? Here are some solutions to consider.

Before moving into the solutions to noise problems let’s explain what causes it.

Sound comes from vibration and this vibration then travels through your home or place of work to varying degrees, depending on how well a building is insulated. So sound has to make its way not only through floors but also subfloors, joists, walls and so on to finally reach your ears as noise.

This why when people jump up and down upstairs, noise levels can become acute and very annoying if it’s coming from people you have no control over like the neighbours.

If it’s coming from your own home you can either stop people jumping up and down upstairs, lay carpet and add cork tiles to walls which should at least help to muffle sound.

If you want to go a step further in reducing noise from say the neighbours then the key is to create a gap within walls and ceilings using additional panels for walls special glues which create the separation in ceilings. If you would like to find out more about how we can help insulate your home better against noise please get in touch.

Dec

2016

Noise Reduction Becomes A Trendy New Design Focus In 2016

While the design world has largely ignored noise reduction, this year has brought new attention on incorporating noise reduction features, particularly amongst Scandinavian designers who are really starting to embrace it in their interior designs.

Acoustics was certainly a hot topic in Stockholm at this year’s furniture fair and efforts to make modern space quieter with better acoustics has certainly become a trend since. Various products have been launched to make rooms more peaceful including wall panels that absorb sound better and even spongy wall-mounted booths which can be used for phone calls.

One of the reasons why noise reduction has been a preoccupation amongst Scandinavian designers is the use of wood. Wooden floors and work surfaces don’t lend themselves particularly well to noise reduction. Wood in its raw state may be an effective building material but it needs the introduction of sound absorbing materials to reduce noise levels in buildings.

Despite the emergence of products aimed at better sound insulation in the design world, there remains a greater focus on the visual elements of design such as light, space colour and texture.

But when it comes to public spaces, people are just as likely to notice a room that has poor acoustics as they are to appreciate how nicely designed that space is.

Dec

2016

Are You Struggling With Noise?

If your struggling with noisy neighbours, needing to comply with Part E regulations as a landlord or
business owner, at soundproofinginstallerslondon, we design, build and supply solutions to help you.

We can offer you services from sound testing to just plain, simple advice.

Living in Clapham area? Living in flats or apartments
can prove especially challenging as lots of developers do not take into consideration acoustics and the implication of living in close proximity.

Unfortunately in far too many cases, developers concentrate on pleasing aesthetics without making provisions for adequate soundproofing. This can cause severe upset and disturbance for owners and tenants alike.

We have a reputation for providing the complete service from survey to implementation. References can be supplied. Don’t live with the stress and strain of intrusive noise.

Get the experts in and start having a quieter habitat.

Nov

2016

Some Tips On How To Soundproof A Noisy Apartment

If you have the misfortune to live in a noisy apartment life can become difficult, particularly if that noise ends up keeping you awake at night or ruining your relaxation time. Fortunately there are some things you can do to soundproof your apartment without breaking the bank.

One of the biggest problems when you live in apartment of course is the neighbours. Noises from people coming home late or in the early hours of the morning can be a particular problem if you share your floor with people who are night owls.

Noise on stairs and corridors can be cut down by installing sound absorbing carpet, however living in an apartment means won’t have the same control over what happens outside your door as with a house.

The next best thing therefore is to add tiles to walls that have sound absorption qualities. While cork tiles may sound like a throwback to a bygone age, they are coming back in fashion and if cork isn’t for you there are other materials that have similar sound insulation qualities.

Another method of reducing noise that also offers other benefits is to build yourself a library. While most people seem to do their reading on tablets these days, books are still great at muffling sound.

Oct

2016

ROI on ‘invisible’ Home Improvements

What’s the ROI on ‘invisible’ Home Improvements Like Sound Insulation

When you fit an extension on your house or perhaps a loft conversion, the return on investment is easy to quantify, but what about invisible renovations such as sound proofing and insulation?

The answer to this depends a lot on your local environment, the amount of noise likely to affect your property and how old the property is.

Of course installing sound insulation isn’t going to add value in the same way as renovations you can see but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t install it. Often in older houses it can sometimes be essential to install soundproofing to make sure a house appeals to buyers or tenants in the first place.

Sometimes you can highlight the work that has been done as part of the sales documentation so that potential purchasers will see what kind of benefits they are getting from your soundproofing upgrades. You may even want to keep photographs of the work being done too.

If you intend to stay in your home, then having a quitter environment in which to spend time away from work can improve your health and sense of wellbeing – and who can put a price on that!

Oct

2016

Global Demand For Rainscreen Cladding Grows

International demand for rainscreen cladding is set to soar as research reveals that it could reach USD 14.05 billion by 2024.

The main purpose of installing rainscreen cladding is to create a clear cavity between itself and a building which serves to protect it from the environment while allowing a building to ‘breathe’. This creates a healthy and protected environment for the people occupying the building.

The growth in the market is due to a range of factors including increased demand for lightweight insulation materials globally and which in turn is driven by an expansion in residential and commercial construction activities in emerging markets.

As the world’s governments commit to tough new rules aimed at reducing consumption of fossil fuels, energy saving is once again high on the agenda. Rainscreen cladding helps prevent water infiltration as well as aid the transfer of heat within buildings.

The UK has one of the biggest markets for cladding systems in Europe with extensive usage in commercial office buildings as well as residential housing.

Our rainscreen cladding is durable for up to 60 years and is a low maintenance way to improve energy efficiency and insulation in your home or office.

Metropolitan Insulation Blog