Noise pollution is incredibly frustrating. Whether it’s from road traffic, railway networks, aircraft or just plain old noisy neighbours, measures can be taken to increase the soundproofing capabilities of your home.
External wall insulation is excellent for soundproofing. Not only does EWI improve the thermal performance of your property, but certain types of insulation can also dramatically improve the acoustics of a building. We’re going to be talking a bit about the negative impact of noise pollution on human health, and which external wall insulation system is best for preventing this.
What are the effects of noise pollution?
Noise pollution has proven to significantly affect children, adults and the elderly. According to research carried out by Rockwool, noise pollution can cause stress and fatigue due to disturbed sleep patterns. In turn, this can lead to health problems and a slower rate of development for children. Noise pollution can also cause high blood pressure, heart disease, and increased stress levels.
Reducing noise pollution is possible internally, by reducing noise from appliances and media devices. But what about the things you can’t control, like those pesky neighbours, or that nearby airport? Turn to external wall insulation.
The Best Insulation for soundproofing
If you live in a solid wall property, it’s unlikely that your home will be adequately soundproofed. Generally, homes are built with insulation in the walls (cavity wall insulation) which absorbs the sound and protects the house against noise pollution. External wall insulation is a great choice if you live in a solid wall property. Given that it can be installed on top of walls with CWI, you can have the benefits of both systems.
Mineral Wool insulation is the best one to go for if soundproofing is a concern. Renowned for having excellent insulating capabilities, the insulation reduces the amount of noise entering your home. Acoustic insulation is far more effective as it is installed externally. The entire insulation system seamlessly envelopes the house and is therefore a highly effective solution against sound pollution. We recommend using the Mineral Wool insulation at a thickness greater than 200mm.
Of course, with a Mineral Wool external wall insulation system, it’s not just the soundproofing capabilities that you reap the rewards of. Mineral Wool has excellent thermal insulating capabilities, is class A1 fire rated (the very highest standard!) and is also very breathable.
The EPS insulation system also provides minor soundproofing benefits, at a fraction of the cost of Mineral Wool. However, it performs poorly when it comes to fire rating.
How is the insulation installed?
If you are new to the idea of external wall insulation, it’s very simple!
- The Mineral Wool is secured to the external wall in two ways; using our Premium Basecoat adhesive and with metal pin mechanical fixings.
- Once the boards are secured to the wall, the Premium Basecoat is again applied on top and fibreglass mesh is embedded within the basecoat for extra crack resistance and tensile strength.
- Once the basecoat is dry, a render primer is painted on and left to dry.
- After this, a thin coat render is applied on top of the basecoat to create a decorative finish.
- The overall result is a higher performance building in many respects, and an aesthetically pleasing, brand new finish!
Find a trusted installer below, or contact our sales team on 02045717492!
