text:
Ask Your Question
1 - Notification of when your question has been answered. (Optional)
View Questions
I live in Michigan and want to use Radiant Barrier in my attic. I want to staple to the bottom of the roof rafters. I am going to leave 3 inch space on the bottom and three inches on top. I like to use non-perforated barrier, I think it does a better job. Since both sides will be ventilated and the same temperature, do I have to worry about condensation, or can I use it?
The perforated and non-perforated (solid) radiant barriers work exactly the same. The holes are tiny pinholes about 1/2″ apart. The difference in effectiveness of the two products – (reflectivity and emissivity) is so small it's not even measurable. Vapor barrier radiant barriers should be used with caution regardless of location. The general theory is that you NEVER use a vapor barrier unless you are SPECIFICALLY trying to stop/trap moisture in it's vapor form. In an attic, you WANT air and moisture to flow freely to maximize the drying process. Therefore, it is NEVER suggested to use a vapor barrier in a vented attic application. If the effectiveness is the same, why risk introducing something that can slow/stop moisture flow out of the attic?
Also, you CAN get condensation on ANY surface if the temperature is below dew-point and you have a source of warm-moist air. Ventilation helps, but you REALLY want to eliminate the source of warm-moist air.
I am planning to install your Radiant Barrier over the winter. Almost everything that I need to know has been readily available on your site. I just have 1 question. Is there any diference in running the Radiant Barrier up and down the rafters instead of across. Due to the number of interferences in my attic, going up and down would be an easier install versus going across. Thanks in advance for the information.
It does not matter which way the AtticFoil Brand Radiant Barrier is run. Generally, it's easier IF you can go horizontal, but some attics it works best to run up and down. If you need a smaller width roll - just use a power saw (miter type or table) to cut the whole roll. You can easily make 3 x 16" or 2 x 24" rolls.
I covered the underside of the roof starting 3 feet from the soffit and ending about 6-8 inches from the roof vent apex. Is it enough to get a good benefit from the radiant barrier? In your figures you show the barrier starting at the vent. Will the air from the soffit not be able to get behind the radiant barrier and carry the heat away if the barrier is not low enough? Thanks for any help.
You are fine. Air will naturally find it's way to the top of the attic whether it's behind, or in front of, the radiant barrier AtticFoil. Starting 3 feet up is not ideal, but radiant barrier has a cumulative effect. The more of the roof you cover the more benefit you get - just like shade. If it's not too difficult, I'd try to cover as much as possible.
I live in the Washington, DC metro area and want to increase the insulation in my attic. I received an estimate from a company to add additional cellulose insulation in my attic and then add a radiant perforated barrier on top. Does any space have to be left between the cellulose insulation and the radiant barrier? Thanks for your help.
You can lay AtticFoil directly on top of the cellulose insulation. The required airspace will be on top of the foil. I would not "mash' the foil down into the cellulose insulation. Gently lay on top and try to maintain minimal contact if possible.
For more help, check out these customer submitted DIY photos of radiant barrier installed over insulation.
An HVAC guy told me that radient barriers will change the dynamics of a balanced system. My system is poorly designed so that The MBR upstairs gets very little airflow and is either too hot or cold. I have an 11 year old, 2800 sq. ft. 2 story home with one zone. He states that by over insulating or otherwise dramatically altering the temp. control demands of your system you may end up with mold or continuously cycling of the a/c unit since it is designed to work at particular specs. In essence you may end up with a unit that is too big for its needs. I cannot afford to have the ductwork redone properly. I'm interested in your response. Thank you.
Thanks for the comment. The fact is that MOST air conditioning systems are oversized. In fact, we tend to size our AC systems to handle "full load" (which is usually the hottest day of the summer); however, we are usually only at full load" about 2% of the time. So, in reality, most systems are oversized 98% of the time.
Normally, this is not a huge issue. However, anything you do to drop the load more (including installing radiant barrier) can cause most systems to be even MORE oversized (the difference between what it can do and what you need it to do becomes a big difference), which could result in a lack of dehumidification but this really depends on you climate area. If your air conditioner is "short cycling" then you have a couple of options. The easiest method is to install a dehumidifier to pull out extra moisture. Or, you can install a two stage (high & low capacity) air conditioner. Personally, I like to use air conditioners that use "inverter" systems. These systems are made by companies like: Mitsubishi, Daikin, LG, Sanyo, Fujitsu and many more. Inverter type air conditioners are similar to a cruise control on a car. The adjust the flow of refrigerant based on the "load." An inverter system will run longer but pull less amps resulting in more dehumidification, lower energy bills and less of a "muggy" feeling in the home.
For you particular situation, I would install a radiant barrier. Then, if the humidity is too high, install a plug in dehumidifier.
We plan to install foil radiant barrier in our attic. As I understand it, it is better to install the foil beneath the rafters rather than between them, right? And running it horizontal would make it easier to install. Would outside AND inside radiant barrier treatment help, or not? We could paint the roof (dark asphalt in Texas sun) with radiant barrier paint (reflective to 95%) after we install the foil radiant barrier in the attic. Would this help?
Yes, you want to install the foil across the bottoms of the rafters so you can eliminate the thermal bypass that would occur if the ends were not covered.
And yes, you could paint the roof if you don't mind the color of the radiant barrier paint. There are actually reflective coatings specifically designed for roof applications. As far as doubling up the barrier though (on the roof and in the attic) it would only really help if there was a large portion of the attic you could not get to. Otherwise the foil is blocking 97% of the radiant heat on it's own, plus the cost is substantially less than the reflective coatings, so you're better off going that route if you have to choose one.
I live in a top floor condo in Dallas that was built in 1974. I would really love to install a radiant barrier. I don't have an attic or even a crawl space. I think the only two options I have are: 1. take down the drywall staple the attic foil then replace drywall ceiling or 2. furring strips over the existing ceiling to create the air gap I need and attach new sheetrock. So basically drop my ceiling by an inch. Will this second option work since the radiant barrier will be below the insulation above the original sheet rock ceiling?
Yes, we have had cases where customers did an install similar to this (attaching wooden strips over the existing drywall, stapling foil to the wood and then adding a new layer of drywall over it). However, the foil really needs to be closest to the outside in order for you to see a real benefit from it as a summertime heat blocker. If there is NO insulation in that ceiling (which is unlikely), then you could get a benefit from the foil, even though the drywall is there. However, if there IS insulation up there between the rafters, then I hate to say it, but without removing the assembly and adding the radiant barrier closest to the roof, you aren't gonna get the great results you are probably hoping for.
In that case (having insulation above your ceiling between the ceiling and the roof deck), your best bet is to bulk up what existing insulation you have. I recommend you get 3/4" to 1.5" foam board and apply it directly over the existing ceiling and the drywall over the foam board. The only way I'd recommend you using a radiant barrier is if you were going to do the cathedral ceiling install method and you were able to get the foil up against the roof so your results would be worth your time, money and energy.
Dear Guru, I have a question concerning Radiant Barriers. I have looked for any similar inquiries elsewhere and so far have not found any so I decided to ask you. I am looking into installing a radiant barrier in my existing house (built 2006 but I acquired only last year). I planned on doing the Foil type attached to my rafters possibly next spring when it is not so hot. I was also planning on decking over top of all my insulation for two reasons: (1) to improve ease of installing the foil radiant barrier later, and (2) to increase my R-value (I realize if I collapse the insulation the R-value goes down which I won't do, but an extra layer of wood should add R-value and also allow the insulation to better perform to its potential by making the insulation layer "Dead air" so it does not transfer heat as easily.) I was going to lay 2x4's down first in order to have an air gap between the blown in insulation and the decking. My projected cost for this decking was already a few hundred for OSB but I had another thought. I have heard that some people have tried radiant foil on top of their insulation and also attached to the rafters in the same house (doubling up) with pretty good results. Since I am decking I did not want to deal with loose foil under the OSB so I thought I could use OSB Techshield face down (only costs a little more than plain OSB). This also allows me to affect my energy bill this summer since I could budget in the decking this month instead of waiting till next spring (More Savings = Happy Homeowner). From my limited knowledge/experience in this area I just want to make sure I was thinking about it correctly. Techshield as a roof sheathing is face down with the attic side being the air gap, so I should be able to lay it face down (walking on OSB side so the foil backing isn't damaged) with an air gap maintained by using 2x4's as spacers. My total cost increase for switching to Techshield is minimal but the potential energy savings would make it worth it. I guess it all boils down into two questions. 1 Will decking (plain OSB/plywood) my entire attic improve my R-value as I suspect? 2 If decking does improve my R-value (or at least does not reduce it) will Techshield perform as a good radiant barrier in that placement? Thank you very much for your time. I appreciate your expertise.
1. Yes, adding some plywood on your attic floor over your existing insulation by about 2 per inch of plywood; however it is really not the best choice for insulating this space. The only reason I can see for you to go this route is if you are wanting to create flooring up in your attic to store things. If you want to bulk up the insulation, your money will go further if you invest in adding more traditional insulation or adding foam board.
2. If you want to use Techshield, facing down toward an air gap, it will work fine to help keep radiant heat from escaping through your home's ceiling and into the cold attic. Another option is to drape radiant barrier foil in between your rafters before you instaLL the roof deck.
Does that help?
We will be replacing an existing roof due to hail damage. Our roof already has a 1/4" or 1/2" plywood decking WITHOUT A RADIANT BARRIER layer on it. Would it work to lay down another plywood decking WITH a radiant barrier layer on top of the existing plywood decking -- i.e. 2 plywood decks with a radiant barrier in between the 2 plywood decks? Would that work like other radiant barrier applications? Would there be any fire danger in doing so?
This won't work unless you have an airspace on at least one side of the foil. By definition radiant heat is heat transfer by NON CONTACT across an air space. Without an airspace, you cannot even have radiant heat; therefore, you cannot have a radiant barrier. This is why an air space is REQUIRED when installing radiant barrier foil.
One option you could try would be to raise the 2nd deck with furring strips. This is what I did on my home and did full sealed attic with foam insulation on the bottom of the lower deck.
Hello Ed, Thanks for the great insight on your site. Although I have seen your video "How to Install Radiant Barrier Foil into a Cathedral or Vaulted Ceiling", my (non-attic) vaulted-ceiling situation is different than the one in the video. My rafters are made of 2x12s, so they can accommodate R-40 batts (non-faced; already purchased) and still leave a 3.5-inch air space on top for ventilation channels (soffit vents and roof vent already installed). Within this 3.5-inch air space, what would be the optimum placing of single-sided radiant barrier? 1) Attached to the underside of the sheathing (at the top of the air space) facing down into the air space? 2) Attached between the rafters at the point that would put it (face down) in direct contact with the insulation, but with the ventilated air space above it (like in your video)? (Also, would any dust accumulating on the paper side (which would face up) have any negative effect?) 3) Attached face down midway in the airspace, essentially creating two layers of airspace? Also, I read a several years ago that a two-inch air space was needed. Perhaps experience over the years shows that 3/4-inch is actually enough (like in your video mentioned above). Could you expound on that a bit? For reference, I'm using a light-weight, laminated metal roofing product (not black, but dark brown) that contains a layer of aluminum. I used furring strips to create vertical venting channels all the way up the roof. (I saw the exact same product, same color, in one of your other videos.) So, with the interior (below-the-sheathing) ventilation channels mentioned above, a cross section of my roof-ceiling structure would consist of: METAL ROOFING—1/2-INCH AIR SPACE—TAR PAPER—SHEATHING—3.5-INCH AIR SPACE (with RADIANT BARRIER at top, bottom or in the middle)—R-40 INSULATION—VAPOR BARRIER—WESTERN RED CEDAR. Thank you for your time and attention. Sincerely, Paul
Ideally your radiant barrier would be closest to the outside (roof deck in this set up) with the air gap between the roof deck and the foil - just like in the video. If you are using a single-sided product then the foil side MUST face the air gap. I say a half-inch air gap is needed, but honestly that is the minimum, if you have more air - then use it.
Just like you mentioned, these would be the layers:
Watch a video of a radiant barrier installation under a metal roof here.
I can't find any information about Radiant Barrier Plywood on your site or blog. I'm curious about Plytanium Thermostat Radiant Barrier Roof Sheathing from Georgia Pacific specifically. How can this work with no air gap?
Radiant barrier decking works because in that application, the bottom side of the decking with the foil is facing down toward the open attic space. When standing in an attic you can look up at the roof line and see the foil in between each rafter; because of this air space, the foil works to block radiant heat from emitting (emissivity) into the attic space, and ultimately the home.
However, the one down side to radiant barrier decking is that it doesn't take in to account thermal bypass on the rafters (meaning the heat is still moving through the rafter ends that are not covered with radiant barrier, and then radiates off the ends into the attic). Using radiant barrier across the rafter bottoms does not allow for thermal bridging, so in some cases people opt for the staple up method to get the best possible coverage.
Ed, Thanks for the good info. I would like to add about 6 in of blown in insulation to my attic. This will make the insulation about 6 in above the ceiling joists. When I add the attic foil will it need to be stapled? If so, I would need to push the foil down to the ceiling joist to have something to staple to and this would counteract the effect of the added insulation.? Can attic foil just be laid in without fastening? Thanks, Alvin Green
By putting radiant barrier on your attic floor directly on top of your insulation, AtticFoil works great in combination with regular insulation to make the regular insulation more effective. First, it will reflect the radiant heat loss BACK into the living space. Second, it will reduce the internal convection within the existing insulation. Laying AtticFoil out on top of the insulation will have the biggest impact on winter heat loss; think of radiant barrier as your first defense against heat loss, and traditional insulation as your second defense.
When installing AtticFoil over your insulation in colder climates, please follow these recommendations for the best results:
Roll out sections and cut around supports, ducts, and other penetrations. If ducts are on the attic floor, cover them too.
Do NOT push the foil onto the insulation - just lay it over the top, like a blanket. If it peaks in certain areas, that's fine & ideal.
Overlap the foil at least 2-3 inches; if you want you can secure the pieces together with foil tape, but it's not necessary. Stapling is also not necessary since doing so in your case would require compressing the insulation.
Mark decking, or walk paths with colored tape or spray paint so you can tell where the flooring ends so as to prevent any accidents stepping through the drywall.
You can NOT cover the foil with anything (i.e. flooring) or else you will eliminate the require air space for the foil to work.
CRITICAL NOTE: You must be careful NOT to cover any source of moisture from inside your home such as a bathroom exhaust fan or a leaky can light. It is very important that bathroom and kitchen fans are vented to the outside of the attic, or at least past the foil insulation.
So great to see your site..! I have open beam 4X10 rafter cathedral ceilings uninsulated & want to keep the look of raw wood inside. I want to insulate the top of the roof deck with rigid foam. Have a 4 in 12 pitch. Can I place radient barrier on the roof-deck under 4 inch rigid foam? Live in Woodland Hills Calif when temps are 100+ in summer - no snow or freeze in winter. The roof has extreme southern exposure so radient heat is extreme in summer and that's the target of insulation project. thanks for your help. Gil
You can only place the foil under the rigid foam if there is an air gap either between the foam and the foil or the foil and the roof deck. If there is no air gap on at least one side of the double-sided foil, the radiant barrier will NOT work.
My question is regarding combustibility of the foil bubble foil radiant barrier that I just purchased from Insulation4less...The representative of the company was completely unable to inform me of the products combustibility. Is it possible to be rated ClassA/1 fire rating and still be combustible? The combination of foil and plastic bubble would not seem to be very combustible. Thank you for your time!
Thanks for your question! Yes, it is possible that the product can burn. Having a Class A/Class 1 fire rating for a radiant barrier does not mean the product will not burn. The classifications assigned based on the testing are just a measure of the burning characteristics of each product tested, not the fireproof-ness of the products. Aluminum covered radiant barrier products (like Original AtticFoil®) are pretty difficult to start burning and "combust" isn't the appropriate terminology. They won't spontaneously combust or start fire because of heat, they would need to be exposed to an open flame.
I have used radiant barrier in past houses with amazing results, and am at it again on another old home. Question...We are putting pon a metal roof. Is it necessary to put both an underlayment and vapor barrior radient foil on under the battons? I will also use perferated RB in the attic.
Because you are using purlins for the roof, I recommend you use an underlayment (for your waterproofing layer) combined with perforated radiant barrier foil on top of that, before the purlins. You need that self-sealing quality the underlayment will provide since you will be breaking the seal with the purlins. Since the underlayment will be your vapor barrier, you will go with the perforated foil instead of the solid.
I recently install radiant barrier on the west, east, and south facing roofs of my hip-roof home with 2,000 sq/ft of attic space. I also added more soffit vents to meet the generally accepted NFA guidelines. I have been monitoring the attic temperature using the "kitchen foil tent" method explained in one of your videos. Though it's not exactly hot yet in Texas, we have had some 80 degree days and my attic is still getting as hot as 105 in the peak of the day. I guess I expected to see attic temps a little lower on this type of day. Is the fact that the north-facing is not done really hampering my results, or is this actually a decent air temperature on an 80 degree day?
Air temperatures vary vastly depending on the ventilation, while surface temperatures are what are effected by adding a radiant barrier. Let's assume for the sake of an example, that your attic is 130F. With enough holes in your roof (ventilation), we could eventually get that temperature to drop to close to ambient (outside air) temperature. By forcing enough air through the attic space, we can drop the air temperature by 20F, 30F or even 40F. Ideally, after you install a radiant barrier the top SURFACE temperature of the insulation should be within a few degrees of ambient temperature, and the AIR temperature inside the attic should probably be within 10 to 15 degrees of ambient temperature. Personally I wouldn't get too caught up with the AIR temperature because it doesn't effect the home, the surface temperatures are what you need to address when it comes to comfort inside the home and lightening the load on the HVAC unit, which is what the radiant barrier affects. If it's really bothering you, take a look at your exhaust vents/fans; you mentioned soffit vents for intake so take a look at what you are you using for out take venting to start.
Ed, Thank you so much for all of the info. I have a playhouse in Southern California I am constructing for my daughters. My rafters are 2x4 and I would like to roof it with single sided radiant osb. The ceilings are vaulted and I was hoping to finish the underside of the rafters with strips of pine to be a finished vaulted wood ceiling. Is the is the 3 1/2 inches between the pine and the radiant layer on the underside of the roofing osb sufficient. I am assuming I won't need additional insulation and from what I've read that would actually hurt. My layers then would be (from top to bottom) Shingles Tar paper OSB with radiant layer facing down into room 3 1/2 air gap Pine covering the ceiling Will that work ok and will i benefit from the radiant layer ? Thank you John
That would work beautifully! With the air gap the radiant barrier is going to block 97% of the heat from entering the playhouse - it will work great! If you are not conditioning the area, then just make sure there is plenty of ventilation as that will help keep the air temperature down close to ambient.
On another note - if you construct the playhouse in the shade, you will get the same benefits as you would from adding a radiant barrier, without the work - just FYI!
I have been looking but unable to find any information concerning the installation of rigid polyisocyanurate radiant barrier foam for my application; most likely because the application is unique. I am refurbishing a 32' travel trailer. The poorly installed fiberglass insulation is being removed (major gaps exist). Most RV's are ovens in the summer and freezers in the winter when poorly insulated (as this one is). I found the R-Matte Plus 3 R-5.0 3/4" foam insulation with radiant barrier at Home Depot. I took one sheet home, cut to fit in between the 2x2 wall beams and it appears to fit very nicely. Installation was a breeze too. The outside of the travel trailer is metal. The question is which way do I install the foam, with the radiant barrier on the inside of the trailer or outside? There is a small air gap between the outside metal and the wall beams because the metal does not set flush against the beams. I was considering putting the barrier towards the outside, then use fiberglass to further insulate the small gap between the foam and the inner wall. From reading through the FAQ's though I'm now considering putting the fiberglass on the outside metal wall followed by the radiant barrier side of the foam on the outside, and keeping the foam flush with the inner side of the beams (inner wall). This would give the air gap that is mentioned in several FAQ's. Or should I completely leave the fiberglass out of the picture? Or should I push the radiant foam (radiant side out) into the frame so a very small gap exists between the outside metal wall and the radiant foam? I'm really not sure what's going to give me the best insulation in this situation. I appreciate any advice you can give on this unique situation.
The foil needs at MINIMUM a half inch of space. I'd shoot for 3/4" to play it safe. Ideally the foil needs to be closest to the OUTSIDE, as your FIRST line of defense against the heat gain. Then, finish the rest of the walls with the foam and fiberglass combo to get a good R-value to slow down the conductive heat that will emit from the foil (about 3%). Take a look at this page for an idea of how an install in a tight space like that can work: Radiant Barrier Foil in a Vaulted ceiling & Using Radiant Barrier in Walls.
I am fixing up a vintage travel trailer in SE Az. The walls and ceiling have 1 1/8" to 1 1/4" space between aluminum skin and interior panel. I read the article about using furring strips and foil, then insulation. If the insulation has contact on the inward side with the insulation, does that negate the low emmittance of the foil? Would foil bubble product work any better" would the bubble side act as a buffer between the foil and the insulation and diminish conductance?
No, the foil still works using its reflective property to reflect 97% of the heat gain from the outside. When the heat is coming from inside, the insulation slows that conductive heat loss and the foil, because it has an air gap on the backside of it, works to prevent heat from emitting through the foil layer into the air gap created by the battens.
Can I use a radiant barrier on an open beam cathedral ceiling. We are replacing a shake roof with a composition roof.
Yes - you can. You will need to install the foil closest to the roof deck, with the proper air gap. Look at this page on AtticFoil.com for more information on installing radiant barrier in a cathedral ceiling
What's the difference between radiant barrier and bubble foil products?
Typically both have an aluminum layer - that is what is doing the job of reflecting the heat. In the bubble products you typically pay about double for a thin layer of bubble material (or basically air) and oftentimes it's an unnecessary expense since air is plentiful in an attic space. Read more here: Compare Radiant Barrier Foil with Bubble Foil
I live in Texas in an older home with little insulation. Is it best to have more insulation before installing radiant barrier
I'd recommend you add a radiant barrier first, before you decide to add more insulation. Also, please refer to this article for more info on saving energy in hot climates: Four Silver Bullets For Saving Energy In Hot Climates
I'm building a brick home currently. I bought radiant barrier osb for decking and also for the exterior walls. I will obviously have an air gap between the osb and the brick, but if I put a vapor barrier over the osb directly will it cancel out all of its heat reflective capabilities? And should the foil face the brick or the inside of the home?
If you cover the foil layer with ANYTHING then YES, it will negate it's reflective properties. Radiant heat by definition is heat transfer from one object (the hot object) to another object (the cooler object) by NON-CONTACT. When there is contact with both sides of the foil, the heat is conductive and aluminum is a very conductive material, so it will work against you! The decking needs to face DOWN, toward the open attic space, in order to work properly.
I have a 45 year old golf villa in Hilton Head SC and the vaulted ceiling is nothing more that 3/4" cedar tongue and groove board, with the roof shingle on the outside, so ther is no insulation or cavity to fill. I heard that there was a radiant barrier/sheetrock product that I could install directly to the ceiling as you would install sheetrock. Are you familiar with any such product or have any other recommendation.
I am not familiar with any such thing - there is no such thing as radiant heat between materials that are touching. For radiant heat to even exist there MUST be an air space; without an air space you don't have radiant heat, you have conductive heat. Plenty of products work to slow conductive heat (they all have r-value). The only way to stop heat and reflect it back is for radiant heat to be present and then you can reflect it with a radiant barrier. To do this there needs to be at least a 3/4" cavity of air for the heat to convert to its radiant form so you can block 97% of it with a radiant barrier. Check out this page for more information: Radiant Barrier in Cathedral Ceilings
I have a attic storage area that currently has paper faced fiberglass batt insulation installed in the roof joist. A ton of radiant heat is still emanating from the roof joist. Is it a good idea to just install some foil faced polyisocyanate foam board across the roof joist (leaving the batts in place)and then add some 1/2" furing strips to attach the drywall (to leave an air space between the drywall & the foil facing)? Would the foil facing need to face the batts in the roof joist or face the drywall? Thanks in advance for your professional opinion.
Unless you are sealing up that space (with the drywall) and planning on conditioning it (with A/C or heat), then you don't really need that fiberglass insulation up on the roof. Otherwise, you need the foil to be the FIRST layer up there - with the air gap between the roof deck and the foil, then add insulation and then you can use foam board and drywall. For full installation instructions, and a video, please see this page: How to Install Radiant Barrier in a Cathedral Ceiling.
I just bought a 1968 straight ranch in Austin, TX. 102 degrees here today! The attic is a mess with blown-in wool/stapled pink insulation, and probably none on the vaulted ceilings.....house has 2 wings and I cannot crawl through hall....can I paint the asphalt shingle roof with radiant barrier paint, instead of cleaning out attic, etc. Also, is putting foil on floor wherever I have access to floor as good as putting it closer to rafters? Thank you.
The paint is a waste of money - don't even bother. You're better off just putting foil directly over the shingles! (Though it would probably bother your neighbors and be an eye sore.) You can put the foil over the insulation wherever there is not storage or other things - it will still help better than no foil. Radiant Barrier Foil has a cumulative effect, so the more you can get installed, the better your results and partial coverage does help. Try to aim for at least 70-80% coverage to see a big improvement. Navigating the attic space is the hardest part of any install, but if you can get up really early in the morning and knock some sections out, you'll do fine. Good luck!
Hello. I live in Paraguay (South America). I need to get some expert info on this product. We have something similar but not AtticFoil. I have an outer birck wall and want to finish the inside with drywall. I was thinking of installing the foil between my outer 12cm thick brick wall and the drywall interior finish. Will this work? Will this not creat condensation? I will have my electrical and water in between the brick and drywall also. Do all foil products basically work the same? Can you ship your product to South America. Thanks
Yes, this will work. Adding radiant barrier in a wall is simple and reaps good benefit when the wall is one that catches sunlight from outside. Remember, you have to have an air gap on one side of the foil. Click the link to go to the installation page to see how it is done. Condensation can be combated by having an AIR TIGHT wall. Foil products work on the same physics principles, but not all are created equal. I don't currently ship to South America directly, but some of my customers use a freight forwarder to get the product.
I live on the gulf coast. I'm concerned that painting the underside of my roof in the attic may cause rot in the roof decking itself. Your thoughts ?
I don't recommend the paint for other reasons. You can read why here: Why radiant barrier foil is better than radiant barrier paint.
A perforated radiant barrier foil will be the best product to use in a vented attic to keep the radiant heat from coming in through the roof and ultimately into the home. You can see the install instructions here: How to Staple Foil to your Attic Rafters to Block the Heat
If I install radiant foil to my attic rafters, should i install Styrofoam vent chutes on attic ceiling before putting on foil? I assume I can put the foil in my garage attic as well? and lastly, can I lay insulation batts over blown insulation or do I have to add just more blown Insu. thanks Chris
You don't have to install styrofoam baffle vents, but you can. If so, you'll just make your gap in the foil for proper ventilation before the second run. Start the first run down low as far as you can get and then start the second run about 3 to 6 inches above the first one. This gap allows air into the attic to help w/moisture control.
Check out this link for: The Best Way to Install Radiant Barrier Foil in a Garage
whats the best radiant floor heat insulation from the basement side.
A radiant barrier. Read: How to Install a Radiant Barrier in Conjunction with Radiant Flooring to Help with Heat Retention.
Even with a cool roof, radiant barrier will take it the last mile. The roof deck below a cool roof and radiant barrier will basically stay at ambient temperature.
This means that virtually NO radiant heat gain into the attic or home through the roof. Radiant barrier under metal/tile roofs is the fastest growing use of radiant barrier. It's cheap, easy and VERY effective.
If you're using a deck, try TechShield - it's a radiant barrier covered plywood used in roofing. It works well and is pretty economical.
My son plans on using foil radiant barrier on top of and contacting a cement slab. He is running pex tubing on top of the barrier and below subfloor and tile. Is the contact of the concrete nullifing the barriers effect. There is a 1" air gap between the barrier and the subfloor. Thank You.
No. On a double sided foil product, only ONE side has to be open to an air gap. As long as that one side is free to the air space, then the foil will work to do its job.
Guru I'd like to ask about the use of radiant barriers below ceiling joists. I currently have a home remodeling project going through a phased approach which currently has no wall insulation and old blown in 'pink' tufts within the ceiling joists. The roof structure will be replaced with a complete roof system in the near future so I only need to address the area (25 x 16) master suite area at this time. The attic area above the master suite will have a plywood/osb type floor for 'storage' use so a radiant barrier on top of the ceiling joists might be compromised with screw hole, trapped dust etc.. My question is simple - if I apply a permeable radiant barrier between the ceiling Sheetrock and the joists (we would furr between the RB and the Sheetrock to leave an air space of about .75") and insulate with regular 'pink' batts, would we have moisture problems within the insulation. Note - we are not addressing the 'heat through the roof' issue's since the house is nicely placed under shade trees and has no summer heat intrusion problems. We're only interested in the rectangular 'box' of the master suite between the walls, slab and ceiling. Any info or advise would be greatly appreciated.
There is no way to truthfully promise you won't have a moisture issue. Why? Because moisture has little to do with adding the radiant barrier and a whole lot more to do with how air tight your wall assembly will be. If it were me, I'd set it up like on this webpage: How to Install Radiant Barrier in a Wall
Obviously your layering would look a little different with the foil closest to the inside of the room, but the idea is to incorporate some foam board to help seal the wall air tight. For an extra air-tight wall, I recommend putting a bead of caulk on the face of the studs before the foam layer (or before the sheetrock layer). Be sure to caulk between the bottom plate of the wall to either the concrete slab or the subfloor to reduce air leakage under the wall as well. After doing this you can add the foil and then create your air space before the sheetrock.
What is the radiant drape material costs for a 2100 square foot house? I live in New Braunfels and my home was built in 2009 without a radiant barrier. Is the drape method the best choice for post construction application. Thanks
Pricing here: http://www.atticfoil.com/products.html
The best retrofit installation application is either stapling it to the underside of the roof rafters inside the attic. Installation instructions, click here.
Or laying it over your insulation on the attic floor. Floor install instructions click here.
I have a block exterior wall home. Walls are furring strips . It's a summer bungalow with no heat or exterior insulation . We got flooded in Sandy and cut out drywall and found a foil paper on the furring strips . Block are tarred on inside. Do I need to get the same type of foil to replace or is there some other type of material
You don't have to use the exact same material, but you should incorporate a radiant barrier back into the wall system. To see how to do it, click here: Installing radiant barrier in a wall cavity.
Hi Ed. I watched your video on how radiant barriers work and from what I understand having a void between the foil and heat source is very important. Radiant barrier plywood has really taken off with some roof installers in our area. My question first is what do you think about radiant barrier plywood. we are in the Kansas City, MO area and there are a lot of wood shake roofs that are installed over a spaced decking. When homeowners tear off their wood shake shingles and install a solid deck and asphalt shingles often roofers will install a radiant barrier plywood to the spaced 1" x 4" decking sandwiching the foil between the plywood and the spaced decking. Does this have a negative effect on the performance of the radiant barrier? Does sandwiching the foil between the plywood and spaced 1" x 4"'s reduce the effectiveness of the radiant barrier? Thank you for your response.
I like radiant barrier decking even though it's not quiet as effective as stapling foil to the bottom of the rafters. Bang For The Buck it's usually the best way to go for new construction. Recently, we have had many customers combine BOTH radiant barrier decking with AtticFoil installed below the rafters with AMAZING results.
As for installing over the existing 1x4 laths, you WILL lose the radiant barrier benefit wherever the foil is "sandwiched" between the old lath and the new deck. Typically, this will be about 50% of the roof surface. So, you will reduce it's effectiveness by about 50% compared to a taking off all the laths and installing directly over the rafters. All things considered 50% is still a lot better than 0% and since the cost of radiant barrier decking is pretty cheap it's probably still worth it. One option is to remove ever other lath. This greatly improves the effectiveness and you should still maintain the structural benefit of having the laths. For more info, see: Partial Coverage with Radiant Barrier works!
Would a radiant barrier be cost effective if it were used close to both the inside and outside surfaces of a wall and cathedral ceiling insuring you have the required air gaps and the 2 barriers seperated by a layer of 2 inch closed cell foam. The reason being, during summer months keeping heat out and during the winter for keeping heat in. thanks for your info
You only need one layer of foil for it to work -and work year round. The best way to incorporate spray foam is to use the wall method: Adding Radiant Barrier to your Walls and then instead of batt insulation, you can use foam board over the foil and then spray foam onto the foam board to finish the wall cavity.
About to build a new home. I plan on installing radiant barrier plywood to my roof sheathing, I have soffit vents with ridge vents. would I benefit from installing an additional radiant barrier below my rafters which would allow about 6-8 inches of air gap between the two radiant barriers and still allow air flow from my soffit to ridge vent?
More and more we are seeing people add AtticFoil radiant barrier across the roof rafters below their Techshield (radiant barrier OSB) with good results. I even did the same thing on my home and I have had amazing results! Additionally, an official study has been done on the effectiveness of Techshield versus radiant barrier stapled across roof rafters and it found that the most effective application for a radiant barrier is to staple it across the rafters (this study will be officially published at the end of next year).
I have a hot yoga studio in Michigan. We installed 4 radiant heat lamps which focus the heat in zones. They heat to 110 F. I also have 5 enerjoy panels which are long wave infared heat panels they heat up to 113F. I am trying to get the heat up to 105 F. With the amount of power I have in that room it should be up to 150 easy! But instead I am stuck around 85 degrees. The room is in a old building with high celings. 24'X 28'X 25' High. The floor is insulated along with 3 insulated walls. There is a 24' brick wall on one side of the room and the cold Michigan winter right outside of it. I am wondering if my heat is passing through the brick. What can I do to get it hot enough?
First, the best approach is to make sure the area is air tight. If you have an exterior brick wall in the interior, then that's probably your #1 source of air leakage. I'd suggest you get it sealed air tight first, then, install a radiant barrier on any and all walls that you can to help retain 97% of the heat your heaters are putting off (keeping in mind not to install it directly next to the heaters, but give it some air space and "breathing" room).
will your radiant barrier, when installed between two layers of sheetrock, effectively eliminate thermal tracking evident on a cathedral ceiling.
No. Radiant barriers must be used in conjunction with an air gap. When there is no gap (as in the case of sandwiching the foil between sheetrock layers) the foil is NOT a radiant barrier but rather a CONDUCTOR now and this will only promote heat gain, not block it as intended. You cannot sandwich a radiant barrier and expect it to work, it won't.
I'm confused about the air gap in relation to pre-laminated roof decking. If an air gap is required, then how can it work properly if if the radiant barrier is directly attached to the underside of the decking? thanks for the help Stephen
It's actually very simple: the foil side is placed downward, toward the attic. All the air in the attic is the airspace! Read this article to get all the details: Techshield Compared To AtticFoil® Radiant Barrier
Can I put foil radiant barrier over the existing foam ventilation baffles that run between the roof rafters? Thanks,
Yes, you can, but remember: radiant barrier foil must be open to an air gap on at least one side in order for it to work. This means wherever the foil is touching the baffles on one side and insulation on the other - IT WILL NOT BE WORKING as a RADIANT BARRIER. If it's just touching the baffles on one side and open to the attic air on the other side, then you're good to go. Also, remember to leave a space before putting the next horizontal run of foil - so the air from the baffles can come into the attic and also some of it can stay between the foil and the roof.
Hi, I live in Pichilemu, Chile with a coastal climate similar to that of Santa Barbara, CA. I am currently building a small studio which I'm going to side and roof with corrugated zinc sheets. Common practice here is to put tar paper down below all roofing and siding materials. I wanted to add a radiant barrier and found some kraft paper backed foil here at one of the building supply stores (here is a link to the product: http://www.easy.cl/easy/ProductDisplay?mundo=1&id_prod=11700&id_cat=0&tpCa=4&caN0=2267&caN1=7957&caN2=7895&caN3=0). I was planning on rolling out this covering directly over the tar paper and creating a 2" air space with 2x2's between the metal and the foil. However, I don't believe the foil product I bought is permeable. Will this be an issue, i.e. is it necessary to lay a permeable layer over tar paper? I can't find a permeable foil here in South America and wanted to know if I would just be better off forgetting the idea of a Radiant Barrier. Thanks!
Yes, it is necessary to have a PERFORATED (permeable) layer over the tar paper because the tar paper is also a vapor barrier. Having two vapor barriers layered on top of one another is not advisable. If you cannot get a perforated product there, have you considered letting your foil/kraft paper be your underlayment instead of the tar paper? In some new construction, a solid (vapor barrier) radiant barrier has been used in place of the traditional tar paper because it offers the benefit of both a vapor barrier AND a radiant barrier (when installed with the proper air gap) all in one.
I am replacing the interior walls in my 1994 travel trailer. I would like to use a radiant barrier. can i layer radiant barrier and insulation if so where do I leave a air space. I wanted to use insulation also for noise reduction. or should i just use radiant barrier. I live in Texas and in the summer when i would use it most it can get to over 100 degrees.
First and foremost, without an air gap on at least one side of the foil, it will NOT WORK. So, assuming you can get a gap between the inside walls/roof of the trailer and the foil, then you'll be fine to then layer in foam, etc. If you are going to be CONDITIONING the trailer, then you need to seal it airtight and the foam will help. Otherwise, if you won't be cooling/heating the trailer, then you don't really need r-value. Basically you just need a layer of foil to stop the heat gain.
It will work best if the air gap is between the walls and the foil, so that you can fill the trailer with whatever. Otherwise, if you attach the foil directly to the walls and roof of the trailer, you have to make sure nothing touches the foil because the foil will need the air inside of the trailer as an air space. Does that make sense?
Also, any and all sides that will be in sunlight should be covered from the inside; so walls and roof.
Hi Ed Great Site very informative! I am currently doing my roof and want to have a radiant barrier. The roofer wants to put the OSB w/radiant barrier on top of the spaced sheeting that is on top of the rafters. Is that correct? Thanks so much! Daniel
Yes, the foil side of the OSB should face DOWN, toward the open attic space.
I AM INSTALLING A METAL ROOF OVER PLYWOOD I WILL USE 1 1/2 ISO BOARD BETWEEN 2X4'S NAILED TO THE top side of TRUSSES AND A WATERPROOFING MEMBRANE OVER ISO WHERE SHOULD THE RADIANT HEAT BARRIER BE INSTALLED. ON TOP OF membrane ,on top of iso ,under iso ,OR ON THE underside of PLYWOOD INSIDE building
If you will have a gap between the metal roof and the battens, you can lay the foil OVER the foam board so it will be open to the air space before the roof. Watch the install video here: Installing radiant barrier foil under a metal roof.
Otherwise, you should look in to trying a foil covered deck, with the foil facing down, toward the open air space below the deck. More info here: Techshield Compared To AtticFoil® Radiant Barrier
Mr. Ed – I have a small attic with a split heat pump unit in it along with the duck work. The attic size is about 1920 sq ft. this is a duplex. At the peak of the roof the height is about 4ft 8in. I have three wind turbines on the roof and gable vents at the end of the duplex. I notice when the a/c first comes on it blow warm air before the cool starts coming out. Would adding radiant barrier help this issue? Also can I place the radiant barrier directly to the attic ceiling or do I have to attach it to the attic rafters? I'm finding different answers to this and I'm unclear on what would work best for my attic. Also due to my budget I would like to do this myself. Do you this is a DIY job? Also I have issues in my crawlspaces; joists that are cracked and weak joists. I know that sealing off the crawlspace with a vapor barrier is the way to go. Now my questions; 1) what the average cost to have the done? 2) what product would you use? 3) I live in Nashville, TN do you know of any companies in my area that does good work? 4) Do you think this is a DIY type of job? As you see I have issue with my home's insulation – helps for any suggestions you have.
1. That's a loaded question - one that I can't accurately answer. The best response is: it depends. On a lot of things. Typical installation costs range from $0.25 a sq ft installed to $3.00 a sq ft installed.
2. You just need an aluminum radiant barrier that is perforated: AtticFoil Radiant Barrier is perfect for this.
3. I don't have anyone in that area to recommend.
4. Yes, you can do this! Access around the attic is probably the single biggest factor people face when installing AtticFoil® Radiant Barrier. For more info, take a look at this page for tips and tricks: DIY Radiant Barrier Installation Tips and How to Staple Radiant Barrier Foil to the Rafters in Your Attic.
We have a metal roofed horse barn. The attic (loft( is about 35' X 60' and about 15 ft. tall at the peak of the gable. The flooring in the loft is 2 layers, the old wood with plywood on top. The loft has some venting provided where the metal roof attaches to the sides, but it gets hot in the loft and we leave the doors up there open a foot to provide more ventilation. The horse stalls and corrals below are just too hot. We keep a floor fan going for them, but that doesn't help a great deal. We live in NE Texas. Our only goal is to reduce the heat in the barn, especially in the horse stalls below. What is our best application(s) of a radiant barrier to reduce heat on the ground floor of that barn? Thanks.
The best way to do this is to add the radiant barrier so the foil is the layer closest to the exterior sheathing, with the proper air gap on at least one side of the foil. On non conditioned spaces like barns and metal buildings, there is nothing better to temper the heat gain that a radiant barrier - it will BLOCK 97% of radiant heat.
I have a 4/12 shed roof. My boyfriend used tech sheild and has no clue what to do now. It's collected a lot of condensation being as we are building this house ground up. It's been dripping water. How do I go about preventing that and how should I insulate it
Condensation forming is a good sign that there is not enough/proper ventilation moving across the underside of the roof. If the structure is a shed - you really won't find a great way to stop this since those type of buildings are meant to be non-conditioned/non-living spaces. The only way to really stop the condensation is to treat it like a home/living space whereby you SEAL, SEAL & SEAL the area up air tight and then insulate it with a radiant barrier and regular insulation toward the inside while having adequate ventilation moving through the attic space. Then you can condition the space with little concern for the condensation.
Does anyone make a radiant barrier product with the air gap internal and not requiring an external air gap. I would prefer it to be somewhat flexible if possible. I am currently using custom silvered glass panels with small spacers. I have considered using inflated silvered Mylar but long term reliably is a problem. I do not care about conduction or convection just infrared radiation.
Not that I'm aware of. The problem is that for a radiant barrier to work, it must have an air gap on one side or the other. Bubble foil products claim the bubbles offer that gap, but it's highly contested that the air in the bubbles isn't a true air space for the radiant barrier sides to work. To get a radiant barrier in use, you're going to have to use air gaps.
I live in a 22 year old cape cod home in Virginia. I am installing radiant barrier panels (Enerflex) in both the attic and knee walls. In the knee walls I currently have batt insulation, I plan on removing the batt insulation and installing the panels directly to the exterior wall rafters. Should I put the batt insulation back up against the new radiant barrier? The knee walls have the foam baffles attached already. So it would be foam baffles, radiant barrier panel, and the batt insulation.Thanks. Also should i pack insulation on the top and bottom or leave that open for air flow? I have sofit air vents as well. Thanks in advance. Nicole
This does not sound like it is going to work, mainly because of how Enerflex is installed. Essentially you'd have the baffle, the enerflex panel on top of that (with little to no air gap), then the insulation on top of the Enerflex. So the foil is sandwiched in between the baffle and the insulation, which means it WILL NOT WORK AS A RADIANT BARRIER.
Second, the radiant barrier should really be the LAST layer, so it uses the attic air space as it's required air gap. Take a look at this install page specifically for KNEE WALL applications: http://www.atticfoil.com/applications-a-uses/kneewalls.html
Hi. I found this stuff called Reach Barrier Silvertanium at home depot, and it says I can use it as house wrap? I live in the desert, so is that a good idea? Does it do the same thing Tyvek does? Will I still need to use the pink batts? Thanks so much! The more I read, the more I'm confused 🙁
Reach Barrier isn't going to give you as good results as AtticFoil since Reach only blocks 95% and AtticFoil blocks 97%. Plus, the cost of Reach Barrier is significantly more than AtticFoil Radiant Barrier. I can't say for Reach if it performs like Tyvek, but AtticFoil does; it provides an air barrier and a drainage plane for the exterior of the home. Here is the page on wrapping a house with radiant barrier that gives you all the info you need: http://www.atticfoil.com/applications-a-uses/house-wrap.html
My home built in 2013 already has radiant barrier osb but it is still very hot in my attic. Can I add your radiant barrier to the bottom side of my rafters to get better results?
Yes, you can add AtticFoil across the bottom of the rafters to further eliminate any heat that is entering the attic via the rafter ends. However I should point out that saying your attic is still very hot leads me to believe that you are describing the AIR temperature in your attic - which is directly related to the ventilation in your attic. You can add another layer of radiant barrier, but you should also examine your ventilation to make sure you have an adequate amount and that it's not obstructed by anything.
I am planning on building in Southeast Idaho! the house exterior walls will most likely be Raycore SIP panels. The Raycore panels have a radiant vapor barrier on both the inside and outside surfaces. I plan on placing an artificial stone on the exterior of the house. My first question is does the the exterior air gap need to be able to vent via weep holes at the bottom and some others means at the top, or will the air gap function properly if it can't chimney the heat out the top? My second question is what if anything do I need to do on the inside walls since there is foil there as well? Thank You, T. Buti
1. You don't HAVE to vent the air - the foil can work with a dead (non-vented) air space just as well as with a vented one.
2. You only need one layer of foil to get great results - a second layer will provide minimal benefit that close to the initial layer. That being said, you can just put insulation right up against it (so it is not acting as a radiant barrier) or you can go ahead and incorporate an air gap between the foil and the insulation to get a second layer of radiant heat block.
Hello Ed. I am building a house in Birmingham Alabama. I am going to use Tech shield foil faced plywood over OSB. Would you recommend using ridge vents or turbines to ventilate the attic? I prefer to use ridge vents as it would give ventilation the entire length of the roof. There will of course be soffit vents. Your thoughts. Thanks. Howard
Howard, I think you mean you will use TechShield INSTEAD of regular OSB? The TS product needs to face the attic (air) space. Many people also add a layer of radiant barrier inside the attic even with the TS product because of the thermal bridging that still takes place through the rafters. National testing has shown that foil over the rafter ends is the MOST effective way to get a radiant barrier up, with TechShield coming in second. Just some food for thought. Another option would be to use TS on the roof and then add a layer of AtticFoil to the gable ends, depending on what else you are using on them.
I think ridge vent is great as long as it's the high profile "baffled" type.
I live in Phoenix AZ and am building a new house. My question is when using a radiant barrier insulated foil installed on top of the waterproofing layer and under the wood battens for a roof tile, should I install the radiant barrier on the entire roof of the house or just the roof of the living areas? I would say the whole roof but don't know what the pros/cons would be. Thanks.
It's easiest to just do the whole roof, but obviously the overhangs and porch areas aren't going to see the same impact as the living spaces. If you're trying to be economical, then just do the living areas. Garages and porches do benefit from the foil though - in non conditioned spaces like those, there is nothing better to temper the heat than a radiant barrier.
I live in ft worth Texas and have the non perforated radiant barrier installed under the rafters. Should I be concerned with moisture in the attic?
In a vented attic space you should have a perforated product exactly because of moisture concerns. Why? Because you want dry walls and ceilings and the perforations allow for moisture to flow freely and escape/dry out. Over 70% (that's 7 out of 10) of home issues are due to mold, mildew, rot, decay, etc. and moisture is the common theme. Dry products don't grow mold, rot or decay; therefore, moisture in wall and ceiling assemblies is not a good thing. This is why in an attic you should choose a perforated product (that allows moisture vapor to pass through freely) over a solid product (that traps moisture behind it).
I have a three year old home outside of Houston. The attic is very high. It has the AC unit and water heater up there. The roof was made with the radiant barrier plywood sheathing. It gets very hot up there starting in May. I have also noticed mold on the outside of the AC unit, particularly where the conductors insert into the unit. There is blown in insulation. I would like to know if there is an additional insulation I can install to bring down the attic temperature?
You didn't specify, so I assume you're discussing the AIR temps in the attic? It sounds like, from what you described, that you need proper ventilation in your attic and you need more of it. Adequate ventilation will keep the air temps lower (close to ambient with the radiant barrier decking) and also keep thing DRY (ie. prevent moisture from accumulating, leading to mold/mildew).
Hi. I live in Nicaragua where it is 85-90 degrees year round. We have a white metal roof with steel trusses and purlins but no insulation. We would like to install a radiant barrier. What is the best way to attach the radient barrier to the underside of the steel purlins?
Truthfully there is really no easy way to attach radiant barrier to heavy gauge metal. One option is to attach something to the metal that you can staple the foil directly on to. Many of our customers have had good success by cutting 3/8" thick OSB or Plywood into strips about 1-2" wide. Then, they attach the wood strips to the metal framing with either with screws or adhesive. Once the wood stripping is up, you can easily use 1/4" staples and attach the foil to the wood. You can also try magnets or even zip-ties as well.
I am redoing an exterior wall (north texas) of a west facing enclosed porch. The walls do have insulation but we are removing the siding and sheathing. A friend has given me some Norbord sheathing with the one side that has the radiant barrier covering. He said this would be good to mitigate the heating I have in this area. I have a plywood siding and I assume I need an air gap between the two. I'm not sure about the number and placement of the furring strips.
Yes, you will need to use some furring strips to create the gap for the radiant barrier to work. You don't need many, since the sheathing is rigid and won't sag in between the strips. You could space them 2-4 ft apart and I'd stagger them whichever direction you add them, to keep air movement simple.
Hello. I will soon be replacing a roof and also having vinyl siding installed over masonite siding on our 1 1/2 story home in Mississippi. I plan to install radiant barrier in the attic - hopefully before summer. The house has gables so I plan to use radiant barrier on the vertical wall of the gable in the attic as well. My question is whether I can or need to take advantage of the vinyl siding install to improve the walls of the house by installing radiant barrier under the siding. In other words, is there enough potential gain to make it advantageous to do what is necessary to properly add radiant barrier to the exterior walls, under the vinyl siding? Also wondering if putting up radiant house wrap on top of the masonite siding, under the vinyl siding, would be a good idea even if not allowing the proper air space. The house is insulated fairly well, built in 1979, so I would like your opinion on whether or not I should make an attempt at putting radiant barrier on the walls, under the vinyl siding. The installer will add 1/4 foam board under the siding for a reasonable cost but I don't know if that is even worth it or if the effort really needs to be on radiant barrier. Finally, is the most opportunity to save on electric bills / blocking heat from the house by installing radiant barrier in the attic? If the walls are of minimal advantage, maybe I should skip trying radiant barrier under the siding and concentrate on the attic. Thanks for wading through all of this. I realize your advice will only be based on generalities on not on my specific home.
Yes - it's worth it! Read more here about Adding Radiant Barrier Behind Vinyl Siding to Reduce Heat Gain
Hi, We are installing radiant heat floors (hydronic) over pier and beam, and concrete. Can/should we use radiant barrier over either the plywood deck-over joist floors, and/or the concrete slab floors. Note that the wooden decking floors are insulated with spray foam underneath, over a crawl space. The house is in Central Texas. Thank you in advance for your answer!
Yes, you can use radiant barrier as part of the system in radiant heat flooring, as long as the foil is open to an air space. The page here details how to do this: http://www.atticfoil.com/applications-a-uses/radiant-heat-flooring/over-non-conditioned-space.html
About to replace a cedar shingle roof. Also plan to create attic living space . Can we place (drape) radiant foil directly under the shingles ie draped over the lathe? Impact on shingles. We have thought about also using foam board laying on the ceiling rafters above R19 batts. Any better ideas ?
Depending on the spacing of the laths, you might find that the majority of the foil is touching the laths than not, so in that case it probably wouldn't be worth the investment or effort. If you are making living space in the attic - then this is the way to install the foil to get the BEST results: Installing radiant barrier in a cathedral ceiling
Also do the knee walls of the living space: Using radiant barrier on knee walls of bonus rooms
I am building a pole barn in north Louisiana, andI am trying to figure out the best way to prevent condensation. I have concrete floors with vapor barrier underneath, and want to use a solid radiant barrier under the metal roof, to act as a vapor barrier, also. It will only be heated occasionally, and nothing but fans for summer time. Will attic foil work for this, or do I need to go with a insulated product to prevent condensation?
There is no product that is a solution to condensation forming on a vented structure, it's the PROCESS of construction that solves this. This means that no matter what product you use, if you don't seal the building up air tight (like a home) then it will still form condensation/moisture. Since it's not a living space, preventing moisture is near impossible; therefore the next best thing is to allow that moisture every chance to dry quickly. It means you need to have lots of ventilation in the barn (think air moving constantly throughout). This will keep the air temps down, but most importantly it will help keep the building DRY and prevent the roof dripping or the walls "sweating." Incorporating our foil into the roof and/or walls will help stop the heat gain, which is going to make the interior of the barn cooler (ideal is equal to ambient temp). So, get the foil on all sun-catching sides of the barn and then get as much ventilation moving through the barn as possible. This will help dilute humidity in the barn and keep it dry and the foil will keep the items under the roof cooler since they will not absorb radiant heat coming off the roof. Check out www.WareHouseFoil.com for full install instructions and photos.
Hi Ed! I am a 50+ yr old female trying to figure out a way to cool down a 30+ yr old covered patio which is attached to my house with 3 walls and has a single layer pleated aluminum panel sloped roof. I had 2 ceiling fans installed but they just blow the hot air from the ceiling down. I am wondering if elastomeric paint can be applied to the underside of the aluminum to help cut down on the radiated heat. Or is it only effective as a reflective covering applied on the topside of the roof. Also, is there any type of spray insulation that could be used on the underside that could help cool the area down? I am worried about developing leaks if someone walked on the roof to paint due to it's age. I would greatly appreciate your thoughts and and ideas on the problem. Thank you!
You can add some radiant barrier foil to the ceiling of the porch, to help block 97% of the radiant heat from the ceiling from emitting off the ceiling and into the space below. That will make a good difference. Then, you can also add the foil to the walls of the area - this has to be done in a way that the foil has an air gap, so it could require that you add some wooden furring strips to the top of the wall and bottom that the foil can be stapled to. If you choose this method of install, you can use a foil with a white vinyl backing, so the foil faces the wall with the foil open to the air space created by the furring strip and the white vinyl faces the porch area, where it looks nicer than a shiny silvery foil would. See the product here: http://www.atticfoil.com/products/48-wide-foil-white-vinyl-perforated.html
Here's to hoping you still read/reply to these. I am replacing siding on my house and am debating between plywood/quietbrace with perforated radiant barrier (plus 3/4" air gap) vs foilfaced OSB (techshield) vs foil faced rigid foam (r-matte). Also, for the air gap, I'm worried about using plain furring strips (untreated wood). Should I use 4" wide foam strips, ripped 4" wide pressure treated plywood, or maybe 4" wide treated deck boards?
Furring strips will work just fine, so would any of the other options you listed. Techshield is probably your best "bang for the buck" in terms of performance and cost.
I have a company trying to sell me a radiant barrier "40lb.,.29mm commercial grade 2 ply radiant barrier foil" They say they have a patient for the next five years and nobody else can sell this product. internet search got no hits on this product. Does such a product exhist. thanks Joe Marquette
At some point weight gives no additional benefit and in fact makes it harder to install. We sell millions of feet each year and the customer feedback speaks for itself. I recommend you get a FREE SAMPLE of our product so you can "try before you buy," if you have not already. Request the sample here: http://www.atticfoil.com/free-samples.html
My husband had radiant barrier and two fans in our attic in phoenix. It was installed we didn't do it. In phx in the summer is very dry but the humidity in the winter can get much higher. Our first winter with the radiant barrier (this winter) and my wood floors feel very sticky, shows every little print and looks almost like there is a film. Nothing else had changed in our home. Can the radiant barrier keep humidity in the house?
It's not likely since it's so far from the area in question. The radiant barrier installed should also have been perforated, so if it was, then it would be able to let moisture pass through to air out. Again, based on where the barrier was placed and what type of radiant barrier was used, it would have little to no effect on this.
Is there a difference between Silvertanium and Attic Foil radiant barriers? Also, I am preparing to install a metal roof over an existing composit shingle roof using a radiant barrier and furring strips between the shingles and metal roof. Do I need to be concerned about venting the air space between the radiant barrier and the metal roof?
Yes, the Reach Barrier (Silvertanium) is a METALIZED FILM but AtticFoil is a pure aluminum radiant barrier with a 97% reflectivity - it is a different material altogether. I actually used to sell metalized film (like Silvertanium) but stopped selling it because (1) it didn't sell well, (2) installers didn't like working with the material - it was harder to work with than the aluminum and (3) it had several instances of issues with delamination and oxidation, despite the claims that those were not an issue/problem. For more info on the oxidation issue, take a look at this page on the AtticFoil website: http://www.atticfoil.com/faq/80-faq/283-metalized-radiant-barrier-film-oxidation.html
I live in central New Jersey. I am considering a perforated version of your radiant barrier. My concern is during the winter? Will my attic trap moisture in cold season because the attic does get cold and my fear is the perforation will form ice and thus not allow flow of air. Is that a possibility? Any way to avoid it? Also, radiant barrier can keep an attic cool during a hot summer, but will it reduce heat in the attic in winter? Would that lead to higher heating bills in winter? Again I am in New Jersey so not sure if folks in my climate zone should not consider radiant barriers. Any advise will be greatly appreciated.
The only way your attic will "trap moisture" in the winter is if there is no ventilation. The foil should be laid on top of your insulation in the winter to stop the air transfer between the cold attic air and the warm air leaving the insulation/house. Watch this video to see it explained in detail: AtticFoil Radiant Barrier Over Insulation for Cold Climates.
So, install the foil on top of the insulation, just like the site instructs (pay attention to the warnings at the bottom of that installation page) and then make sure your attic is well vented to keep things DRY.
Wish I would have found your website before we had a barn built - I'm afraid we wasted money. Our building used single bubble foil insulation on both the ceiling and walls (right next to the metal). There does not appear to be a true gap (other than the spaces created by the ribbed metal siding). Will the spaces created by the ribbed metal be sufficient to radiate the heat back out or did we waste a ton of money of single bubble foil insulation? Thank you.
Probably not a complete waste, but more like a probably a drop in effectiveness. It really depends on how much "open space" or "non-contact" with the foil you have.
I want to install radiant barrier on my exterior walls then vinyl siding, my question is the house already has a vapor barrier,I can not find perforated barrier in my area ,can I use non perforated barrier and leave a 1 to 2 inch gap where barrier would overlap
No, I would not recommend using a vapor barrier out there. Where are you located? We ship all over the USA (and Canada) from AtticFoil.com so you can order a perforated foil and have it sent to your door.
how to create an airspace if im am replacing asphalt shingles
The simplest, though maybe not most cost effective, way is to add the radiant barrier to the topside of the roof deck, then add furring strips (wooden strips) across the deck and then add a second layer of plywood to attach the shingles to. This creates the air gap needed by the foil, but still allows you to use shingles. Another option is to take OFF the deck and add foil FIRST, then put the deck back on top and re-shingle. This puts the foil open to the air space below (inside the attic) and it will work this way.
I have a cathedral ceiling. can I install the readiant barrier on the finished interior below the insulation without venting and expect a significant reduction in heat gain? The room ceiling radiates heat from the hot California sun into the room. The existing insulation is r-19 or less. The installation will reflect the heat...back up to the insulation which will retain it in the space??? i do not want ot remove the interior finish and re-insulate. I would put some kind of light weight ceiling finish over the radiant barrier with an air space.
Can you do this? Yes. Is it the MOST effective way to add it? Not really, but if you are not wanting to remove the ceiling and start the process over then this is a good option. The foil is not going to increase the heat coming through the roof or passing through the insulation. The foil will simply prevent any of that heat from emitting into the room below, as long as you install it with the proper air gap on one side. There is no way to really trap heat - heat will always move from hot to cold; it will find a way out.
What is trhe difference between your foil and techshield? New construction and I'm lerning a lot from your site. Thanks,
The main difference is in HOW they work - one uses emissivity and the other uses reflectivity to block heat gain. Read more here: TechShield vs AtticFoil Radiant Barrier
Hi! We are building a home that is 1/2 mile from a cell tower. Would it be helpful to have a radiant barrier on walls & roof to keep away the harmful radiation? Thank you in advance!
The amount of RF energy from a cell tower is thousands of times less than the limits for safe exposure, so it shouldn't be an issue at all. Foil might help, but this is not the intended use for AtticFoil so I can't say to what extent it will be the solution you are seeking.
Hi again Ed. Hey, I was just browsing and it is so funny because I found a lot of my answers to my questions when I wrote you almost two years ago. I just wrote you with questions about twenty minutes ago. I'm definitely not spray foaming my ceiling and want to use fiberglass. Maybe of you could just reiterate and maybe tell me like how big of an air gap do I need between my insulation and the foil backed sheathing and if condensation is a possibility. There are can lights but are supposedly sealed and I will be sealing any gaps around drywall and cans, where they meet. Sorry, I had forgotten you wrote. Maybe you can just shoot me an email I you don't want to post my new questions. Thanks, Nick
In a cathedral ceiling you want at least a 1/2" or 3/4" air gap between one side of the foil and any other material, even insulation.
finishing my attic to livable space, planned to use Styrofoam channels then r-19 fiberglass insulation, but in NC so felt the radiant barrier would be good to reflect more heat with the fiberglass insulation together...so, question, can enerflex panels be used first (creating a 3' air channel) then adding r-19 fiberglass next? I am trying to determine if the enerflex panels give me a advantage being both the radiant barrier and air channel, otherwise, I would have to do spacers, a radiant barrier, then the fiberglass...trying to do 2 steps vs 3, thoughts?
In this case the Enerflex could offer you the benefit of air channels and radiant barrier, but they also take up a LOT of space in the rafter cavity, so you don't have much room for the R-value fiberglass. It may not be the answer you wanted to hear, but you'd be better off using spacers, radiant barrier and then having room to add your fiberglass on top.
Greetings Guru! I have read (on the spec sheet for Reflectix) that one can achieve close to R20 in a crawl space by lining the whole cavity with a radiant barrier. I don't have a crawl space but a 40' triangular shotgun attic with a 24' width and a 13.5' apex. I am considering this: lining the roof rafters 2" Tuff-R (R13), mounting 2x2's on top of that, and finally mounting 1/2" plywood (cause I like wood grain walls) on top of the 2x2s. Here's the question: if I glue a layer of attic foil on the inside of the plywood I will have created a 1.5" airspace lined with radiant barriers. Am I right in thinking that this will achieve the type of R value gained by lining a crawl space in radiant barrier? -Josh B.
Whatever the collective R-value of the materials you use in your construction amount to will be the r-value you have. Radiant barrier does not have an r-value on its own; read more about that here: R-value for Radiant Barrier?
Is radiant barrier roof sheathing waterproof?
Liquid water won't pass through the perforated foil, but water vapor molecules (water in air) can. Neither liquid water nor water vapor can pass through the solid foil.
My contractor is suggesting I put the radiant barrier in my tv room to help on noise control will this have much effect
Radiant barrier has been used in SCIFs to both block EMF signals and to help with sound proofing, but it is usually used in conjunction with other materials. I suggest you look in to some other options if you need soundproofing; spray foam, foam board or traditional batt insulation would probably provide that benefit better than just a layer of aluminum radiant barrier.
I have a Derksen Portable Building that we are turning into our home. We have installed the radiant barrier as you demonstrated in the cathedral ceiling video, but my issue is that the rafters are 2x6 and that doesn't leave room for the correct R value of traditional insulation the only one that seems to fit correctly is R13. My question is will the radiant barrier and R13 be sufficient or do I have any other option. I live in North East Texas.
If you are under code to fit a certain R value, then the only option you have is to add depth to the wall cavity so you can fit it in there. The foil has no R-value, since it is a radiant barrier and not a conductive heat barrier; it will allow the R-value material to perform more optimally and closer to its true R-value, but in terms of actual R-value, it adds none.
I would like to know if a bubble wrap-foil radiant barrier function well when directly attached to galvanize iron metal roof in hot climate.If so, should the bubble wrap side be attached to the roof while the foil side facing the empty space below? Would it be better if I use a double foil instead of one sided foil? What bubble size wrap should I choose for this type of radiant barrier insulation configuration? Thank you.
Bubble foil works, but why pay 4 times the money for the same benefit as a regular radiant barrier? The foil is doing all the reflecting of the radiant heat and the bubbles are usually just along for the ride. For a metal roof over a residence, I'd attach the foil along the bottom side of the rafters (as usual) and leave a nice big air gap between the underside of the roof and the foil. If it's for a metal building - then the same application would apply. Check out the installation guides for commercial applications on my new site: www.WareHouseFoil.com
Is Radiant Barrier effective on the firewalls in a townhome attic?
For a radiant barrier to be effective at blocking radiant heat, it needs to have a radiant heat source and an air gap on at least one side (doesn't matter if the air gap is on the same side as the heat source or the opposite side).
I live in Tx near the coast in a rv, I am curious to know if there is a product that could be rolled out over rv and removed when not needed or windy tks.
To my knowledge there isn't a pre-fabricated product like this, but I know of several people who've made similar prototypes with good results.
I believe the site answered my concern, but we just had our roof redone, the contractor suggested the low e insulation. We have a flat roof, and we are suspecting the low e was not installed correctly. The house is warmer than ever and fails to cool even when temperatures are not as hot. Is there a manual, installation guide, someone who could tell us if the sheets were not installed correctly? I am almost positive they were not. We appreciate the help.
It's pretty simple - if the sheets are not open to an air gap/space, then they're not performing as a radiant barrier. When foil is touched/sandwiched on both sides it is a CONDUCTOR, not a radiant barrier/reflector. So if the low-e was just layered on and covered up, it's offering zero benefit toward stopping radiant heat.
I have a 30' X 40" metal shop building, it is insulated with "bubble wrap". I am trying to cool the shop with a 28,500 BTU window unit, that does pretty well until it gets really hot. I was wondering if adding another layer of bubble wrap insulation to the bottom side of the roof supports would be beneficial, or cause a problem.
Adding another layer of the same product right below the first layer will offer little to no added benefit. It definitely won't justify the cost for the additional material!
I have a stock of EPs 4" iso board. I have tore all drywall out of my house and was thinking of how I could properly layer radiant barrier with the 4" board to get the best results. Also I'm concerned with moisture and any effects the EPs may create. Thanks so much..from central Florida
If you're doing the inside of exterior walls, you'd want the foil closest to the outside. This page details an excellent way to build out a wall using foil radiant barrier and foam board: https://goo.gl/v6FjjI
I have removed the walls in my bedrooms down to the studs, exterior sheathing is visible. I want to install a radiant barrier between the studs next to the exterior sheathing. House is oriented to where it is in full sun for at least six hours per day. I cannot remove the exterior siding. Is it possible and what material would you recommend. Thanks
With the space gutted you're in the perfect position to add radiant barrier to the walls. Complete install instructions are on this page: http://www.atticfoil.com/applications-a-uses/walls/outside.html
is radiant barrier foil the same as radiant thermo insulation with foam in between foil? my understanding is the foam acts as a a air space so that when it is installed between the single and felt, it becomes an effective radiant heat barrier.
In both products the FOIL is doing the work to block radiant heat transfer.
Note: Foam is not an air space, foam takes up space - it has mass. An air space must be just that: a space filled only by AIR. otherwise the foil will not work.
I have a stock of EPs 4" iso board. I have tore all drywall out of my house and was thinking of how I could properly layer radiant barrier with the 4" board to get the best results. Also I'm concerned with moisture and any effects the EPs may create. Thanks so much..from central Florida
This is a pretty common installation - you can see how to properly layer the materials here: https://goo.gl/v6FjjI
I have seen cabins and rooms walled with shiny corrugated roofing metal. Does this work as a radiant barrier to keep heat/cool in? How about moisture problems? Thanks
The roof itself is not likely 100% pure aluminum (i.e. it's an aluminum alloy); therefore the roof is more like a shiny bumper on a car - it's HOT no matter which side you're on. If you go with perforated radiant barrier foil, you won't trap moisture since the foil breathes and allows moisture in vapor form to pass through to dry out.
No, it's not true. I explain the science behind how radiant barrier works & show you roof temp readings here to prove it: Does Radiant Barrier Foil Damage Roof Shingles?
We paid $13000 to have a radiant barrier put in our 3000sf home. I know now that we got skanked. The barrier stops about 4 ft from the eave and the ridge vent is sealed. They sprayed the 9 inches of insulation with the pump in the truck like you warned in one of your videos. Anxious to see how it settles. Do we need to add more to the barrie eave? or is this adequate? Do we need to open the ridge vent? Why didn't we find you before we did this.?
Depending how high the roof is, 4 ft may not be all that bad (still it's a shoddy install for $13,000 no doubt), most people that DIY get closer - about 6" from the ridge and eaves. I'd get a probe thermometer up there and measure some air temperatures. If you have good airflow the air under the foil should read within 10 degrees of ambient. I'd definitely recommend having any vents opened and unobstructed to maintain proper airflow which does help temp, but more importantly helps keep the attic dry and moisture from accumulating.
I plan on knocking down the old stucco & siding, then use the TechShield OSB radiant barrier as wall sheathing around my whole single story home prior to getting it re-stucco'd, is this ok to do? If so, does the foil face in towards the studs?
Without an air space, aluminum will not act as a radiant barrier and block radiant heat. You can't stucco on top of it. You'd have to face the foil inside and have an air gap BEFORE you put insulation in the wall cavities.
I already installed OSB plywood to my roof system. Is there a way to add radiant barrier underneath (between between the rafters )with a separate roll system?
Yes, you can just staple the foil to the bottom of the rafters, below the roofing, inside the attic space as shown here: https://atticfoil.com/index.php/installation/staple-up-installation/
Can radiant barrier — specifically the foil— contribute to attic noise where outdoor noise comes in from soffits?
To our knowledge, this has never been reported by anyone as being a "side effect" of adding radiant barrier.
I will be using perforated radiant barrier in the headliner of my Jeep. Having a dead air space is pretty hard because it needs to be attached in several places. Can I use a dense foam glued directly to the inside of the hard top followed by the reflective barrier, attached with double sided tape, to leave more "open" area,( would covering it completely in spray adhesive, and adhering it to the foam take a way all effectiveness?) then more foam and fabric on the bottom layer. Will this be effective? Some barriers come with bubble wrap attached. But for this application I would need the bubble wrap on the reflective side right? Would bubble wrap be more effective then foam? Also if it's touching the reflective side will it still work?
Unfortunately there's just no way around it - there has to be an air gap on one side of the foil surface in order to block radiant heat. If there's no air gap, it won't work. It doesn't matter if it's my foil or some foil from another manufacturer - aluminum won't block radiant heat unless there is an air gap on the foil side. I don't see how you can achieve this in a headliner for a car, so your best bet may to just use the rigid foam board and try to slow some of the heat down via r-value.
Can I put radiant barrier right over drywall then re drywall with a 1 inch air gap? This is a roof wall.
Yes, as long as the foil has one side facing an air gap, it will work!
I am sure that I want a radiant barrier on the underside of my roof rafters but need a couple of questions answered. I have a home built in 1941 near Evansville IN, with 2"x6" roof rafters at 24" OC, and it now has a metal roof. There is also approx. 12"-14" of blown-in on the 2x6 ceiling which is at 16" OC. 1. Would you go with a bubble-sandwiched between 2 radient barrier layers (and if so would that help with the sound transmision) or go with an extra tough non bubble product? 2. Would you go with a perforated or a non-perforated product? Much thanks
1. No, I would never recommend bubble-foil in a residential attic application.
2. In an attic you should always choose perforated. Which is probably the #1 reason you shouldn't use bubble foil in a residential attic - it's a vapor barrier.
Can it be painted?
If you paint it, you will "clog" the perforations and the material will no longer be permeable/breathable, which is strongly recommended inside a home or attic space. If you want a different look besides the silvery color, consider the Foil + White material that's aluminum on one side and white on the other: https://atticfoil.com/index.php/products/48-wide-radiant-barrier-foil-white-vinyl-perforated/
Just had radiant shield installed. It's October and 60degrees outside and my house is hot as hell. I have to keep the AC on. Please help!!!
Working on the assumption that the radiant barrier was installed CORRECTLY, you may be experiencing what is known as The Spring/Fall effect: https://www.radiantbarrierguru.com/the-spring-fall-effect-can-radiant-barrier-work-against-you/
I live in St. Louis MO and would like your input on how to properly apply a radiant barrier to my home. I have attic space running down the front and rear of my entire 2nd floor and another attic above the 2nd floor. The front and back attics connect to the upper attic via the roof rafters. The interior ceiling height is 8' but the wall height is only 6' there is drywall at a 45 degree angle is attached to the roof rafters on that 45 degree angle. This is the space that connects the attics.The floor dimension front to back is 14 feet and the roof dimension is 10. (sorry for the lengthy word picture) I want to install a radiant barrier to the underside of the rafters and I'm not sure how to go about it given this connection between the attics. Also do you recommend adding radiant barrier to the backsides of the interior walls in the attic space, currently there are paper faced insulation batts in there with the paper facing the room. Thanks
just staple the AtticFoil to the rafters (this allows air flow between the foil layer and the roof deck up to the ridge) so that air flows normally, as if the foil wasn't there and you'll be all set. For more information on leaving gaps in the installation for proper air movement, see this video on our website:
Proper Gaps for Airflow When Installing Radiant Barrier
And yes, you should add foil to the knee walls of those rooms, especially if you can't get it on the slope of the roof next to those rooms. Details here: How to Install AtticFoil on Kneewalls
I've multiple areas if foil delamination - is this due to moisture/ water intrusion? Have photos available
It's definitely possible. I've seen lots of examples of metalized film delaminating due simply to the fact that it's perforated, but moisture can also compromise a foil radiant barrier too. I'd recommend contacting the manufacturer you purchased it from to get more guidance on how to proceed.
I am wanting to keep the heat down in my attic and i began installing bubble wrap type radiant barrier just below my galvanized roof. I then put insulation below it. Since it is not perforated, will i have moisture issues? My ventilation is through the ridges all the way down both sides of my house coming from the ridge vent up top. I need to know before continuining my install. Thank you. Paul
Bubble foil used in residential applications can result in issues with trapping moisture. I can't say for sure how the product will affect your home - there are several variables at play in this scenario. Your best chance is to get plenty of unobstructed ventilation in and around the foil, so the area can easily dry out if moisture does form.
Good morning- I live in south Louisiana cajun. My building is 16x20x8 the roof will be closed in. The roof has corrugated tin barrier paper and osb on 16"rafts 24"apart. On the inside I will put wiring instructions then 7/16 osb barrier facing upwards toward tin then sheet rock. The walls will be the same. My question is the floor is 24" off ground built with seals then 2x6 16 " apart then barrier pepper on top is 1/2 " plywood I like to put 7/16 osb barrier with 1/2" plywood does the barrier need to be facing downwards are towards the inside of house? Any suggestions are deeply appreciated
First things first - no radiant barrier works without an air gap. You have to have an air gap on the foil side of the material or else you're just wasting time and money. So your plan for the OSB radiant barrier plywood facing up, and being covered by your roofing materials isn't gonna perform as a radiant barrier. Same for the side walls - you gotta get that air gap or else it's void. My best recommendation is for you to find some time to set aside maybe 1-2 hours and go through the www.AtticFoil.com website to familiarize yourself with the install methods and the FAQs. I promise, it will be worth your time and a huge help to make sure you do it right and have results that make a difference!
I have just heard of a product called superglo. It is foam insulation with the radiant barrier on both sides. I have a vaulted ceiling with 2x6 rafters, a ridge vent and was wondering if this is a good way to go?
That could work as long as the foil side is facing an air gap (and ideally closest to the roof). As far as cost and ease of installation go though, you might consider the standard cathedral ceiling method shown here: Installing Radiant Barrier in a Cathedral Ceiling.
We bought a house that has 4 attic areas. One in the middle is a room, two on either side are unfinished, with loose insulation on the floor (under the floorboards), between the roof rafters (held in with cardboard), and on the wall shared with the finished room (held in with light fabric). The fourth room is a roof (90 degrees from the main roof) that covers the front house entry porch and inside entry. It has an insulated floor like the other areas and no insulation between the roof rafters or on the wall facing the front of the house. Our first winter here shows serious ice damming occurring on this small roof /4th attic room, little to moderate ice damming in the other roof areas. The first summer it was uncomfortably hot everywhere. Our question is thus, how we could best use attic/roofing foil to help reduce the summer heat and the winter ice damming. Thank you for your assistance, christina
Great question! I actually talk about this common issue of ice damming on this blog and how using AtticFoil can help. You can read the article here: https://www.radiantbarrierguru.com/how-does-superperf-radiant-barrier-help-with-ice-dams-on-my-roof/
I have just installed radiant tubing under the floor with a crawl space underneath. I know I should be installing r19 foil faced insulation in order to isolate the heat to the room above. I really don't want to mess with fiberglass so I am thinking of using rolls of foil faced with 1/2" closed cell foam. I will staple it to the bottom of the 2x8 floor joists. I know the r value isn't r19 but do you think it will suffice? I live in Denver, CO. Thanks.
Will it suffice? Yeah, it should be ok. As you know, it's not optimal, but if you get the insulation installed air tight and cover everything, it should perform fine and it will be better than nothing!
Can the radiant barrier be install in between the ceiling joist and on top of the roof decking in a cathedral ceiling application where minimal insulation can be used?
You can use radiant barrier in a cathedral ceiling but you HAVE to have an air gap on one side of the foil. This page is the detailed installation page on how to install it correctly: https://atticfoil.com/index.php/applications/cathedral-ceilings-hotmixed-climates/
I've had success with radiant barrier in the knee walls of the bonus room and upstairs bedrooms which has the downstairs air handler and some ductwork. Now, I am trying for the attic with the upstairs air handler and ductwork. The problem I have is that my house is L-shaped. I can get to L side which houses the air handler and ductwork. The L side over the bonus room would be extremely difficult to get to because I would have to crawl about 40 feet over insulation on drywall ceilings with all my supplies and radiant barrier and a head flashlight due to lack of light. What would be my options? Could I just wall it off with radiant barrier or block insulation? Should I just leave it be, let the air do its thing, and get what I can? Both parts of the L-shape have soffits to ridge vents. Right now, the heat in the attic over the bonus room is not really affecting the temperature in the actual bonus room. The radiant barrier in the knee wall reduced the heat in the actual bonus room so much that it is cool enough to not need to run the wall A/C unit. Will the heat just exit out the ridge vent over the bonus room or will it affect the area where the air handler is if I don't try to block the area? Thank you!
I would not recommend partitioning off that section from the rest of the attic - there's a reason they're connected. I would just cover what you can with radiant barrier and just let the rest go.
Hi Ed. Could you tell me if TechShield has any R value rating ? Thanks, BP
Radiant barrier on its own has no r-value. I can't find where LP publishes a claimed r-value for their Techshield.
My roof was just replaced & decking showed there were leaks in 3 areas. I have radiant barrier in my attic which evidently kept the ceilings dry. Do I need to replace the Radiant Barrier in those areas?
It's up to you. If they are large areas, then you may be more likely to replace it for the best results. Otherwise, if they are small, you can just leave it as is and not worry about it.
I live in north carolina. I have a single roof that sits over a heated space and over and outside porch ( completely open). The attic floor is 2x10s that extend over the heated space and over the porch. The heated space portion of the 2x10s is fully insulated and they are bare over the porch. I am going to run the foil on the 2x8 roof rafters down to the floor on both sides. The back side ends over heated space and the front side ends over the front if the porch. Should I insulate the space over the porch and run foil on top of the porch rafters? Since it's just one continous attic floor it's confusing how to handle the area over the porch.
It won't make a big difference either way since the porch is non-conditioned, but yes, you can go ahead and go all the way out over the porch, most people do that. This will help cut down on feeling heat radiate off the porch ceiling into the area below.
My house, built in the 60s, recently flooded. As such, the bottom 2 feet of dry wall was removed revealing a radiant foil barrier in the walls (as opposed to fiberglass batts). Can the radiant barrier be patched/tapped together, or do I need to remove all the drywall and go back in with fiberglass batts? Thanks!
I can't speak to the condition or type of radiant barrier in the walls since I can't see it. It may be suitable for re-use, or it may be time to upgrade it. In EITHER case you definitely need REGULAR r-value insulation in the walls. This page shows you how a wall cavity should be done to use both radiant barrier foil and r-value insulation: https://atticfoil.com/index.php/applications/inside-exterior-walls-hotmixed-climates/
Hi, In reference to new construction, I wanted to install a radiant barrier on the trusses but not the standard foil only barrier but rather the 2" thick foam board with the aluminum foil on one side. Is there an issue with cutting the 2" foam to a 22.5" width and inserting it in between each truss keeping it shimmed and spaced 1.5" away from the roof sheeting? It will be secured on the bottom side of the truss with 1x2x8 across the trusses. If it matters, it will be a shingle roof. Also, should the foil side face down toward the living space if the plywood sheeting being used on the roof is NOT radiant sheeting. Tampa, Fl. Thanks in advance, Rob
Rob, you can do this, but it's not the most effective way to add foil to an attic. The foam board won't really help with its r-value if it's that far up (in between the rafters) unless you're converting your attic space to a living space. If it will remain a non-conditioned attic, then you should keep r-value items (like foam board) on the attic floor and radiant barriers up on the rafters. For a traditional non-conditioned attic, I'd recommend you staple to the bottom of the truss for full coverage - from the heat coming in between the trusses and from the heat emitting off the end of the trusses themselves. Install info here: https://atticfoil.com/index.php/installation/staple-up-installation-trusses/
Great info, Thanks....My question: my home in east central florida has an attached garage with a 3 sided hip roof, ridge vent, and perforated soffit. I've installed radiant barrier on the underside of the trusses that are parallel to the vent, but if I install it on the remaining side, because of the intersection of the ridges, the airflow path would be blocked where trusses intersect. Should I just cut the radiant barrier short a few inches at each intersection?
Yes, you should cut additional holes or slits into the radiant barrier so air flow can continue like normal.
I live in hot dry L.A area, single story home. My attic floors have mostly R19 fibreglass insulation with plywood over the top. I decided to try to cut down on AC bill and put fibreglass batts between the 2x6 rafters and then double faced bubble foil over the insulation allowing openings near the soffit vents. I even put exhaust fans under the two roof vents and one in the gable opening. No noticable change this past couple months since. But now with warm weather starting, I'm noticing the temperature inside the house is warming up in the afternoon approaching the outside temp. I'm questioning whether I screwed up by putting the batt insulation between the rafters with the foil making contact being staple directly to the underside of the rafter? Can you please comment Thanks
Yeah, I would definitely take the batts off the rafters - really they should never go up there unless you're converting the attic into livable space and the roofline will be part of the ceiling. So pull those down. Second, bubble foil isn't the right product for an attic either. That belongs in a metal building or a shed or something, but not a residential attic with wood. That product can trap moisture (I get it that LA is relatively dry climate, but a home releases moisture from breathing, cooking, bathing, cleaning, etc.) and trapping moisture is a bad idea. This page will show you about how you should staple up foil in an attic and the proper air gaps to leave: https://atticfoil.com/index.php/installation/staple-up-installation/
Hi, I have an unfinished closet that shares a wall with the outside of the home. It currently has rolled bat insulation between the 2x4's on the exposed wall, but it still gets unbearably hot in the summer. I was wondering if I could staple some left over radiant barrier to the exposed 2x4's, directly over the insulation. My questions specifically are: 1) would this help keep the space cool; and 2) is it ok to install radiant heat barrier in this way (basically sandwiching insulation between the barrier and the wall? Thanks so much. Stephen Goss
Good question! You can use the radiant barrier in this space to help cut down on that heat gain. I wasn't totally clear if by
"exposed wall" you mean from the attic/crawlspace side you see the batt insulation in between the studs or if you meant the closet is open inside and you see the wall contents. Assuming you meant the former, you can add foil over the insulation and have it so the insulation is encased in the wall with the foil holding it in and the foil is open to the attic/crawlspace. Take a look at this page for install info and some photos: https://atticfoil.com/index.php/applications/knee-walls/
Good morning from north carolina. So I have a old house 1947 . Big attic no duct work.can I just do the west facing part of attic with radiant barrier since it gets full sun most of the day
Absolutely! For best results, you'd cover the whole area under the roof, but because the foil has a cumulative effect, you can start with the west-facing wall for now.
I'm looking to add radiant barrier to the sides of my garage and the roof are. I have a few concerns. If the radiant barrier is touching the floor up to the top of the wall, in the open air space, is there higher chance of mold and mildew? Maybe from water fro outside hitting it close to vents? Wouldn't want to have mold growing behind the drywall and the barrier. Second, best ways to do a open garage attic. Close it off? Put on roof inside and straight across the top beams to make it more like a room? How would you do, barrier and drywall or something g light and similar looking? Thanks.
In a non-conditioned space, you can leave lots of gaps for air flow. This should minimize your chances of moisture being trapped and give it every chance to dry out.
If I already have radiant barrier OSB installed years ago when installing a new roof & deck, can I still install the foil Radiant barrier? Will they interfere with each other? Thanks.
Yes, you can use both in the same attic; we have many customers who do this and see good results. The foil on the bottom of the deck and the foil stapled on the rafters do not conflict with one another.
We're doing a research project for our local university in eastern NC. We are adding solar and looking at cooling primarily but also trying to see if we can gain enough heat retention to extend the growing season. We are looking at radiant barriers as a lower cost option to retrofit hoop houses that have been converted to greenhouses. By putting the radiant barrier on the underside of the hoops we can have about a 2" air gap. My question is (I think this is the right question) is that enough of an airgap to retain heat in the colder months? We're using a R-1.7 film (U =.6) product called Solawrap that attaches by a track on top of the hoop. Any guidance you can give us is greatly appreciated. Pug Gutridge
That should work - the minimum required air space for a radiant barrier to work is about ¾ of an inch, so 2" will be fine!
Hello. I live in southern Georgia. I'm more worried about keeping the heat out in the AC and then the winters which don't last all that long and Don't get that cold. I'm converting a 32' x 12' lofted barn into a tiny house. It has a metal gambrel roof with 2z4 rafters. I'm trying to utilize as much space as I can in the loft, so I'm applying sheet rock directly to the rafters. Only leaves about 3 1/2 inches of space between the rafters in the decking below the metal roof. I was planning on using batts, but after doing a little reading it seems like a radiant barrier may be the way to go. I was going to use double sided reflective barrier with the bubbles in between. I'm just having mixed information about whether I should staple directly to the underside of the decking, or staple to the rafters and put the sheet rock directly over that. Please help.
This page details all you need to know about using radiant barrier in a vaulted-style roof: https://atticfoil.com/index.php/applications/cathedral-ceilings-hotmixed-climates/
You need to find a way to combine radiant barrier with insulation (r-value) especially if you're trying to keep heat out! Check out the page and instead of batt insulation, I'd suggest maybe 2 layers of rigid foam to maximize the r-value you can achieve in the small space.
In my attic the air ducts run on the jousts . Do I just go over them with my radiant barrier?
I am thinking about using a radiant barrier over the sides and roof of my enclosed heated pole barn that is being built. I have the outside of the barn wrap with tyvek. I plan on putting the radiant barrier between the gurts that the metal attaches to for a 1 1/2 in air gap. My question is will the perforated radiant barrier sweat and cause the insulation on the inside to become wet.
You should not have any issues. Because our perforated foil is a great air barrier AND you have Tyvek, it's not likely you're gonna have warm moist air touching the colder metal in cooler months. I think you'll be fine with your plan. Send us some photos as you install - we'd love to take a look.
We have radiant barrier in our shed my husband wants to drill some holes in it to hang tools and plaques will that affect it at all
Nope, drilling a few holes isn't going to change how the foil is working to block heat, especially not if he has an air space behind the foil (between the foil and the siding).
I am going to have erected a 30k sf commercial tent in a theme park. Can I use Radiant Barrier as an addition to the insulation I plan to use? This will be located in S. Texas close to San Antonio.
Sure can! As long as the foil side of the radiant barrier has a ½" air space on that side (vented or dead air - it doesn't matter), then it will work! We had a customer do a similar application for his tent for the Burning Man conference and he said the results were phenomenal!
Ed, First, thank you in advance for your help!! I have a 22 X 21 metal building that is basically a garage. I live in Georgetown TX, and was wondering if I use the aluminum Radiant Barrier on the walls and roof, would I benefit further if I then have Foam Insulation sprayed over that?? OR ... would one or the other be better to use by them selves. I've never used either of these systems before. Thanks again!! Michael
On non conditioned spaces like garages, there is nothing better to temper the heat gain that a radiant barrier. These structures will greatly benefit from the addition of our foil on any, and all, sides that catch direct sunlight - so the space above the garage, the garage door, & the garage walls. Furthermore, since it's not conditioned, you don't really need to have regular or foam insulation in there (that's why they are built without insulation), just the radiant barrier.
Check out www.WareHouseFoil.com for install videos and photos of buildings like this with radiant barrier installed.
does too many nail holes in the tech shield radiant barrier compromise its effectiveness?
Not really, it should not be so much that it would make a noticeable difference in the performance.
Can I install radiant barrier against sheetrock, then lay batt insulation?
The radiant barrier WILL NOT WORK unless at least one side is facing an air space. Sandwiching it between insulation and sheetrock will not give it the air space it needs in order to work properly. This page shows how it must be done when installing inside a wall: http://www.atticfoil.com/index.php/applications/inside-exterior-walls-hotmixed-climates/
this product is on my tiny house roof on bottom of the osb sheeting with metal roofing on top of that...it sweats really bad...what can i do to fix this....i bought it this way
If it's sweating it's because your tiny home is not airtight on the ceiling. You will need to have the floor of the attic (AKA the ceiling of the home) air tight to prevent any warm moist air from escaping and hitting that cold foil surface. Then, in the space where the roof is, make sure there is lots of ventilation to keep the space cold, so the condensation won't form.
Can I use a radiant barrier as a vapor barrier under my mobile home
If it's a SOLID radiant barrier then yes, you can.
Hello, I have a techshield roof. Recently our area suffered a sever hail storm and my insurance company is paying to have new shingles installed. My concern is that all the original nails holding down the original shingles will be removed leaving holes in the roof decking and the techshield. And, new nails will puncture the techshield for the reproofing. How will this compromise my radiant barrier? Is new roof decking with new techshield in order? Thank you Edward Sonnen
It's not going to be a big deal - no need to replace the TechShield.
Hello, Few years ago we converted our attic space in to a den/storage space. Unfortunately we did not know about radiant barrier then and nor did our contractor, he just installed normal insulation on the attic ceiling, but since we live in northeast, the attic is very very very cold in winters and super hot in summer. Now since the attic is all done is there anything we can do to improve the situation?
You can try to add some more r-value, but it's an uphill battle to be honest. This page gives more info on ways you can try to improve rooms that are too hot,
Hot Rooms In My House – How To Make Them More Comfortable – Part 1: https://www.radiantbarrierguru.com/hot-rooms-in-my-house-how-to-make-them-more-comfortable-part-1/
I have a detached garage that is wood framing and wrapped in house wrap with an all steel exterior. I would like to insulate it with mineral wool or fiberglass batts but plan to leave the building unconditioned. Will adding a radiant barrier in the stud spaces, beneath the house wrap cause a moisture issue between the two? It is my understanding that it would be incorrect to insulate and then add the radiant barrier on the interior side of the wall because it would trap moisture.
Yes, the foil should be closest to the exterior with an air space of at least a ½" or more. Full details on how to do this type of install can be found here: Metal Building Insulation - Retrofitting Existing Buildings: https://bluetexinsulation.com/pages/existing-construction-metal-framed-buildings-installation
Hello I am in a huge hurry for this answer because my friend is coming to put a new roof on in 3 weeks and I have to figure this out. I live in the Pacific Northwest. The house is always cold. Keeping the warm air IN the house is the goal . So far all your videos are geared toward keeping a house cooler in hot areas. I want to install a metal roof over my existing asphalt shingle roof. Is it Good to roll the Radiant Barrier out directly on top of the existing asphalt shingles, then screw (one layer of) 2x2s down through the shingles, through the radiant barrier, and into my roof deck, then follow with my metal roofing panels? Also using two by twos only provides one and a half inches of airspace. Is this definitely enough? Thank you for your time I sure hope to hear back from you soon.
If heat RETENTION is your goal, you want the radiant barrier closest to the INSIDE of the home, just like I show here: https://atticfoil.com/index.php/applications/cathedral-ceilings-cold-climates/
and here: https://atticfoil.com/index.php/applications/inside-exterior-walls-cold-climates/
Yes, you CAN add the foil how you are proposing, that's a totally fine application but unless you have cathedral ceilings, you want to hold the heat in much closer to where it's coming out from. Does that make sense?
Hello I submitted PART of this question an hour ago but Failed to give you the whole picture! I apologize! I am very concerned about creating a CONDENSATION problem!!!! I am in a huge hurry for your answer due to needing to order metal and getting here in time. I live in WA on the coast. The house is always cold. There is absolutely no insulation and NO ATTIC, all heat I put in here goes straight out the roof in minutes. Keeping warm air IN is the goal . Interior is cathedral Open beam ceiling with 1x6 or maybe 2x6 tongue and groove boards. Can't tell if there is plywood on top of ceiling boards/under shingles or not. I want to install a metal roof over my existing asphalt shingle roof. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT CREATING A CONDENSATION PROBLEM!! Should I lay SOLID Radiant Barrier directly on top of the existing asphalt shingles, then screw 2x2 furring strips down creating 1.5 inch air gap, followed by metal roofing panels? 1. Is it okay that I would be putting a screw through the solid Radiant Barrier? 2. Since my goal is to keep heat IN, instead of keeping heat out, should the (Solid) Radiant Barrier go between existing asphalt shingle and the 2 x 2, or should I put barrier between the 2 x 2 and the Skyline residential standing seam metal roofing panels? 3. Since I do not have an attic I was planning on getting a NON-vented ridge cap. The gable and eaves flashings actually fold and bend around the house corners probably blocking airflow. 4. Does it matter which way I run the 2 x 2s... running them down the length of the panels from ridge cap to Eve would create airflow (if and only if) you tell me I have to get a vented ridge cap. I would prefer to run the 2 x 2s left and right from Gable end to Gable end which would give more walking stability...and Not get a vented ridgecap. I can't Thank you enough for your time I sure hope to hear back from you soon. :))
1. No, if you screw through the solid material, it won't be solid right there unless you use a locking insulation washer.
2. If your goal is to keep heat in, you need to pair foil (closest to the inside) with good r-value. If you are concerned about condensation - make sure everything is AIR TIGHT. More info about moisture control here: https://bluetexinsulation.com/pages/moisture-in-metal-buildings-causes
3. That's fine.
4. I recommend running furring strips at a 45 degree angle to allow for cross ventilation under the metal roofing - this helps keep things DRY!
Hello Ed, I have a new 10x16 shed in Eastern North Carolina (mixed climate, humid). It already has radiant barrier directly on the walls on the outside of the studs. (just like your video "Installing Radiant Barrier Insulation in a Shed, Barn or Garage") I am going to be storing merchandise such as shoes, electronics, toys, etc in it and will likely spend anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour in it a day. My options seem to be limited since the RB has been directly applied to the wall and I must have the air gap, but would I be in the clear to hang drywall or plywood? Or should I hang foamboard then dry wall/plywood. Similar to your video "Radiant Barrier Wall Installation - How To Install Inside Walls". So; Exterior wall Radiant Barrier Air Gap Foam board (or none if it will not be beneficial) Drywall or Plywood I do plan on having an AC unit that will be used as needed. Does this sound a-ok, am I missing something or is there a better way?
Thanks for your questions. Yes, if you have the radiant barrier showing between your wall studs, you can just hang drywall/plywood across the studs, just like the video shows. If you wanted to bump up the air sealing for those days you may heat/cool, I'd suggest foam board across the studs, then the drywall/plywood to the inside. The wall cavity will be empty air so the foil surface will hold heat back (via emissivity) from coming into the shed so it stays cooler while still giving you an interior wall surface to hang stuff on to.
Thank you. I have an RV enclosed storage metal building in Phoenix(20' ceilings) and would like to block the radiant heat from the metal roof. Any ideas? The purlins are on 5' centers. Also, do they make a radiant barrier paint for the inside of my garage doors...and does it work? Thanks, Randy Schmille, MM ASHCON LLC R & B Arizona Land LLC Ashton 33rd Avenue LLC Desert West Development Ltd LLC 39506 N Daisy Mountain Dr 122611 Anthem, AZ 85086 505.315.0312
Randy - for simple heat rejection, I recommend a good-quality radiant barrier and I do have a 62" product you might be interested in - it will give you enough edge to span your supports that are 60" OC: https://bluetexinsulation.com/products/bluetex-pro-2mm-super-wide-62-inch
You can even use this on the inside of the garage door, unless it's a roll up door. If it is a roll up door, go with the foil only (no foam) product and you can use adhesive or even flat magnets to hold it on: https://bluetexinsulation.com/products/double-sided-radiant-barrier-foil
Will a radiant barrier ( like Reflectix) lower EMF radiation if wrapped around a bundle of wiring? This wiring runs right under our babies room floor.
EMF is way out of my area of expertise, so I can't comment on if/how well it would work. You could try reaching out to the manufacturer to see if they have any further insight.
I'm wondering since I've been hearing all types of numbers from people so I'd like to ask you as you're simply a professional offering his knowledge having anything to win or lose either way. We have seen the radiant barrier directly applied to the OSM (new construction) however my home was built in the 80's and obviously wouldn't fit that bill. So I'm found company to install radiant barrier in my attic and I'm curious to see from YOUR perspective what types of numbers I might see here in Lake Worth, Florida 33467. The insulation in the attic is cheap paper from the contractor & IDK if I should remove it or just blow in 6" on top. What do you think? Cost wise?
I think you'd be interested in reviewing the results of the Dept of Energy (another non-biased source) where they compare adding radiant barrier to an attic space and measure the results: https://atticfoil.com/index.php/technical-info/dept-of-energy-study-results/
Generally with decent ventilation, an attic with radiant barrier stapled up inside of it will end up either within 12-ish degree down to equal to ambient (outside air) temp. This is a pretty normal result and you can learn more here: How Much Cooler Should My Attic Be After Installing a Radiant Barrier? https://atticfoil.com/index.php/knowledge-zone/knowledge-zone-faq-videos/faq-videos-how-much-cooler-should-my-attic-be-after-installing-a-radiant-barrier/
I inadvertently got some radiant barrier on the driveway while cleaning up. How can I get it over.
You can try pressure washing it. There shouldn't be any cause for concern though, nothing in the material is hazardous to touch.
Hello Ed, I had a energy efficient home built in 2012. We had radiant barrier decking installed for the composition roof shingles to be installed on. After the roof shingles were installed I walked through the attic and was surprised to see that every roofing nail that came through the radiant barrier decking left a cut, tear, or void in the radiant barrier foil. My roof shingles were replaced earlier this year and I look again in the attic and the cuts, tears, and voids in the radiant barrier foil really look bad and there is twice as many of them. Do these cuts, tears, and voids in the radiant barrier foil compromise the performance of my radiant barrier decking? I have enjoyed reading your website. The site is loaded with great information. I look forward to your reply. Thanks, Brad
Brad, thanks for the feedback and question! So no, these penetrations aren't really an issue because the cumulative surface area those nail tips amount to is very small relative to the amount of foil that's still visible on the decking. It should not dramatically impact the effectiveness enough to notice; but I wanted to mention that radiant barrier decking alone isn't proven to be the MOST effective option for cooling down the attic. It's easy to add in new construction, but there are better results to be had. The Dept of Energy published their findings about the advantage of adding foil stapled across the BOTTOM of those rafters, so you prevent the rafter ends from emitting heat into the space. The result was the MOST EFFECTIVE way to cool down the attic space. Check out the findings here: https://atticfoil.com/index.php/technical-info/dept-of-energy-study-results/
Can I put radient barrier directly on the roof of my mobile food trailer?
Yep! As long as one side of the foil is open to air, then this will work!
Can blown in fiberglass insulation be in contact with the radiant barrier? Is there a heat transfer into the insulation from direct contact? I recently just installed a radiant barrier, plan on blowing in additional fiberglass insulation shortly. I plan on blowing in about 16in. My attic does not have soffit vents. I installed the barrier into the eves, but stopped at about 20in from the attic floor to leave a few inch gap for airflow once the insulation is blown in. And with the gable walls, I left a 16in gap from the attic floor to the bottom of the barrier to minimize contact. Am I over thinking this and barrier/insulation contact is okay? Thanks in advance.
No, this application will not work because the radiant barrier requires an air space for it to work properly. If you cover it with blown in insulation (or anything for that matter) then you have eliminated the necessary air gap that must be present for the foil to work as a radiant barrier. Learn more about why an air gap is required for radiant barrier to work: https://atticfoil.com/index.php/about-radiant-barrier/why-is-an-air-space-required/
Can blown in fiberglass insulation be in contact with the radiant barrier? Is there a heat transfer into the insulation from direct contact? I recently just installed a radiant barrier, plan on blowing in additional fiberglass insulation shortly. I plan on blowing in about 16in. My attic does not have soffit vents. I installed the barrier into the eves, but stopped at about 20in from the attic floor to leave a few inch gap for airflow once the insulation is blown in. And with the gable walls, I left a 16in gap from the attic floor to the bottom of the barrier to minimize contact. Am I over thinking this and barrier/insulation contact is okay? Thanks in advance.
Is radiant barrier attached to the underside of my rafters effective? Approx. how much should I expect to pay for this type of installation? I live in Dallas, Texas so you can imagine why I am interested.
It is - in fact it's proven to be the most effective place to put a radiant barrier in a home! You can see the test results here:
As far as the cost - that's not so cut and dry. I've known of installers charging as little at $0.25/sq ft installed and others charging upwards of $3/sq ft. Really, if you can DIY or hire a handyman or someone like that, this is not an expensive job. I supply foil to several companies in DFW - check out the website and find one near you and ask them for a quote - that's probably the best way to get an idea. Find an installer here: https://goo.gl/cBd2bK
Can you glue or screw radiant barrier on roof ?
I'd need more specifics to comfortably say "yes," but in general that could work, but I'm not sure why you wouldn't just use staples?
does nailing through radiant barrier OSB multiple times for re roofs on a house lessen the reflectivity. the house has been roofed multiple times and there are multiple areas of missing chunks in the foil backing?
No, not really. The cumulative surface area those nail tips amount to is very small relative to the amount of foil that's still visible on the decking. It should not dramatically impact the effectiveness enough to notice. However there is an advantage to adding foil stapled across the BOTTOM of those rafters, so you prevent the rafter ends from emitting heat into the space. More info here: https://atticfoil.com/index.php/technical-info/dept-of-energy-study-results/
I want to use a radiant barrier on my garage door to reflect heat during our hot summers. I've seen the videos of people using convex foam board with the foil side closest to garage door. These always show the bowed foam boards with gaps on either side, which contradicts what I am reading about needing a DEAD air space. Are these instructors wrong by not sealing the air gap, or does radiant heat reflection not need (sealed, dead) air gaps to work?
They are not wrong - you don't need a DEAD air space for radiant barrier to work, just AN air gap. The sides don't need to be sealed and in fact, the surface temp of the garage door can get COOLER when the sides are vented so that hot air can escape.
Could I put a radiant barrier - foam insulation sheet on top of corrugated plastic as an air gap in an Airstream trailer?
The air space needs to be just that - an air space. If it's equally corrugated, then you're looking at about 50% coverage. Is that better than 0%? Yes, of course it's better than nothing!! However, it's also not as good as it would be if you used furring strips (since they'd touch the foil less overall compared to the metal directly on it).
Hi, when installing the radiant barrier, do I have to move electrical wiring so it's not covered by the foil (I.e., in between the foil and the roof)?
No, you don't have to - it won't get much hotter than it does now, but it may be easier to locate it if you bring it inside the foil envelope OR if you mark the foil so you know where the wires are in case you need to get to them.
I live in Florida and I would like to put a radiant barrier on my screen room. The screen room has aluminum roof pans on it. If I put the barrier on it then put the roof pan cover over top of the barrier do you think it will work? The pans are 3" deep and I can put styrofoam insulation in them also. Thank You
As long as the radiant barrier itself has at least ½" gap between it and any other material it should work just fine! More info on the air space requirement here: https://atticfoil.com/index.php/about-radiant-barrier/why-is-an-air-space-required/
can I put reflective barrier directly against rafter baffles? Thanks in advance.
I need more info before I can definitely say "yes." For example, is there a reason you can't staple the foil to the rafter/truss ends (in which case it shouldn't have any issues with touching the baffles)? Why are you planning to add the foil between the rafter cavities on the baffle itself? Also, are you planning to add anything else after the foil? I'd need the answers to at least these 2 questions to point you in the right direction.
I currently have radiant barrier OSB on my roof. My attic is still hot even with several roof vents and a attic fan. Can I add an additional radiant barrier to my rafters that would give me an air gap to help reduce heat in my attic?
We have many customers who have the time and energy to do this and they have seen good results. It's fair to expect the Techshield is working but it's only working where it is (in between the rafters). More info on this here: https://atticfoil.com/index.php/knowledge-zone/knowledge-zone-learn-about-radiant-barrier/how-atticfoil-stacks-up-against-techshield/
By covering the bottom of the rafters you can block that heat coming off the rafter ends as well. Another option would be to add the foil on top of your existing insulation (assuming you do not have ductwork or storage laying down on the floor). Having two layers in the attic will not conflict with one another and it's fine to use both.
I have many sections of my roof that are the hip design, meaning that the rafter terminates into a hip rafter and does. It leave airflow to the ridge vent at the top. Is the perforations in perforated foil enough to allow for the heat to escape from the cavity or do I need to leave a 15x2 or a 15x4 gap at the top of each cavity that doesn't make it to the open ridge vent ?
No, the perforations do now all for air flow. For a hip style roof, you need to leave several gaps in the install to allow for air flow in the attic. All the details can be found on the install page here: https://atticfoil.com/index.php/installation/staple-up-installation/
Do you need radiant barrier on gable end if you have foam lath to protect wood framing
Yes! Any side that catches sunlight will benefit from the radiant barrier.
Good morning, My name is George, and I teach architecture at a high school in Texas. I have a question about the application of a radiant barrier, specifically a sheathing product like LP's Techshield, to a residential roof assembly that is constructed with traditional lumber framing/"rafters". I understand how a radiant barrier works, via emissivity. My question is this: While the underside of the roof deck that exists in between the rafters will have an airspace adjacent to the air barrier, the underside of the roof deck that comes in contact with the rafters themselves, will not. Therefore, heat will conduct through the radiant barrier, onto the rafters. Considering the amount of rafters present, and the surface area of those rafters, I question if the utilization of a radiant barrier at the roof deck is worthwhile. I am thinking that a radiant barrier located at the underside of the rafters would be better. Am I wrong?
George, you are right! We actually deep dive into this on this page of our AtticFoil site: https://atticfoil.com/index.php/technical-info/dept-of-energy-study-results/
i did something a little different and it worked. i stapled radient barrier to a garage wall which runs adjacent to my pool. boy did that heat the pool up quicker. free heat too. but after a year the wind took off the foil. what I would like to do is apply adhesive to a 4 ft x 8ft board and attach board more permanently to wall. any suggestions as to what type of adhesive? Any other ideas how i might accomplish the same idea? Jeff
I'd recommend using my foil - it won't rip or tear in wind and won't come undone as long as you have it fastened in securely. You can even use screws and locking washers - check out www.BlueTexInsulation.com for our foil/foam material and the fasteners and feel free to email us some photos through the contact us page on the website too!
My house burned down and my kids and I r living in a 33 ft travel trailer for now in dfw TX. Can I use radiant barrier inside my travel trailer? Windows, walls etc?
You can use radiant barrier anywhere where you have a radiant heat source you're trying to control. As long as the radiant barrier is installed properly with at least a ½" AIR GAP on one side of it, it will work just about anywhere! Find more info on installation, how to measure, etc. on www.AtticFoil.com.
Is it ok to use 15lb felt paper as a radiant barrier above the insulation in my crawl space?
Felt paper is not radiant barrier, so it will offer you no benefit toward stopping radiant heat gain/loss.
Hi Ed. I have a gamberell style house with 2x6 t&g decking spanning 4' support beams. I am considering re insulating this year and thinking of radiant barrier vs spray insulation vs both. Current roof has as mentioned 2x6 t&g decking exposed to the interior, 1-1/2 stringers over that with rigid foam insulation, plywood, and tar shingles. We live in tahoe, so need to insulate to keep heat in in the winter and get direct sun in the summer. Do i need both, would spray on the interior do the job? Thoughts. I would rather not take the current roof apart, i just want to re-shingle and drop the interior 6" for lighting.
Given how far down inside toward the living space the foil would be, I think spray foam may be the way to go in this situation.
I've used this before in this manner, but am I doing it right? New build in a cathedral ceiling, push bay insulation up in between the ceiling joists then push this 16" wide dbl bubble foil up in about a in up and staple it to the insides of the joists. My point is trying to stop the interior heat from escaping through the ceiling, we then go into attic and blow 16" fiberglass insulation in on top to cover everything, good or wasting my time and money
This is a good approach, but bubble foil doesn't below in this set up. Take a look here for adding radiant barrier insulation in a cathedral ceiling for mixed climates: https://atticfoil.com/index.php/applications/cathedral-ceilings-hotmixed-climates/
Thank you, sir, for taking my question… I have looked all over for the answer. I can't seem to find it. I have a stick built pool house with a bare metal roof with no insulation under it. The metal heats up very hot in the summer creating radiant heat. I am wondering if I can staple radiant barrier to the bottom of the rafters, and then cover the radiant barrier with a plywood ceiling. There will be lots of air gaps above the radiant barrier between the rafters and the air vents in the soffits. Thank you so much for any info.
Yes, this is a great way to incorporate the radiant barrier in the roofline. However, I would recommend a layer of rigid foam board across the bottom of the rafters. I have more info on this install page: https://atticfoil.com/index.php/applications/cathedral-ceilings-hotmixed-climates/
I'm going to be building a barndominium soon. I've been searching everywhere that I can to come up with the most effective way to insulate it. The best I've come up with so far is using a foam base radiant barrier with blocking to ensure my air gap remains unobstructed under the metal siding and providing somewhat of a barrier from thermal bridging. I then want to use 2" polisocyanurate in the walls with an air gap between it and the radiant barrier and 3" in the cathedral ceiling. I know most of the polyiso boards are foil faced on one side so with that being said my question is would this be an ideal system or would I be better off to frame the inside and use traditional fiberglass insulation? My second question is if this is a good system should both foil sides be pointing toward the outside?
Check out this page for more details on building a fully conditioned barndo: https://bluetexinsulation.com/pages/insulating-conditioned-buildings-hot-mixed-climates-installation
I recommend using the RoofingFoil™ + Underlayment for your foil layer on the exterior (wrapping the frame) with the air gaps: https://www.roofingfoil.com/shop/single-sided-solid-foil-underlayment/
Then come in on the interior and spray foam onto the white side OR use regular r-value up against it.
Can roofing nails penetrate the roof sheathing radiant barrier?
Yes, that's ok and won't really change how it works.
I have LP text shield OSB roof sheathing installed on my new home 2x6 rafter construction.. can I install 4 in batt insulation with sheetrock interior finish.. ie is that enough air space for fully vent soffitted and ridge vented roof
Not without creating an air gap first. You can add baffle vents in the cavities and then fill them with insulation and cover with Sheetrock. You have to create an air gap on the foil surface of the Techshield, or else it will stop working as a radiant barrier. More info here: https://atticfoil.com/index.php/about-radiant-barrier/why-is-an-air-space-required/
Hello. 2x6 rafters in the shop with metal roofing on top. NO OSB or PLYWOOD. R-21 Insulation in the rafter bays with paper face toward the inside with no drywall covering the insulation. A shop heater keeps the inside at roughly 50 degrees. Outside its 30 degrees. Drip spots of water down on the concrete with wet spots on the insulation paper overhead. Peeling back the insulation, the underside of the metal roof has water droplets all over. If I were to staple up Tyvek to the bottom of the 2x6 rafters will that fix the condensation? If so would you install the Tyvek with the writing towards the roof or towards the Shop floor? Thank you for your help. Cory in Montana.
This is a job for BlueTex Metal Building Insulation. BlueTex can help reflect the heat back down inside the building and the 6mm foam helps stop that condensation from forming. Check out www.BlueTexInsulation.com and request a free sample kit for more info.
We bought a home built in 1940. Some additions where added in the 60's. One was a master bedroom built over the original attached master garage. Like all old homes insulation was not a thing. Especially here on the gulf coast since there was not AC then and cooling a house was done by gables and open windows and I assume fireplaces during the winter if needed. When we first moved in here the garage ceiling/master bedroom floor consist of beams, subfloor, and flooring. This master bedroom gets hot in summer and cold in the winter since the garage in not climate controlled. All of the other rooms dont have this problem. I put some bat installations in the garage ceiling with hopes that it will keep the bedroom floor a little more insulated. Now I am thinking of putting plywood on the garage ceiling to enclose the insulation that was installed. I can go with standard osb 7/16 sheathing panels but was wondering if Radiant Barrier 7/16 Roof Sheathing Panel would be a better option? Would it help in keeping heat out in summer and hold heat in during the winter? It does get humid in the garage during the summer since I live close to coast. Pictures show garage ceiling facing out and also facing in towards the door that enters the house. Also a shot of the garage that shows master bedroom above it. I appreciate any suggestions. Thank You.
Yes, adding some radiant barrier to the garage ceiling will help the room above - as long as the foil side of the sheathing faces an AIR GAP (so either use furring strips before you install it facing up, or face the foil down toward the open garage space). One thing to consider though, is that bonus rooms over a garage actually gain the MAJORITY of their heat from the roofline, not the garage below. So you'd want to refer to the cathedral ceiling method (above) and make sure the room is insulated like that - on the roofline and the exterior walls too: https://atticfoil.com/index.php/applications/inside-exterior-walls-hotmixed-climates/
Additional tips on keeping bonus rooms more comfortable can be found here: How To Make Hot Rooms In My House More Comfortable: https://www.radiantbarrierguru.com/hot-rooms-in-my-house-how-to-make-them-more-comfortable-part-1/
Good luck!
My son is building me a 24'x30' shed/workshop. The salesman at Lowes recommended he use a radiant barrier plywood for the walls and roof (below the shingles). He just finished nailing up the radiant barrier plywood for the walls and then realized he installed the shiny side out instead of facing in. Is this going to be a problem? Solution? The plan was to put Tyvek on that wall and then Hardie board.
Yea, unfortunately the radiant barrier can't work if it's not facing an air space. So if you add Tyvek over the foil it's obsolete. The next best option would be to wrap the outside with the foil (nix the Tyvek and use the perforated foil instead) and then use some furring strips before the siding to achieve at least a ½" air gap: https://atticfoil.com/index.php/applications/house-wrap-behind-siding/
The other option would be to staple it up on the inside, facing the empty wall cavities like this video shows: https://youtu.be/Qd-YqC7iedM
I have 2x12 roof rafters in my attic with R-38 unfaced fiberglass insulation. The R-38 unfaced fiberglass insulation was initially install 30 years ago to keep the attic from getting hot during the summer. I live in Maryland. I have air flow from the eaves below the roof sheathing to the ridge vents and lots of attic cross ventilation below the R-38 unfaced fiberglass insulation. I plan on installing an Energy Star Cold Climate Heat Pump air handler in the attic this summer to heat/cold the 2nd floor. I'm planning to close all the cross ventilation below the R-38 unfaced fiberglass insulation and make the attic part of the house internal house environment. I know putting the Radiant Barrier under the roof rafters (with insulation) is not optimum, but I'm not going to remove all that R-38 insulation. So, is there any benefit to install Radiant barrier to the roof rafters below the fiberglass insulation with the Radiant barrier touching the fiberglass? Lastly, should I install (1) Non Perforated Radiant vapor barrier or (2) Perforated Radiant vapor barrier on the attic side (below the rafters)?
If where you are planning to add the radiant barrier would fall under the "thermal envelope" of the house, then there's not really a big advantage to adding it. Otherwise, yes, it will help some getting a piece between the hot roof and the attic itself and you definitely want to use a PERFORATED product that far down inside the attic.
We are preparing to build a custom home inside of a metal building shell, like a barndomnium, but without the barn or shop. We are thinking a radiant barrier is a good idea, but are not sure. Some of the single story home will have attic and some will not, and we will vent the attic. What do you recommend?
Take a look at www.BlueTexInsulation.com Products for metal buildings / barndominiums . But, we have a new system we are doing (we are doing it on our own buildings) soon that combines radiant barrier and spray foam insulation.
It's the ultimate system for metal buildings. Basically creating a "refrigerator in the shade". The best for both radiant heat and conductive heat.
Contact us for more details.
I'm in the hot humid south, and I'd like to make my 16 by 27 ft shed more comfortable (currently NO insulation). With 2 x 6 rafters, how can I best combine insulation, radiant barrier, and ventilation? ( I will have soffit vents and ridge vent). I thought about an OSB sheet w/ radiant barrier attached one inch away from the roof decking facing up to combine ventilation and radiant barrier. I've heard conflicting ideas about whether radiant barrier can be used "foil-side up" with an air-gap. Thanks for your help! John
John, please contact us through our website www.BlueTexInsulation.com because we need some more info from you about this project to guide you to the right solution. We're looking forward to seeing how we can help!
I want to replace the standard tarp for a outdoor temporary shelter for desert camping with a highly reflective radiant barrier. Can any of your products have grommets attached and used in place of a tarp?
Yes, the double-sided AtticFoil is basically a tarp with foil on both sides so it can handle adding grommets.
I currently have radiant barrier installed in my attic on the rafters. I made sure that there was a gap of approximately 3" to 5" between the radiant barrier and the bottom of the attic to allow for ventilation. I also have soffit vents. I would like to have more insulation blow-in but that will cover the radiant barrier at the bottom because currently there is only a 3"-5" gap. Do I need to cut the radiant barrier at the bottom to make the gap larger in order to accommodate the new insulation or is there an easier way? I assume that I need to maintain the air flow from the bottom of the attic.
You should probably add some baffle vents to prevent the soffits from getting blocked with the new insulation. As far as the radiant barrier goes, you will need approximate about how high up the new insulation will go and then pre-cut a slit all along the radiant barrier above where that will be. More info about ¾ of the way down this page under the heading, "Want to Add More Insulation Later?": https://atticfoil.com/index.php/installation/staple-up-installation/
We have a North Georgia mountain house that had a second story vaulted loft. Trusses are about 3ft tall so not feasible to access attic area. Want to ensure we are keeping the heain during winter months. Was considering using foil on the underside of the ceiling and then finish with tongue and groove pine. Would I need an air gap in this installation? Thanks Allen
Yep, anytime you use a radiant barrier you need an air gap on at least one of the two sides of the foil. If you're aiming to keep heat in, I'd recommend you create that air gap between the ceiling and the foil. More info on doing a cathedral ceiling installation can be found here: https://atticfoil.com/index.php/applications/cathedral-ceilings-hotmixed-climates/
We installed Radiant barrier roof OSB decking on our new build house in S. Louisiana, foil side down/facing interior of the attic. There are extra sheets of this decking and the builder is using it as flooring in the attic with the foil side facing down, ie. toward the ceiling, for walking, storage and HVAC equipment base. Should they leave an air gap between the attic flooring and the batt insulation/ceiling sheetrock, or will that matter? Thanks-Dave M
If they can leave a gap then it will help redirect any radiant heat loss back down toward the living space (which is a good thing) in winter, but if they can't, that's ok too.
Should nails be protruding through radiant barrier once installed?
It's ok if the roof nails are poking through the barrier it's not going to ruin the effect.
In a warm climate (Florida) will the foil facing on fiberglass batt insulation act as a radiant barrier when the foil is facing the underside of the roof deck and there is a 2 inch air space between the deck and the foil?
The foil should face the roof deck with the AIR GAP between the foil and the deck. More info about how to install AtticFoil on the rafters here: https://atticfoil.com/index.php/installation/staple-up-installation/
Is there any benefit to using the Foil on interior walls and/or wall between garage and kitchen? I live in N. CA with numerous 100+ degree days.
Yes, the garage is a non-conditioned structure so if it's heating up, it can push heat through the wall into the interior of the home.
When installed a radiant barrier over insulation in a finished basement, how far apart should the Staples be?
About 2-3' apart is good.
Good morning, My name is George, and I am a home builder writing you from Texas. I am working on designing an energy efficient roof assembly, which will be my default roof assembly for future projects. I have some questions, regarding the inclusion of a radiant barrier, that I am hoping you can assist with. The roof assembly from bottom to top, will consist of roof rafters, a plywood deck, and a standing seam metal roof with a reflective coating. The attic will be a "vented" attic, with both soffit and ridge vents. That being said, for new construction, where within that assembly would be the best place to install the radiant barrier: In between the roof deck and the metal roof? I read on your website, that this location is only adviseable if there is an air gap; why is that? No benefit to be had if there is no gap between the metal roof and the radiant barrier? Or, in between the rafters and the roof deck? Also...I know that installing the radiant barrier directly to the bottom face of the rafters, per the study you referenced on your site (Oak Ridge National Laboratory Radiant Barrier Study) is the most effective, but it isn't so easy to do in a clean way, when the roof has hips/valleys/strongbacks. That being said, I don't want to install it this way.
George - thanks for your questions. Correct, without an air gap, radiant barrier has nothing to do because the heat traveling through materials that touch is conductive heat, not radiant heat. If you can get thh standing seam roof on a batten system, then using RoofingFoil + Underlayment under the battens is the BEST option. The next best choice would be to drape it on top of the rafters, before your roof sheeting goes on. Finally, you can staple it up inside the attic to the bottom of the rafters if the other two options don't work.
I have an outdoor bar area. I have an open rafter ceiling with decorative barn wood attached within the rafters. What can I put between the barn wood and the doff sheeting ? I'm wanting to reflect the heat away. During the summer in Kansasit become unbearable to hang out in the bar. What would help ?
So if you want to use the radiant barrier to reflect the heat away from under the roofline of the outdoor bar area, you have to have a way to attach it so that one side faces an air gap of ½" or more. This means you actually can't sandwich it between 2 different sheets without using furring strips to create an air gap. So you can take down the doff sheeting and add the foil on the bottom of the rafters and then re-install the sheeting (air gap is created by rafters) OR you cover the bottom of the ceiling sheeting with the foil (but then you'll need to leave it uncovered OR add furring strips before adding a new ceiling/sheeting below). Does that help?
I recently had my shake roof replaced with a new composite roof on my home in California. At first my contractor was going to install radiant barrier OSB, and to create the required 3/4" airspace, he was going to add additional wood strips. Later, after some concern with total cost of the project, we agreed to use regular OSB decking and add extra blown-in insulation to bring up to R38 value, to meet Title 24 requirements. Due to some mix up between the contractor and supplier, I ended up with Roy O Martin radiant OSB at the same price as regular OSB. I have two questions. First, when I go in to my garage and look up, I see nails coming through the radiant OSB. Does this affect the performance of the radiant barrier? Second, since the radiant barrier OSB was nailed directly to the wood strips that previously held the old wood shakes, with no additional wood added to create the needed 3/4" air space, is the radiant OSB going to make the interior of my home hotter? My contractor said it is good to have the radiant barrier OSB even without the 3/4" airspace required for Title 24 compliance.
1. No, the nails aren't affecting how the radiant barrier works.
2. As long as you can SEE the radiant barrier above you, then that means it's using the ATTIC as the air space it requires to work. I cover this application extensively on this page: http://www.atticfoil.com/technical-information/dept-of-energy-test-results.html
building a pole barn, 50x36x12 with 4:12 roof pitch. Building will have unconditioned attic space with blown in insulation at ceiling, soffit and ridge venting and walls will have batten insulation with a house wrap on exterior under metal siding. What product to put under roof metal, over purlins, no decking to provide radiant and vapor barrier?
For this application you want to use the RoofingFoil™ + Underlayment All-in-One product: https://www.roofingfoil.com/shop/single-sided-solid-foil-underlayment/
Can you paint the underside of a radiant barrier attached to roof rafters?
Can you? Yes, it can usually hold paint. Should you? Not recommended because the paint will clog the pores/perforations and the product becomes unable to breathe. If you're looking for a nicer aesthetic in the attic, try the Foil + Product that has a bright white side that can face down instead of a shiny aluminum: https://atticfoil.com/index.php/products/48-wide-radiant-barrier-foil-white-vinyl-perforated/
Hi Ed, I recently got an email response from you for a previously asked question. I wasn't able to reply via email, so I am doing it through here. Thanks! "As for the roofing material, it will be a standing seam metal roof. I've learned that that product is available in aluminum. But seemingly every manufacturer coats it with a "reflective" coating. A radiant barrier is simply aluminum, and reflective plenty, all without a special coating. Any idea why bare aluminum isn't used for metal roofs?"
Great question! I think it probably comes down to strength. When you mix pure aluminum with other elements, you can create superior high-strength alloys that are used in roofing, automotive, and aerospace engineering.
Hey Guru I'm planning on building a Tuff Shed garage building in Alabama which has LS sheet siding with radiant barrier behind it. I know I can't put batts between the studs to maintain the airspace the radiant barrer neess, but I want to insulate the interior walls since the building will have a mini-split heat pump system. What to do? I could A) run fur strips on the outside of the studs and use sheet foam insulation to maintain the air gap, B) Just drywall the inside and forget the insulation or C) Do A and B plus use thinner batts (seems like overkill and a lot of cost and labor for a DIY) or D) use some kind of cheap sheet goods (corregated foam sheet) to keep the batts separated from the RB. Lots of possibilities, probably most of which are wrong.... What say you?
If you plan to cool/heat the space more than just a few hours a week, I'd recommend the rigid foam board sheets screwed into the studs and then sheetrock over that. Kinda like this install but WITHOUT the batt insulation (since this is not a living space): https://atticfoil.com/index.php/applications/inside-exterior-walls-hotmixed-climates/
Can you install Radiant Barrier on Garage Walls after the sheetrock is installed? Builder wants a fortune to insulate a couple of walls and the ceiling of a 3-car garage that I am starting to build. Although the house is semi-custom, they won't allow me to install my own insulation during the build process, claiming "for insurance reasons". Any feedback is appreciated.
Yes, you can add foil over Sheetrock, but you will either have to leave the foil uncovered (i.e. have silver walls) or you will have to fur out the walls after you add the foil before you could cover it up with anything else, so you maintain the air gap required for radiant barriers to work.
It is very hot where I live. I recently had new Malarky Vista AR shingles installed on my roof. I have techshield. The Roof contractor failed to order the techshield per contract, but I did not discover this until they were finished and gone ( it did't occur to me to check the materials when delivered as this might be insulting. ) I can see a section where decking was replaced with OSB or plywood. They admitted making an error in their material order. They offered to either spray it with the reflective paint, which I understand is ineffective on rough surfaces, or "tape the tech shield under the new decking they installed ". This doesn't make sense to me because as you know techshield is OSB manufactured with radiant barrier on it. I believe they meant " tape a radiant barrier to the underside of the new section of decking". But I can't imagine that tape or glue would hold it against OSB in the heat for very long. Wouldn't tape or adhesive melt and allow barrier to fall off? Also, there is a vent pipe in that section of decking which is probably why that section rotted. How can this be remedied to address the moisture location and keep heat from coming through that roof section? The location is where the evening sun sits and makes the house hard to cool even with techshield. I need professional advice as these guys say they only ever had one other job with techshield and they missed their ordering then too. They are young, but very professional and I believe sincere but I do not think they really know anything about the radiant barriers. Before I give them my answer I would like to find out what works and what doesn't work. Thank you kindly.
We have many customers who still add a radiant barrier below their roof, on the bottom of the rafters, even if they have Techshield on the roofline. It's fair to expect the Techshield is working to some degree, but it's only working where it is (in between the rafters). You can staple (use a shallow staple) the AtticFoil directly to the OSB to get the same effect as the rest of the Techshield OR you can staple AtticFoil below the Techshield directly onto the bottom of the rafters for the best results. Doing this will improve your overall attic temps and the two won't interfere with one another, so there are no concerns with using both in the same attic space. More info on this here: AtticFoil vs Techshield - https://atticfoil.com/index.php/knowledge-zone/knowledge-zone-learn-about-radiant-barrier/how-atticfoil-stacks-up-against-techshield/
I intend to build a factory custom log home with log rafters and T & G wood over the log rafters to create an open beam ceiling, with a metal roof on the T & G ceiling. Where to place the radiant barrier?
I'd recommend getting an air gap between the T&G and the metal roofing. You only need about a ½" so as long as you can get that (maybe with some horizontal or angled purlins/battens) you will be able to use the radiant barrier with great results. More info here: Installing RoofingFoil under Metal Roofs - https://www.roofingfoil.com/how-to-install/metal-roofing-system.html
Does it block emf
So RF/EMF blocking is out of our area of expertise and while we do know that a lot of customers have used AtticFoil™ to slow or impede radio signals, we offer no advice/expertise on how specifically it should be installed to achieve a desired result. For applications like this, we recommend using a sample piece, to test it out. Keep in mind that radio waves travel in all directions through many building materials, so you'd also need to address windows and doors, etc. for the best results.
If I can't afford insulation in my attic could I used radiant back foil instead
You can use a product like AtticFoil in your attic, but no radiant barrier replaces insulation in a home that is being heated/cooled. More info here: https://atticfoil.com/index.php/does-atticfoil-replace-regular-insulation/
Hi- I have a new (1 yr) construction home in Florida that has a radiant barrier. The radiant barrier is defective, I think installed that way. Along with that, the nails are all rusted. The inspector said the roof needs to be replaced, don't let the builder just try to do a band-aid fix. Any advice?
Why do you think the radiant barrier is defective?
I put radiant barrier around my kids closets in dormer attics and wrap the other walls in that attic. Can that cause my upstairs to run hotter on that 2nd floor of house inside. Because my temp is set on AC at 74 and at peak time of day my AC shows 77-79 which causes the AC to run all day until evening time when it catches up
No, that should not cause them to get hotter. Did you also get radiant barrier ABOVE the kids rooms? These 2nd story rooms often feel the hottest because the roofline is right above them and w/o a radiant barrier, they're getting direct heat exposure and absorption. I would strongly recommend you get a layer of foil on top of the ceiling of those rooms.
Can I be and she shed long term with ridiant barrier on the ceilings and the walls
It depends where you live and what you are expecting for temps. The shed should be at or within about 10 degrees of outside air temp. This means on a 100 degree day, the shed can be 110F inside and still considered in normal range for a non-conditioned space with radiant barrier. If it's hotter than that after you add AtticFoil, you may need to add an air conditioning system that will pull the heat out of the shed and replace it with cold air.
How do i attach Radiant Foil Barrier to Metal Hat Channel
With metal screws & locking washers: https://bluetexinsulation.com/products/screw-washer-set-100-pieces
Can I install radiant barrier plywood on top of 1×6 tongue and groove on a roof ?Do I need an air gap?
Yes, all radiant barrier products need an air gap to function properly. You don't have to have a vented air space, but an air gap is required.
The basement of my home is not heated. It contains a water heater and a furnace. In the winter the basement is quite warm due to the heat coming off of the hot water pipes. In order to save energy I would like to insulate the pipes. Some of the pipes are very close to other pipes, and to the ceiling, or the walls, so I am looking for a a insulation material that is relatively thin and can be wrapped around the pipes. I have found a six inch wide single bubble-double foil pipe wrap (radiant barrier). Would this product be a good choice for this application, and would this achieve an R-value of about 4. Thank you
If the foil is facing out toward the surround air, then it will use emissivity to prevent some of the radiant heat loss. I would check with the manufacturer of the bubble foil to make sure they recommend using the foil in this way. Gas furnaces are usually unsafe to cover with radiant barrier. As for the R-value, read the fine print because advertised R-value are usually not valid for normal applications; the fine print may suggest very specific conditions in order for the R-value to reach 4 and it typically includes a sealed box/air space, which would not be the case of the basement.
I just purchased a wooden garden shed. The ceiling is the foil side of the the Radiant Barrier. I am painting the interior of the shed white. Can I paint the foil side of the Radiant Barrier white also, or will paint damage it?
If you paint over the radiant barrier it will no longer be effective, it must be open to air. If the shiny foil side is covered with anything, then you no longer have a radiant barrier to block the heat from coming in via the ceiling.
I want to sheet rock my shop ceiling so my wood stove is more efficient in the winter. But equally so in the summer, I want it cooler. My question is can I install Radiant Barrier first to the ceiling joist, then rock over it for a easier install? Thank you Larry
Yes, you can do this. As long as the FOIL/shiny side is open to an air space, then this will work. The video on this page shows you how to do the install: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85S4F_2z5nM
I live in California and need to be title 24 compliant which is have a R38 rating. I also have wood shake with 1x4 skip sheeting, can I install 7/16 Tech Shield on top of skip sheeting?
Because of the close spacing on skip sheeting, you're really not going to get much benefit out of Techshield. The radiant barrier layer is going to offer you MUCH MORE benefit if you staple it up across the rafters in the attic. As far as Title 24 Compliance, the rafter method would meet that.
Hi, I saw your comments regarding a Radiant Barrier below a radiant heat system that has the hot water tubing installed below a subfloor, but what about when it installed in a slab above the subfloor in a 2nd story? Of course, if unconditioned space is below, it seems like a radiant barrier with proper air space would make sense, but what about if the space below is conditioned space with a slab on grade radiant system? To save money, I don't want to insulate between the 1st and 2nd floors of my new home, but was considering a radiant barrier to mitigate heat migration from the slab on the 2nd floor downward, which could cause the 1st floor to be overheated. Is this something I should consider, or a waste of time and money? If it is a good idea, can I staple the radiant barrier to the bottom of the floor joist with 12" of air space, or does it need to be up in the bay 1-1.5" below the subfloor? Not having to cut the barrier to staple up inside the bays would save a large amount of time and some material, but wasn't sure the effect this would have? Thanks.
Yes, you can use the foil between floors to help direct radiant heat a certain direction; remember, the foil works both ways! To do this, you would ideally have the foil closer to the radiant heat source, in between each joist. To save on cutting each piece, you can measure the distance between joists and buy a remade roll in that size, or cut a 48" wide roll down to the width you need. 12" of space is ok, but you'll have a lot of the radiant heat just heating up that air, and not really working most efficiently to keep a space warm.
Thank you very much for your great website. I have a new home with cellulose insulation in the floor of the attic. The attic is not going to be used for living or storage. Unfortunately, we have all of the duct work for the second floor of our home in the attic, along with two air handlers. I now this is a no no - much better to insulate the outer perimeter - but my wife is severely asthmatic and we had few options (worried about foam, etc.). We recently found a product called "Supper Attic" that uses "Silver glo." It is a sandwich of radiant barriers and foam board insulation in the middle. It looks attractive, but I need to "ignition proof" the underside facing the attic. Do you have any suggestions? Our home is a large modular home and the truss structure in the attic makes getting sheet rock, etc. hard to get up there. Second question. Are you familiar with the McDowell Ownens report on the risks of radiant barriers in an attic? They claim it can literally attract lightening and be a fire barrier. This concerns me, so I would like your opinion. Thank you very much.
I don't know what you mean by "ignition proof" - who is saying you need to do this? I would ask them for clarification.
As far as foil/foam board products, they do work, but really it's the FOIL that's doing the work. For a fraction of the cost, you can get the same results using a foil sheet product like AtticFoil Radiant Barrier.
About the lightening scares, we've seen the article before and this question comes up every so often. The reality is that if lightening strikes your home, your problems will be bigger than the foil and the whole house will be a fire hazard since it is framed in wood. Just as wrapping a tree with foil wouldn't change the outcome if it were to be struck by lightening, the same is true of your attic. More than 9 times out of 10 these problems you read about are either due to error on the part of whomever installed it OR it's just plain bad luck (in the instance of a lightening strike) and not bad foil.
I am planning my insulation install in a cathedral ceiling near Kansas City, Mo. House is 1984 2x4 wall ranch, 4 12 pitch roof. I have taken out load bearing wall and installed ridge beam, opened the center of the house up. I added furring strips to the 2x6 rafters and am now looking to insulate. I also installed cross ties approx 14" down from peak to create a narrow flat surface for the peak of the ceiling. My thoughts are to install venting baffles from soffit to ridge in each bay. next, a radiant barrier (single sheet, no bubbles) in the bay and then high density batts. 1x4 purlins perpecdular to rafters with 3/4" rigid foam between purlins. Corrugated tin for the finished interior ceiling. I know I am under the recommended R factor for this part of the country and am trying to get as much out of the depth I have. BTW, I will have a wood stove in the house as well. Central air and heat as back up also. My concerns are Is the radiant barrier necessary (I am worried about heat gain in the summer with will the air baffle interfere with the performance of radiant barrier (I want to make sure the air is moving as needed) Am I on the right track? Would you do anything differently? Many thanks
If you're using the baffles, then you should put the radiant barrier FIRST, right on the roof decking underside. That way only the edges of the baffle will touch the foil, so the rest of the surface area of the foil will work to prevent radiant heat from entering the cavity. Otherwise, follow the steps on how to install the foil on this page, it doesn't use baffles, but it does create an air channel for air flow; we've had hundreds of people use this method with very successful results: http://www.atticfoil.com/applications-a-uses/cathedral-ceilings/foil-to-outside.html
Iam slowly building a small cabin with my son...as we both are quite new at this. Due to severe chemical sensitivity, I am building this as non-toxic as i can afford. So, I am not going to insulate. My ceiling is 2x8 16" center. Can i put the foil directly under the rafters then put my ceiling mateial on that? Enough air space for hot sun in, will it keep the cabin warmer as well. And if I do it that way, do I use perforated or solid? We have a non-vented metal roof. Thank you for your help.
Yes, the foil will work to stop heat transfer as long as there is an air gap/space on one side of the foil. This air gaps allows the foil to stop 97% of radiant heat from coming in (during summer) AND 97% of radiant heat from leaving (in winter). I always recommend some regular insulation for a conditioned space, but even if you chose to omit it because of your condition, the foil would still be useful. In this type of application, go with the perforated material so any moisture that may exist around the foil can easily pass the foil layer and (hopefully) dry out.