Spray foam insulation reduces noise of airplanes at home near airport
When Chris and Michelle Hazard decided to insulate their loft they never realised how the move would take off and hit new heights with unexpected benefits.
The couple were delighted that work on the new-look roof space made their 1880s cottage much warmer and cut their energy bills dramatically.
But it made their home so much quieter that they suddenly realised they couldn’t hear the aircraft whose noise from flying overhead had been plaguing the pair for months.
“East Midlands Airport changed the flight path just before Christmas,” said 65-year-old Chris, an engineering manager in the dairy industry who retired in November.
“It made a huge difference to the noise levels with planes passing over every few minutes 24 hours a day,” added the former chairman and director of Castle Donington Rugby Union FC.
Although they had lived for 20 years only a few miles from the airport at 56 Spittal, Castle Donington, they had never had a problem with aircraft noise until the flight path change.
“It wasn’t just the passenger planes, there were the cargo planes as well, including the largest one in the world, the Russian built Antonov,” added Ron. “The noise was deafening.”
Michelle, a former NHS nurse for 30 years, said: “Suddenly it stopped one day, we wouldn’t believe the difference.”
The couple, who now both help out in the village volunteer bureau, decided to tidy out their attic and sort their roof out after they retired.
“It was full of dust, spiders and nests,” said Chris, “and we noticed the snow on our roof stayed on much longer than our neighbours’ homes.”
But they decided quotes of £10,000 for a new roof were too much for their budget.
One night they were discussing the problem with a friend, Phillip Shipley, in the Cross Keys, Castle Donington, who said his firm Donnington Energy Save (DES) had an environmentally friendly answer.
They install Icynene, a 100 per cent water-blown, soft spray foam, which would form an air-tight seal in the loft, stopping draughts, cutting fuel bills by up to 50 per cent, and reducing noise as well as preventing condensation so the room could be used for storage.
Five weeks ago the Hazards had the roof space insulated by DES – and they noticed the benefits immediately.
Chris said: “We have been able to turn down the thermostat to its lowest level so saving hundreds of pounds a year with our energy bills – and as an added bonus we have grounded the noise problem. The aircraft still fly over our house – but now we don’t hear a thing.”
For more details about Icynene ring Ron Fox on 01782 756995 or request a call back.
