Insulate Your Home

Vermiculate insulation is commonly used to insulate building roofs and walls.

Apr

2017

What Is The Difference Between Sound Proofing And Sound Absorption

It is common for people who don’t have knowledge of the science of acoustics and sound to get confused about what is meant by sound proofing and sound absorption. The two are actually very different and have very different purposes so it is important get basic understand of both before deciding what’s required.

So let’s start with sound insulation. Sound insulation is all about blocking sound waves and preventing them travelling from one room in a building to another. If for example you imagine a fish tank, the water in that fish tank is kept inside by some strong glass.

Now if that same fish tank was made of cardboard, then water would soon start leaking through. Sound behaves in a similar way to water so the materials you choose for sound proofing should be aimed at preventing sound coming through altogether.

Sound absorption material on the other hand converts sound into friction. It also tends to be lighter in weight and has properties that act to prevent sound reverberating around a room. If a room is fitted with sound absorbent material, people in the room will be able to hear what other people in that room are saying better. In other words sound quality will be better.

Apr

2017

Thinking Of Redecorating?

Now Might Be A Good Time To Soundproof Your Walls

At this time of year thoughts often turn to redecorating projects. This may include painting walls or hanging wallpaper but before pressing ahead with any of these projects it may be worth considering sound proofing your walls, particularly if noise is a problem in your property.

Besides cutting down noise from neighbours or noise from roads outside your property, soundproofing your walls can also bring the added benefit of better insulation. Soundproofing will help reduce heat loss and reduce your fuel bills significantly particularly on older properties.

Alongside the more obvious benefits of soundproofing your walls, there are also the unseen benefits such as stress reduction. Excessive, irritating noise can be a cause of all sorts of health issues linked to stress such high blood pressure and anxiety.

If your property is old and has solid walls then cavity wall insulation won’t be an option as it is in newer properties. The cost of insulating walls internally will be higher than cavity wall insulation but the savings on fuel bills and the better quality of life you will gain from the peace and quiet will more than cover the investment over time.

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

New Generation Of ‘Super Materials’…

…Have The Properties To Bend Sound Waves

There is a sense that we have only just begun to scratch the surface of 3D printing technology and it will no doubt end up being another giant leap forward in technology. One exciting area currently attracting a lot of interest in the press is the production of super materials that are able to bend sound waves and create audio hotspots.

This technology will not only help you get on better with your neighbours it could also revolutionise the sound insulation industry. 3D printing will play an important role in producing bricks the size of fingers that are then formed into a sheet which can control sound in a variety of different ways such as letting in sound at certain times of the day and keeping it out when the occupants of a building need a bit of peace and quiet.

The new super material referred to as meta-material which is finely engineered and produced using 3D printer technology. The material is designed for various purposes using a computer and this is then fed into the printer.

Each brick or slab that is produced by the printer has a labyrinth structure which forces sound waves to slow down as they enter.

Engineers have even produced plastic tubes using meta material which can be used to block out noise simply by pressing a button.

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

Jan

2017

Sound Insulation in Older Houses

Old houses can often be better insulated for sound than some new builds when it comes to the thickness of walls. Unfortunately, there will inevitably be some areas of the house that don’t provide adequate soundproofing such as old wooden floorboards.

Some people aren’t particularly bothered about hearing noise from footsteps above while for others this can cause distress over a period of time. If a house is being converted into a HMO for example the need to insulate between floors becomes even more important.

Before starting work, it is important to gain advice from an expert on sound insulation if you have no previous experience to ensure you are spending money wisely and on the right kind of sound insulation.

A common method for reducing noise in older houses is to install a false ceiling. Plaster ceilings are best left in place if you plan to do this because removing them is messy and unnecessary. The extra layer can even help add to the insulating properties.

If you have converted a loft, then acoustic matting can be an effective form of insulation when fitting a sub-floor would reduce the amount of headroom. It is worth spending extra on higher quality acoustic matting to ensure you get value for money.

Jan

2017

Lesser Known Ways To Insulate Your Home

Whether it’s noise from a partially deaf neighbour who always has the TV on too loud at night or next door’s children learning to play the violin, noise can really impact on your quality of life over time. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to insulate your house for sound. Here are some you may not have heard of.

Paint
If I was to tell you that a coat of paint would help supress noise you might think I was mad. To be exact though a good quality rendered external wall coating can be a good first step towards peace and quiet.

Wallpaper
You might think that wallpaper is just for decoration or feature walls but if it has the right properties, it can also contribute towards sound insulation. Thermal wallpaper not only helps insulate the home by keeping heat in, those same insulating properties can also insulate against sound coming from the other side of the wall.

Curtains
Thick curtains are making a comeback and that’s a good thing for anyone wanting to insulate their homes against noise.

Large pictures
Artwork can be something more than just something to admire. A large painting placed on the wall can provide a basis for an excellent buffer against sound coming from next door.

None of the above will eliminate noise problems, but at least they are a start. If you need further advice, please contact one of our experts.

Metropolitan Insulation Blog