FAQ and Glossary

Terms and Conditions

Please see our Conditions of Sale (A copy of this will be sent out with any Quotation or Estimate)
NNM Soundproofing Ltd – Conditions of Sale

FAQ’s

• What can you offer that a general builder can’t?

  Experience and attention to detail. Will you ask your plasterer to do a bit of plumbing? We specialise in soundproofing and stick to soundproofing, we do not dabble in other trades.

  Example: To soundproof an average London flat of 60sqm will make use of +/- 1300 screw fixings. If one of these fixings bridge the resilient layers 15% of the soundproofing will be lost. Leaving a hole 1% of the area you are trying to soundproof can reduce the efficiency of the soundproofing by up to 10%. We install these systems every day and know the pitfalls.

• I don’t know if I must soundproof my ceilings or the floor upstairs. What is the better option?

  The quick answer is to combine both, but most people struggle with access to the other property or budget restraints. It is a common misunderstanding that it is easier and better to install soundproofing from the floor than it is via ceiling. We believe on balance that the ceiling is often the better, simpler and cheaper solution.

• Can I be at my home whiles the soundproofing is being done?

  Yes, but please keep in mind that there might be some inconvenience caused by power tools and dust.

• How long will it take to complete the soundproofing?

  Every home is different and it will depend on what system are chosen and other factors like number of down lights, power outlets and complexity of the work undertaken. Our aim is to install between 10-15sqm per day on basic systems.

• Will it cost me more if work is not completed on time?

  No not a penny. Our quote is not based on number days spend on site but on number of square meters to be soundproofed

• How much mess will there be and who is responsible for disposal of rubbish?

  Floor systems will most of the times be a clean job. All system where walls and ceilings need to be removed will be messy. Lath and plaster walls, ceilings and some cornicing are extremely dusty. How ever we will leave the room as clean as possible after each day. Rubbish and material that was used or created by us will be removed from your property on completion.

• How long is a quote valid for?

  30 Days unless otherwise agreed on.

• What happens to electricity outlets, switches and light fittings?

  98% of the time we don’t need to disconnect any of the sockets. Usually there is enough cabling in the wall to simply bring all sockets forward. Unfortunately we can’t be sure of this until work starts and we are able to get inside the wall to have a look. This is also true for lights and light switches.

• Will you supply protection for my floor and furniture?

  Yes. Although we asked customers to clear the rooms before our arrival we do understand that it is not always possible to remove the bulkier items from rooms. In these cases we will and do our utmost best to protect these items. Floor will be covered with the appropriate type of protection. Ie: Carpeted floor – Tarpaulin and wood/laminated/tiled floors with corex floor protection.

• Can you provide plastering or recommend a plasterer/decorator?

  No and Yes. We don’t offer plastering in house but can recommend a very reliable plasterer that has been plastering our systems for a few years. Please contact us for his details. We can arrange all of this on special request.

Glossary

Sound Insulation Explained

Sound Insulation – Simply described as a process in which sound intensity is reduced when sound waves pass through a medium or strike a surface. Also known as Acoustic Insulation.

More Detailed Explanation The effect is measured by determining the Sound Reduction Index (SRI) achieved by a given Material. This SRI is expressed in dB and is calculated by measuring sound created on one side of the material, then measuring sound on the other side of the material, the lowest is deducted from the highest value and the result is known as its SRI value.

An easy way to work out how much reduction you can expect is to look at the SRI value of a system. For every 12-14dB of residence added will give you about 50% reduction.

The process is commonly experienced when you open and close the door of a room that has a TV or stereo on, the door will act as a sound insulator and you could effectively measure its SRI value in the same way.

Typical Materials used to increase Sound Insulation include:

Plasterboard

Acoustic Mats

High Density Mineral Wool

Basically the thicker and denser the product then the more it will increase the Sound Insulation and the higher its Sound Reduction Index will be.

Transmission of Sound

Sound is transmitted in basically 2 ways:

Airbourne Transmission

i) Airborne Transmission – This is the transmission of sound via Air Molecules hitting each other. Ie conversation, coughing, snoring, television ect.

To reduce the amount of sound heard by the other person you would need to install a barrier or Sound Insulator between the source and you, the thicker and denser the barrier then the better the sound reduction will be.

Vibration/Impact Transmission

ii) Vibration Transmission – This is the transmission of sound via the connection of different Materials to each other ie Footstep Noise on a floor of a house.

To reduce vibration transmission , you need to either stop the sound getting into the floor, out of the ceiling or a combination of both, by adding a Floating Floor or an Acoustic ceiling system.