Home Insulation

Slate is an excellent option as it is 100% natural and requires very little energy to extract and process.

4 Reasons People Soundproof Their Homes

4 Reasons People Soundproof Their Homes

Most people in the UK live in cities, and whilst living in the city can be convenient, it also means being subjected to high levels of noise pollution.

Your home should be a peaceful sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Over time, being subjected to noise pollution at home can takes its toll.

Here are just a few reasons why so many people now choose to soundproof their homes.

Traffic noise pollution

If you live close to a busy road or a noisy flight path it can be very frustrating being unable to do anything to stop or reduce the noise. The constant, annoying rumbling and roaring of traffic can take its toll, having both physical and psychological effects on your health and wellbeing. Soundproofing your home to can be an effective way of blocking out noise from traffic and minimising the effect it has on your life.

Health and wellbeing

As well as being annoying, studies have found that noise pollution can also be bad for our 

Keep sound in

Soundproofing isn’t always installed to keep sound out, it’s also useful for keeping sound in and preventing you from becoming the noisy neighbour. Many musicians choose to soundproof their homes to allow them to practice and play their instruments at any time of day without the risk of upsetting or disturbing those living around them.

Privacy

Some properties are built with very thin walls that allow sound to easily travel from one house to the next. If you can hear every footstep, cough, sneeze and conversation going on next door, then they can hear you too. Installing soundproofing will enhance your privacy and help you to feel more comfortable and relaxed in your home.

Find out more about Metropolitan Insulation’s soundproofing services or request a free consultation by giving us a call on 0800 028 4042.

Posted by admin in Home Insulation, How To Soundproof Doors, Improved Insulation, Insulate Your Home, Insulating Your Loft, Metropolitan Insulation, Sound Absorption, Soundproof A Garden Room, Soundproofing, Soundproofing Apartments, Soundproofing Commercial Property, Soundproofing for musicians, Soundproofing Party Walls
Soundproofing an apartment can offer a multitude of benefits

Soundproofing an apartment can offer a multitude of benefits

Soundproofing an apartment can offer a multitude of benefits, enhancing the quality of life for its occupants. Whether you live in a bustling city or a noisy neighborhood, soundproofing measures can significantly reduce the amount of unwanted noise that enters your living space. Here are several key benefits of soundproofing an apartment:

  1. Noise reduction: The primary advantage of soundproofing is the significant reduction of external noise. This is particularly beneficial if your apartment is located near busy roads, construction sites, or other sources of noise pollution. Soundproofing materials and techniques can effectively block or absorb external sounds, allowing you to enjoy a peaceful and quiet living environment.
  2. Increased privacy: Soundproofing measures also enhance privacy within an apartment. It minimises the transmission of sound between rooms, preventing conversations, activities, or other sounds from being easily heard by neighbours or other residents in the building. This can be especially valuable if you have thin walls or live in close proximity to others.
  3. Better sleep quality: A quiet sleeping environment is essential for restful sleep and overall well-being. Soundproofing an apartment can create a tranquil bedroom by reducing noise disturbances, such as traffic, sirens, or neighbors’ activities. By minimising disruptions, you can enjoy deeper, uninterrupted sleep and wake up feeling refreshed.
  4. Improved concentration and productivity: Unwanted noise can be highly distracting, particularly when you need to focus on work, study, or other tasks. Soundproofing your apartment can create a more conducive environment for concentration, allowing you to stay focused and be more productive. This is particularly important for remote workers, students, or individuals who engage in creative pursuits.
  5. Enhanced entertainment experience: If you enjoy watching movies, listening to music, or playing instruments, soundproofing can significantly enhance your entertainment experience. It prevents sound leakage, both from within your apartment and from outside sources, ensuring that you can fully immerse yourself in the audio without disturbing others or being disturbed by external noise.
  6. Stress reduction: Living in a noisy environment can contribute to increased stress levels and impact overall well-being. Soundproofing measures can help create a peaceful oasis within your apartment, reducing stress and promoting relaxation. By minimising unwanted noise, you can create a more harmonious living space where you can unwind, meditate, or engage in activities that promote tranquility.
  7. Increased property value: Soundproofing improvements can add value to your apartment and make it more appealing to potential buyers or renters. Soundproofed spaces are often in high demand, as they offer a desirable living environment. Additionally, soundproofing measures can also enhance the overall insulation of your apartment, improving energy efficiency and reducing utility costs.

While soundproofing an entire apartment may require a combination of techniques, such as using sound-absorbing materials, sealing gaps, or adding acoustic panels, the benefits far outweigh the investment. Whether you seek peace and quiet, privacy, improved sleep, or increased productivity, soundproofing can transform your apartment into a more comfortable and enjoyable living space.

Posted by admin in Home Insulation, Improved Insulation, Insulate Your Home, Insulating Your Loft, Metropolitan Insulation, Modern Soundproofing, Soundproofing, Soundproofing Apartments, Soundproofing Cheshire, Soundproofing Commercial Property, Type of insulation
Soundproofing Services in Manchester

Soundproofing Services in Manchester

Are you tired of dealing with unwanted noise disturbances in your Manchester property? Whether it’s the bustling city sounds, neighboring activities, or internal noise, soundproofing can transform your space into a quiet oasis. At Soundproofing Solutions, we are your trusted soundproofing experts in Manchester. Our team specializes in providing effective soundproofing solutions tailored to your specific needs. Say goodbye to noise disruptions and enjoy the tranquility you deserve.

Why Choose Our Soundproofing Services?

1. Expertise and Experience: With years of experience in the industry, our team of soundproofing professionals in Manchester has the knowledge and expertise to tackle various noise issues. We stay up-to-date with the latest soundproofing techniques, materials, and technologies to deliver exceptional results.

2. Customised Solutions: We understand that every property is unique, and your soundproofing requirements may differ. Our experts provide personalized soundproofing solutions tailored to your specific needs and budget. Whether you need to soundproof a residential space, office, restaurant, or any other environment, we have the expertise to find the right solution for you.

3. Quality Materials and Products: We believe in delivering lasting results, which is why we use high-quality soundproofing materials and products from trusted manufacturers. Our selection includes sound-absorbing panels, acoustic insulation, soundproof doors, windows, and more. We ensure that the materials used in your soundproofing project are effective, durable, and visually appealing.

4. Professional Installation: Our skilled soundproofing team in Manchester provides professional installation services to ensure that your soundproofing solution is properly implemented. We pay attention to detail, ensuring that all components are installed correctly to maximize their effectiveness and deliver the desired results.

5. Free Consultation: We offer a complimentary consultation to assess your soundproofing needs. Our experts will visit your property, evaluate the noise issues you’re experiencing, and provide personalized recommendations. We consider your specific requirements, budget, and desired outcome to create a customized soundproofing plan.

Contact Us Today for Soundproofing in Manchester!

Ready to transform your Manchester property into a peaceful and quiet oasis? Don’t let unwanted noise disrupt your comfort and well-being. Contact Soundproofing Solutions today to schedule your free consultation. Our team of experts will guide you through the soundproofing process, answer your questions, and provide a detailed quote for your project. Say goodbye to noise disturbances and hello to tranquility with our top-notch soundproofing services in Manchester.

Posted by admin in Home Insulation, How To Soundproof Doors, Improved Insulation, Metropolitan Insulation, Soundproofing, Spray Foam Insulation

Should I Insulate my Loft?

A quarter of heat is lost through the roof in an uninsulated home. Insulating your loft, attic or flat roof is a simple and effective way to reduce heat loss and reduce your heating bills.

Loft insulation is effective for at least 40 years and it should pay for itself many times over. 

Choosing loft insulation

If your loft is easy to access and has no damp or condensation problems, it should be easy to insulate – and in most cases, it is possible to do it yourself.

If access is easy and your loft joists are regular, you can use rolls of mineral wool insulation. The first layer is laid between the joists – the horizontal beams that make up the floor of the loft – then another layer is laid at right angles to cover the joists and make the insulation up to the required depth.

Here’s what to consider when installing loft insulation:

1. Storage space

If you plan to use the loft or attic for storage, you will want to lay boards over the joists. Unfortunately, if you only insulate between the joists before doing this, the insulation won’t be thick enough. 

To get enough insulation, you can raise the level of the floor so you can fit enough mineral wool beneath the new floor level. You can do this by fitting timber battens across the joists, or you can buy purpose-built plastic legs that fit on the joists and support the new floor. It’s important to leave a ventilated air gap between the insulation and the boards to prevent condensation on the underside of the boards.

Make sure you don’t squash the mineral wool when you fit the boards on top as this this will reduce its insulation value. 

2. Warm loft

An alternative way to insulate your loft is to fit the insulation between and over the rafters – these are the sloping timbers that make up the roof itself. You can use rigid insulation board, carefully cut to size, or you can have foam insulation sprayed between the rafters.

Whichever approach you use, you will need a specialist professional to insulate your roof – this is not a DIY job.

Advantages:

  • The roof space will be warmer than with standard loft insulation, so you won’t need to worry so much about freezing tanks and pipes.
  • You can board the floor for storage without having to raise it to create extra depth.

Disadvantages:

  • Insulating at rafter level is considerably more expensive than most standard loft insulation.
  • As well as insulating the roof, you will have to insulate any gable walls, party walls and chimneys in the loft space. If you leave these uninsulated, then the heat will bypass your new insulation making it largely ineffective.

3. Inaccessible loft spaces

If your loft is hard to access, you can have blown insulation installed by a professional, who will use specialist equipment to blow appropriate insulation material into any awkward space. They may use mineral wool fibre, treated cellulose or polyurethane foam.

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New Trend for Soundproofing Your Home

The average city dweller spends his or her time surrounded by noise– traffic, television, cell phones, and unwanted office gossip. But people who want a quieter life are finding ways to outfit their homes with sound-proof accessories, such as curtains that mute noises from outside. This is one of several ways to make staying home much more peaceful and reap the health benefits of silence.

Noise pollution affects many people and homes, causing health effects such as stress and anxiety. There are many fancy methods to isolate yourself from sound, but soundproofing is expensive and typically reserved for technical uses, such as for a recording studio.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is only safe to be exposed to loud noises for a maximum of 8 hours. Many of us who live in urban areas or noisy towns receive a lot more noise than recommended. Because of this, there has been a significant rise in home soundproofing through the use of soundproof curtains and other methods.

However, there are several simple home hacks you can use to significantly reduce the amount of noise you hear.

One popular way to achieve a quieter living space is through your furniture. When you have an empty room, sound bounces off the walls a lot easier since there is nothing to absorb it. These bouncing waves reach your ear and you perceive ‘sound’, but the simple addition of heavy and soft furniture can absorb a great deal of these waves. Add heavy tables and sofas with a lot of cushion to absorb the most amount of sound. Books also help and look great on your coffee table!

If you want to get fancy with your soundproofing you can add acoustic panels to your walls and ceiling. These are used mostly in studio sound booths during music recordings, but many manufacturers craft these panels for use in your home. These panels work much in the same way as furniture works– by providing a thick, soft and permeable surface which effectively absorbs sound waves.

Don’t Forget Your Doors!

You’d be surprised at how sound finds its way into our homes through the smallest cracks and spaces. One place we often ignore when we think about sound leakage is our doors. Gaps beneath doors let a considerable amount of noise through, but there is an inexpensive solution. Sealant tape can easily block these gaps without hindering your doors from opening or closing. A more expensive but permanent solution is a mounted seal that uses metal and rubber and lasts a lot longer than tape.

Reducing noise in your home will not only give you peace of mind, but is also attributed to many health benefits. Some of these include lower stress levels, better concentration, increased brain function, and greater focus for self-reflection. The benefits of good rest are also widely studied, and the solution is as simple as installing a set of soundproof curtains.

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How to soundproof an apartment door: Painless DIY Solutions

Why soundproof a door and who should do it?

If you’ve recently moved into a new apartment and discovered that on some nights you’re wide awake as you listen to your neighbours’ conversations in the hallway, your flimsy doors may be to blame. 

As a light sleeper myself, loud noises from the hallway have kept me up on countless nights. 

With the recent trend of people working from home, you may also be looking to dedicate a space for your new home office with optimal sound-proofing properties so you can work in peace. 

If those situations sound familiar to you, it might be time to think about how you can soundproof your doors to get a good night’s sleep. 

How they work and if they can be effective

Soundproofing a hollow door works just like soundproofing a room does. 

The problem usually arises because most doors have hollow cores, often trapping air inside. 

The trapped air then acts as an excellent medium for noise or sound, but a terrible choice if you want to keep the noise out. 

Hollow core doors are the most typical interior doors used nowadays in houses. 

Beneath its surface is an inner cardboard honeycomb core surrounded by a softwood frame. 

Considering this thin surface and the air-filled core, there just isn’t much to block the transmission of sound. 

However, you can minimize the sound transmission by adding sound-insulating material on the door, which will significantly help in creating a more peaceful environment in the comfort of your own home. 

Continue reading to find out how you can soundproof an apartment door. Here are a few products readily available on Amazon for you. 

Note that these methods will allow you to minimize the noise transmission but will not completely block out noise.

If you wish to get rid of any outside noise once and for all, you might want to look into getting a solid core door. 

We will explore that option at the end of this article. 

Acoustic foam

A reliable go-to product when it comes to soundproofing is acoustic foams

When installed on your door, these foams block noise while absorbing sounds. 

As a result, they can eliminate any echoes from the house. 

Since they are originally designed to improve the acoustics of a music room, you can count them to reduce the amplitude of noise level. 

The best part is, they don’t require any special skills to install. 

Because they are self-adhesive, it will be a hassle-free process for you. 

Posted by admin in Climate and Insulation, Commercial Property, DIY Solutions, Home Insulation, How To Soundproof Doors, Improved Insulation, Insulate Your Home, Insulating Your Loft, Insulation Reduce Noise, Noise pollution, Sound Absorption, Sound Insulation for Old Houses, Sound Insulation Ideas, Soundproofing Apartments, Soundproofing Commercial Property, Soundproofing New Homes, Spray Foam Insulation, Super Materials, Suspended Ceiling Soundproofing, Type of insulation

Loft Conversion – Is it worth the investment?

Certain features such as garages or porches have solid research behind them indicating the overall value they add to a home, but it can be difficult to assess less common features, such as a loft conversion, when deciding whether they’re worth the investment. As a homeowner, it can be easy to decide whether a renovation is worth it because personal value for the project comes into play. However, as an estate agent or landlord, you must consider how much value the project will ultimately add to your property and whether the cost is worth the investment. Take a look at whether a loft conversion is worth it in the long run.

Is a loft conversion worth the investment?

Renovating a loft can quickly add up to a major expense for your latest investment, which may lead you to question whether it’s worth it. If a loft conversion is done well — and especially if you are converting it into a bedroom or bathroom — it could provide a 50% to 75% return on investment (ROI). Not terrible when compared to low-ROI projects like adding a pool. Adding an ensuite bedroom and bathroom does cost about twice as much as simply enclosing the space into a room that could be used as a home office or storage space, but you are essentially adding a room count to your investment. Your two-bedroom, one-bath home can now be considered a three-bedroom, two-bath, adding a lot of value to its sale potential or rental desirability.

It is important to consult not only a licensed architect and contractor to create a functional space but also your local realtor to determine whether the market demand is there. Keep in mind that loft conversions are usually, but not always, smaller spaces, so demand in urban settings will probably be higher since space is already at a premium. A loft conversion is likely only worth the investment if done appropriately, but ultimately, you will need to do market research to ensure your investment is worth the returns.

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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.
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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.

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Block Noise From Neighbours

Metropolitan Insulation Soundproofing Guide

Plant Some Trees along your fencing

Planting trees around your yard can make a bit of a difference when it comes to blocking out your neighbour’s noise. Over the long term, trees can also help keep your back garden cooler and more private during the summer months.

Soundproofing the walls in your home

If you have a shared wall with your noisy neighbour, then that’s most likely how the loud noise is getting to you. 

One of the most common ways to soundproof a shared wall is by using acoustic soundproofing panels or spray foam insulation. You mainly see these in recording studios, but they can be used in apartments and houses as well. Acoustic foam is a great substitute if you don’t want to cover your walls with wallpaper.

If you don’t want to spend any money on soundproofing a shared wall, you can simply rearrange pieces of furniture inside your home. First of all, you’ll need to fill the room that contains your shared wall with more furniture, as this will prevent unwanted noise from bouncing off of the walls. 

We recommend that you place bookshelves, couches, dressers and such in front of your shared wall, although you should keep in mind that this method won’t bring about dramatic results.

If you need sound insulation make it Metropolitan Insulation. For a free consultation please contact our friendly team now. Tel: 0800 028 4042 Or email your enquiry

Posted by admin in Acoustic panels, Block Noise, Home Insulation, Improved Insulation, Insulate Your Home, Insulating Your Loft, Insulation Reduce Noise, Metropolitan Insulation, Noisy Neighbours, Office Soundproofing, Soundproofing, Spray Foam Insulation, Type of insulation