Metropolitan Insulation Blog

01
Mar
2014

Soundproofing Challenge – Uxbridge

The last few months have produced a number of interesting and successful projects for Metropolitan. In Uxbridge we were commissioned to completely insulate and soundproof The Car Paint Shop. This was an interesting and challenging but ultimately, successful. Basically the rear of this bloc and steel construction was primarily the store and workshop. The rear has been converted by the owner into mezzanine accommodation.

The challenge brought about by the proximity of the railway and major construction site nearby, was to sound insulate to an acceptable level. We carried out a complete overhaul by spray insulating the roof with low density open cell acoustic foam.

Then following the contours of the building we installed 12cm MF acoustic walls and ceilings. These steps provided the client with sleep at night as well as a green energy low emission,thermally efficient structure. Another example of how Metropolitan can rise to any soundproofing challenge.

Posted by admin in Soundproofing
12
Feb
2014

Maxiboard

Maxiboard is the perfect material for soundproofing your walls and ceilings. It is great for spaces where loss of room space is not an option. It can be applied to most lightweight brickwork or double skinned brick walls. It can also be used to form an independent structure, and is moisture resistant and extremely durable. Maxiboard is only 17mm thick offering maximum performance for minimum thickness.

Posted by admin in Metropolitan Insulation
15
Jan
2014

Soundproof Studios launched in Manchester

The Uk’s first fully soundproof studio suite has been launched in Greater Manchester. The suite of 4 soundproof studios was funded by Manchester council.

The green screen studios mean that they can be used for virtually any filming, voice overs, photography, adverts etc. Project Director Sue Woodward said;

“There is increasing demand for dedicated green screen studios complete with cycloramas and sound proofing, triggered by the growth of digital content production and the need for bite-sized snippets of digital media in many formats for use across all business sectors in the modern world.”

 

 

Posted by admin in Metropolitan Insulation
01
Jan
2014

DIY Homes answer to Housing Crisis?

A new co-housing development has just been completed outside of Lancaster. Residents who formed the Lancaster CoHousing Group three years ago have reduced their environmental impact and costs by combining resources. They share a laundry, tools, kitchen facilities and a playroom.

The houses have all been designed to the Passivhaus standard. This aims to reduce energy consumption through the use of sprayed insulation, triple glazing, biomass boilers and solar panels.

Another self-build housing cooperative has been developed on the outskirts of Leeds. Packed with straw bales and sprayed with lime render, the straw keeps the heat in and the sound out.

Posted by admin in Metropolitan Insulation
28
Dec
2013

Soundproofing Your Business

All the noises that come within the normal office environment can combine to make quite a racket. Keeping your workers and clients happy by keeping the noise pollution to a minimum can be a challenge. But there are some things that you can do to help sound proof your business.

There are many sound proofing techniques that can be used these days to keep noise both in and out. With the noise made by computers, walking on floors, traffic noise etc, latest soundproofing techniques can help enrormously.

You can also upgrade your current soundproofing solution if it is no longer up to the job. Metropolitan  Insulation can help you to decide what option is the best for your specific business. Whether you are a commercial office building, a music studio or a doctors surgery, we have a solution that will fit your situation and budget.

Posted by admin in Metropolitan Insulation
02
Dec
2013

Soundproof Music Centre and Coffee Shop in London

A new soundproof coffee shop and music room has opened in the London borough of Camden this week. Tower 47 is a New York style cafe on Chalk Farm Road, London.

The back of the shop will sell musical instruments, whilst the front of the shop serves coffee, but it will also host music gigs overlooking thr cafe, on the mezzanine level.

They are also in the process of building seven soundproof rooms which will be used for lessons and rehearsals.

Posted by admin in Metropolitan Insulation
26
Nov
2013

Raising funds for charity with help from Sprayed Insulation!

A surveyor from Edinburgh is to spend two month on the remote island of Rockall to raise money for Help the Heroes. He will spend his time in an eight foot water tank, sprayed with foam insulation to protect himself from the cold.

Only four people in total have ever slept on Rockall, but Nick Hancock, 30, says he is confidant that he can do it;

“The RockPod survival shelter I have constructed is almost complete. It was recently insulated with sprayed insulation, and I am now finishing it internally.”

Posted by admin in Metropolitan Insulation
02
Nov
2013

£1.7m Noise Barrier in London

A group of residents in East London who have been campaigning for a concrete noise barrier at a cost of £1.7 million may see a political u-turn by councillors.

The council will have the final say on the matter on Tuesday. They are recommending that £300,000 be spent on enhancing the existing barrier on Veterans Memorial Parkway in London. But residents are fighting for a more robust solution of a concrete noise barrier to help to soundproof their neighbourhood from the noise pollution caused by London traffic.

Residents claim that the proposed work will not solve the problem. Local residents say;

“You can’t sit out in your back deck and have a decent conversation. The noise levels are ridiculous.” claims London resident Gerry Sunstrum, 69.

Posted by admin in Building Trade
25
Oct
2013

World’s First Quiet House

The Ideal Home Show in London has been proudly showing visitors what is being billed as the ‘world’s first quiet house’. Featuring the quietest appliances available such as silent fans, shower pumps, hair dryers, soft close toilet seats and lots more innovative noise pollution decreasing ideas.

The house was created by a not-for-profit company Quiet Mark, to highlight the awareness of noise pollution in the UK. The project is a spin-off of the Noise Abatement Society, launched by Poppy Elliott.

“The Quiet House is like building the ultimate peace pad,” Elliott says. “When we come home, it’s supposed to be our sanctuary, our place to recharge. What’s happened is, we’ve gone on this amazing technological revolution where everything around us is technology but often the compromise in the design is that the sound hasn’t been considered, so you’ve got this massive orchestra at home.”

Major world cities have seen a significant increase in noise companies over the last five years. The soundproofing industry is therefore in a constant state of growth to keep up with demand for sound-reducing appliances and houses. An Ipsos poll in 2007 stated that the third most important factor when purchasing household appliances was noise reduction. It is therefore becoming a priority for property developers to consider acoustic design in new builds, as well as considering the aesthetics.

Posted by admin in Metropolitan Insulation
01
Oct
2013

Dark side of Silence?? Don’t be daft!

A recent new article on the BBC News website disused a so called ‘Dark Side of Silence. The article goes on to explain about the history of noise through the ages, and various archaic forms of soundproofing. Taking ancient Rome and it’s hustle and bustle of everyday life, where people would simply escape to the relative calm of the hills to get away from it.

Nowadays, thankfully there are more solutions to drown out the noise of city living. In Victorian London, many street musicians and the iron wheels of carriages were most to blame for the constant din of London life. Many authors of the time such as Charles Dickens have written of their madness at such.

The article says that one writer in particular Thomas Carlyle, was ‘nearly driven out of his mind, spent a fortune building a state-of-the-art “soundproof study” in his Chelsea attic’. Unfortunately it didn’t turn out to be a great success.

These days it is possible to live in London and enjoy the peace at the same time. Modern soundproofing techniques can achieve pretty much anything. Just ask us! to prove it!

To read the full BBC News article please click here.

Posted by admin in Metropolitan Insulation