Metropolitan Insulation Blog

09
Feb
2016

4 Out Of 5 Spanish Homes Don’t Have Enough Sound Proofing

Here in the UK you will find that most new houses will be built with a decent level of sound proofing. In Spain, however, many people will probably be sitting with their fingers in their ears as they endure noise levels up to 65 decibels according to a new global study by Danosa on sound proofing in homes.

The lack of sound proofing is a problem in four out of five Spanish homes according to the survey, which suggests that while the country may have the benefit of a warm climate and sizzling summers, people who live in the country are more likely to be disturbed or be exposed to the effects of noise.

Spain, despite being the worst in Europe finds itself in second place to Japan, which has an even worse record for sound proofing. The problems for Spain go back several years due to a lack of any regulations on soundproofing prior to 2009. Since then the country has been required to meet European regulations on sound proofing when building new homes.

The recommended noise level in homes according to WHO is 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels during the night. The effects of noise on health are far from trivial with excess noise being blamed for a number of health problems as well as lack of sleep if noise levels are excessive during the night.

Posted by admin in Metropolitan Insulation, Soundproofing
25
Jan
2016

Why Soundproofing Your Loft Conversion Is Important

Spending on how much space you have in the loft you may be considering a conversion this year. Soundproofing it may not be the foremost thing on your mind but there are several reasons why you should consider it.

One of the main things to consider before you carry out your loft conversion is the amount of privacy you will have. This is particularly true if your loft is large enough to be used as an entertainment or music studio.

If you happen to have neighbours close by they may not be happy with the noise leading to problems. You might also need to soundproof your loft to reduce noise from your neighbours too so in this case it is wise to start considering what type of insulation you will need to make your loft conversion a success.

Soundproofing your loft requires stud walls that are placed on top of existing walls with insulating material such as mineral wool being placed in between. If you are using timber batons to support the walls in your loft it is important to ensure they are fixed to the floor and ceiling rather than the walls to get the maximum benefit of soundproofing.

If you are unsure about anything to do with soundproofing your loft, contact us for help and advice.

Posted by admin in Construction, Home Insulation, Soundproofing, Thermal Insulation
05
Jan
2016

Imagine If It Was Possible To Turn Soundproofing On And Off

Now You Can!

It is now possible to soundproof rooms in your home at the mere flick of a switch thanks to advances in soundproofing technology.

The innovative new solution for people who may need peace and quiet at certain times of the day involves the use of elastic tubing that is built into a wall and controlled by remote control. The new technology could see a variety of uses, not least in the bedroom where people who are light sleepers could benefit.

While having a completely soundproofed room 100% of the time may not be practical, having the ability to let sound in during the day and then prevent noise during the night could catch on in a big way. It would come in particularly handy for people who live in busy cities where noise is a factor 24 hours a day.

Being able to switch on sound proofing is also useful if you want more privacy in the bedroom or if you don’t want your neighbours listening to what you watch on TV. The new material works by interfering with sound waves as it is stretched and squashed. When the sound proofing is switched off, sound is allowed to pass through the tubes. When it is turned on the openings are closed to prevent sound passing through.

Posted by admin in Building Trade, Home Insulation, Soundproofing, Thermal Insulation
23
Dec
2015

Uncertainty Over Green Policy

The Uncertainty Over Green Policy Impacts On Insulation And Energy Efficiency

The government’s decision to suspend the issuing of finance packages under the green deal scheme is taking a toll on the energy efficiency industry.

Some of what appears in manifesto is often forgotten about or swept under the carpet when a party enters government and this is evident when it comes to improving the energy efficiency of homes in the UK.

This appears to be the case even if the government insists it is committed to delivering on its pledge to improve the energy efficiency of a million households that are classed as fuel poor in the UK.

The uncertainty over when new policies will be put in place has led to a slowdown in the industry while everyone waits to see if any new financing packages will be introduced to give fresh impetus to the sector.

It has to be remembered that improving energy efficiency in homes is an important part of reducing unnecessary energy consumption which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Providing finance for home insulation then suspending it actually does more harm than good in the long term as it simply leads to work being cancelled or delayed.

According to figures from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), Green Deal and ECO schemes saw a fall of 15% between July and August of this year.

Posted by admin in Home Insulation, Thermal Insulation
02
Dec
2015

Solid Wall Insulation Needs Boost Says Report

A report from construction advisor Peter Handsford has called for more incentives to encourage homeowners to invest in solid wall insulation.

The government has set a target of insulating a million homes by 2020, yet it remains a long way from reaching it with just 97,000 homes having solid wall insulation fitted since the scheme was introduced back in 2013.

At this rate the target is unlikely to be met and Handsford’s report recommends reducing Stamp Duty on Green homes to encourage owners to invest in insulation and see additional financial benefits in doing so.

The report ‘Solid Wall Insulation – Unlocking Demand and Driving up Standards’ also recommends reducing the amount of VAT payable on retrofit work so that it is more affordable.

Alongside its recommendations for kick starting the industry, the report highlights the need to introduce procedures to protect consumers and maintain standards in the industry.

One of the biggest challenges for the industry is convincing homeowners and landlords to invest in green energy efficiency improvements like cavity wall insulation and solid wall insulation. Financing towards schemes has helped but there is at present uncertainty about when funding is made available.

New rules on energy efficiency aimed at landlords who are renting out property will at least provide a boost to the industry in the next few years.

Posted by admin in Home Insulation, Soundproofing, Thermal Insulation
20
Nov
2015

How to Achieve A Better Sound Experience In At Home

There have been some tremendous strides taken in the development of digital technology in recent years – not least in technology that is available in the home. It is now possible with the right insulation to not only have a dedicated theatre or music room or even a recording studio (assuming of course that you have the space to accommodate one!)

So if you do happen to like the idea of turning your home into a centre of entertainment and musical excellence then you will need to consider a few elements to make the dream a reality. The first one is your location in the house.

There isn’t much point setting up in a place that is hard to get to or that doesn’t have enough room to fit all of your equipment. You may also be spending a lot of time in the room perfecting your art so you also want that room to be reasonably comfortable and warm.

Sound insulation is also just as important. Windows should be double glazed to keep out noise and keep in heat. The door too should be well-insulated to prevent sound leakage. Adding carpet can also help prevent echoes as can acoustic panels.

If you want to find out more about sound proofing and insulation please contact one of our advisors.

Posted by admin in Home Insulation, Soundproofing, Thermal Insulation
04
Nov
2015

Airport Noise Complaints Down Near Manchester

Noise complaints have gone down significantly near Manchester airport, even if some residents have gone to extremes in their battle for some peace and quiet. The drop in complaints could be down to a range of measures taken to reduce noise in home around the airport including insulation grants.

The number of noise complaints from people living near Manchester airport fell from 1,509 in 2013/14 to 860 complaints in 2014/15. Apart from making planes quieter as they reach the runway (no easy task) the only other way to stop noise disturbing people living near an airport is sound insulation.

£371,540 was sent out in grants to 108 householders in 2013/14 which may have gone some way to reducing the impact of noise and complaints. However this didn’t appear enough to stop one disgruntled Manchester resident who complained 729 times in a year according to the Manchester Evening News.

This meant that the individual took it upon himself to complain twice a day for 12 months. Is complaints would no doubt have been heard even if it isn’t clear whether he gained any special treatment as a result.

If you happen to live on a noisy flightpath, why not ask about the availability of grants to fund the cost of sound insulation? It may be the quickest way to living a quiet life.

Posted by admin in Soundproofing
20
Oct
2015

Global Insulation Market Is Set To Reach $67 Billion By 2020

Having the right level of insulation in homes and office can make a huge difference to energy bills and noise levels. As governments around the world press ahead with targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the global insulation market is set to grow to more than $67 billion by 2020 according to a report released by Grand View Research, Inc.

Consumers too are becoming more and more aware of the need to insulate their homes and save energy and this is seen as one of the main drivers of growth in the market. New regulations have also been put in place by governments to ensure that homes are built to higher standards of energy efficiency and older houses are modernised to conform as much as possible to modern standards.

Of course the growth in the insulation market may see the price of materials used rise and this was seen as one of the future challenges in the report. Fibreglass is one of those materials and this accounted for 40% of market revenue. The use of fibreglass in insulation in residential homes and industrial complexes is expected to see growth in use of the material rising 9.1% by 2020.

Posted by admin in Home Insulation, Thermal Insulation
06
Oct
2015

200 Worcestershire Homeowners Sign Up To £3.6m Green Insulation

Homeowners across the country are benefitting from green insulation schemes with the latest being Worcestershire.

200 householders in Worcester have signed up to the deal so far which provides them with £4,500 towards the cost of insulating their homes. The money will go towards solid wall insulation and save each household approximately £400 a year on their energy bills. The householders also get a top up from their energy supplier.

The scheme also benefits the planet by saving a total of 27 tonnes of CO2 over a lifetime. This particular scheme is being rolled out across Worcestershire with the aim being to sign up 750 homes at a cost of £3.6 million.

The scheme which has only recently been launched has encountered a few issues however with some residents being unaware that they had to make a contribution towards the cost of getting their homes insulated.

The scheme will continue until September 2016 and the council hopes to clear up any misunderstandings over who contributes and how much it will cost each household.

The cost of insulation should be seen as an investment not only in the future of the planet but also large savings on energy bills in the longer term.

Posted by admin in Home Insulation, Thermal Insulation
20
Sep
2015

Top Tips to Prepare Your Property for Autumn

Autumn is the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness as the Romantic Poet John Keats wrote. It is also the season to review your insulation to make sure it is ready for the onset of winter with its shorter days and frosty nights.

One of the first things to look at when you are preparing your home for the winter is the level of loft insulation you have. Having good insulation in your roof space can of course save pounds on energy bills making it worthwhile getting the ladder out to carry out an inspection or calling out an insulation professional to come and have a look for you.

Having less than 10cm of insulation could cost you an extra £150 a year which would buy a few extra presents at Christmas time. Other measures which won’t cost the earth include draft proofing. You can insert rubber draft excluders in the windows of each room and thicker curtains which can really make a difference.

You should also be thinking about getting your boiler serviced to avoid any breakdowns just when you don’t need them. The temperature of a house can soon drop when the heating is off so it’s worth spending a bit to make sure everything is in working order.

Posted by admin in Building Trade, Construction, Home Insulation, Soundproofing, Thermal Insulation