The average temperature in Texas during the summer is between 86 and 98 degrees Fahrenheit. When combined with low rainfall levels and low humidity, 90-degree temperatures can feel unbearable. As part of a whole-attic system, radiant barriers can improve the comfort of your home.
Is a radiant barrier worth the money?
Some studies show that radiant barriers can reduce cooling costs 5% to 10% when used in a warm, sunny climate. The reduced heat gain may even allow for a smaller air conditioning system. In cool climates, however, it’s usually more cost-effective to install more thermal insulation than to add a radiant barrier.
How much R-Value does radiant barrier add?
NO R-value
Radiant barrier on its own has NO R-value; R-value is attributed to materials slowing conductive heat. AtticFoil™ works to block radiant heat (97%) coming in to the attic by stapling it to the rafters, but it has no R-value.
How much is radiant barrier cost?
The cost to install radiant barrier insulation runs from $740 to $2,840 or $1,700 on average. Materials for this project run as low as $0.10 per square foot, up to $0.95. Professional installers typically charge $30 to $80 per hour for this job.
Do I need insulation if I have radiant barrier?
Radiant barriers reflect radiant heat.
Then, the heat transfer method switches from radiant heat to conductive heat to move through the attic insulation and into your home. This is why you need both types of insulation.
How long does Radiant Barrier Insulation last?
Standard insulation methods including radiant barriers last anywhere between 80 to 100 years, as long as they are installed correctly. You can use it for decades without significant problems.
How much does radiant barrier Reduce temperature in attic?
However, according to studies done by the U.S. Department Of Energy, it is generally accepted that installing radiant barrier in the attic will reduce heat gain through the ceiling by 40% typically leading up to a 17% reduction on heating and cooling utility bills.
Does radiant barrier help in winter?
Radiant Barrier Insulation Benefits
Works to keep warm air in during the winter and solar radiant heat out during the summer. Prevents up to 97% of solar radiation. Improves energy efficiency and lowers utility costs, especially if HVAC and duct systems are located in the attic.
Which way should radiant barrier face?
According to research conducted by the Florida Solar Energy Center, the foil-side of your radiant barrier should be facing down. It should be towards the interior of the house and right under the roof sheathing so that homeowners can optimize its effectiveness when it comes to reflectivity and emissivity.
Is radiant barrier better than insulation?
Since insulation can only absorb radiant heat, it basically just slows it down. On the other hand, since radiant barrier reflects virtually all of the radiant heat, it greatly reduces the total amount of heat radiated from your ceiling down into the house.
How much energy does a radiant barrier save?
The tests to date have shown that in attics with R-19 insulation, radiant barriers can reduce summer ceiling heat gains by about 16 to 42 percent compared to an attic with the same insulation level and no radiant barrier.
Is spray on radiant barrier effective?
As a result, the true effectiveness of radiant barrier paint installed by many contractors is really only about 15-40% reflectivity. The typical consumer can’t tell the difference between a good installation and a poor job without testing. Radiant barrier paint spray is not a good Do It Yourself (DIY) project.
Can you drywall over radiant barrier?
Yes, you can install drywall over a radiant barrier, but only if there is a space of at least half an inch thick between the drywall and the radiant barrier.
Is spray foam a radiant barrier?
Spray foam insulation doesn’t protect attic spaces from radiant heat, but does protect them from convection and conduction.
Is TechShield worth the money?
For most new construction projects, I recommend using TechShield® (or another brand). The products work well, the cost of upgrading from regular OSB decking to radiant barrier decking is pretty minimal and there is NO additional labor cost since the Techshield® is installed just like a regular OSB roof deck.
Are radiant barriers a fire hazard?
Are Radiant Barriers a Fire Hazard? Most radiant barriers are not considered fire hazards. Their principal component is aluminum which melts when it is exposed to high heat.
Can I use aluminum foil as radiant barrier?
Aluminum foil has the radiant barrier properties of high reflectivity and low emissivity. That means the foil reflects much of the roof’s heat back upward. The low emissivity property of the foil reduces the amount of heat that the foil radiates on through to the attic insulation below.
How much heat does radiant barrier reflect?
97 percent
The materials in a radiant barrier can reflect up to 97 percent of radiant heating, giving it a higher R-value than most types of attic or wall insulation.
What should my attic temperature be?
The ideal attic temperature should be no less than 60 degrees in the winter and no more than 10 to 20 degrees above the outdoor temperature in the summer. If your attic temperature climbs above 130 degrees, you may start running into issues with your energy bill, as well as the integrity of your roof.
Does radiant barrier block cell phone signal?
Can radiant barrier sheathing block cell phone signals? According to Robert Palardy, manager of technology at Louisiana-Pacific, “Radiant barrier sheathing does have a thin layer of aluminum on it, so it is certainly possible that it could affect a cell phone signal in a small way.
Can radiant barrier be used on walls?
You can certainly install a radiant barrier on your walls, given that there is a space of about 1-2 inches for air to circulate. The barrier can absorb the heat from the other side but reduce the heat being transferred into the room.