Insulating Your Loft

Unfortunately, over recent years, the value of metals like lead have dramatically risen, making properties with lead roofing a target for thieves.

Apr

2018

Do I Need An Insulation Contractor?

Do I Need An Insulation Contractor To Install Insulation In My House?

Insulating your home correctly is one of the best long term investments you can make. Not only will it help save money on heating costs by improving thermal efficiency, it will also help reduce external noise. So with this in mind, do you need a specialist insulation contractor to install your soundproofing or can it simply be left to your builder?

The most important thing to consider when installing soundproofing and insulation is experience. Insulation can certainly be done as part of the building work process and most construction companies will have experience of the task.

Like any other trade, however, specialists will have the edge and in most case more knowledge of the latest and most efficient materials. It might even work out cheaper to use a specialist contractor than using a general contractor when it comes to the work and the long term benefit.

With specialist knowledge you will gain access to a wider choice of insulation materials including the ones that may be the best fit for your property rather than being forced to make your selection from what the general contractor has in stock.

If you would like to find out more about our insulation services, contact us today.

Mar

2018

SoundProofing & Complying With Part E of Building Regulations

Satisfying Part ‘E’ of building regulations relating to noise may seem like an onerous task but it is a necessary for residential buildings from general housing to student halls and care homes.

As well as being part of building regulations better soundproofing contributes to everyone having a better quality of life free from the intrusion of noise from neighbours. Unfortunately, many treat Part E of building regulations as a target rather than a minimum standard and this creates problems particularly when renting out properties. For example, if soundproofing only marginally passes the requirements of Part E, tenants may be put off and move elsewhere.

To satisfy part E it needs to be shown that the various aspects of soundproofing are present including the decoupling of floor joists from ceilings. This is one of the most effective ways to limit noise from footsteps on floors above.

Stud walls and the application of acoustic mineral wool adds sound insulation to walls to limit noise from adjoining rooms. Mass is a further consideration and if you use higher mass mineral wool this will improve soundproofing further and go well beyond the standards required for Part E.

Damping and air tight seals are further areas that will improve sound insulation and ensure that you’re not just complying with Part E but committed to creating a better environment for the people who spend their time in the building on a daily basis.

Mar

2018

Advice On Insulating Barn Conversions

Insulating a barn conversion is no easy task using conventional insulation methods. Not only do you have a large space with high ceilings, but also it is desirable to retain some of the original features to make the property more appealing. With this in mind here is some advice on approaching the insulation of your barn conversion.

Most barns will have wall made of brick or stone without the cavity you get in a conventional house. This presents the first problem. How do you insulate the wall without spoiling it appearance inside and out? To meet building regulations you will need to fit the required level of insulation. This can be done by fitting internal partitions or cladding.

When it comes to the roof things can get a bit trickier. Barn roofs are often removed so that alterations can be made which can be an expensive and time consuming process.

Fortunately polyurethane foam applied via a spray can provide a cost effective and speedier alternative to other methods of insulation. The foam can simply be sprayed onto the underside of roof tiles and this can even be done without the need for a ventilated airspace.

Feb

2018

Read This Before Insulating Your Loft

Whether you already have some insulation in your loft or you need to start from scratch, here are some handy hints on the best ways to insulate.

When insulating a loft you will have two options – warm roof or cold roof. The latter might sound odd as we’re insulating right?
The problem with cold roof insulating is, you are only insulating the floor of the loft, which is only insulating the floors below against heat loss. The rest of the loft will be freezing cold in the winter and hot in the summer.

If you plan to store items in your loft, they will soon turn damp and musty in this environment. So the best solution all round is add warm roof insulation which can be sprayed on by a specialist like us for maximum coverage.

If you already have loft insulation, then there is the possibility that it doesn’t meet the current recommended thickness of 250mm to 270mm. Back in the 1980s the requirement was just 100mm. No wonder it was so cold in houses at that time!

If you are installing cold roof insulation you may need to strip out the existing insulation and replace it with new material to meet the correct thickness. Insulation panels tend to be supplied at standard thicknesses so the work can be done in one go.

If you require advice on insulating your loft, why not give us a call?

Metropolitan Insulation Blog