Atticfoil is the proven solution for 250 000 homes.
How much cooler will my attic be with radiant barrier.
When utilizing osb radiant barrier sheathing you can reflect up to 97 of solar radiation which translates into an attic heat reduction of up to 30 f.
Find out whether it s worth the money to install a radiant barrier in your attic.
The reduced heat gain may even allow for a smaller air conditioning system.
Radiant barrier foil insulation will make a lot bigger impact than attic ventilation on keeping the attic cooler and the upstairs rooms cooler.
The answer is that there are other things you can do that would be more effective in terms of energy efficiency.
The third graph shows attic temperatures from the middle of the attic for several different types of roofing as well as a sealed attic.
In cool climates.
First let me point out that the use of radiant barrier systems in a home is far from anything new.
For example most homes don t have enough insulation to start with.
Some studies show that radiant barriers can reduce cooling costs 5 to 10 when used in a warm sunny climate.
One of the best ways to keep your home s living space cooler is by keeping your attic cooler.
Adding a radiant barrier prevents the sun from beating down onto your attic and heating it up which means this option can help keep your attic cool in the summer.
What i always recommend is to add radiant barrier first and then see what the air temperature is below the foil before messing with the ventilation.
The hotter it gets the better radiant barriers work.
Ideally after you install a radiant barrier the air temperature inside the attic should probably be within 10 to 15 degrees of ambient temperature.
When installing a foil type barrier the u s.
Installing 19 inches of batt insulation or 22 of blown in is the single most cost effective way to reduce your heating and cooling costs.
By putting a radiant barrier on the attic floor between the roofing material and the insulation much of the heat about 97 radiating from the hot roof is reflected back toward the roof before it can heat up the insulation.
Conversely the cool air in your home that is seeking to escape is reflected back into the home.
Department of energy recommends that you allow the material to droop between the attachment points to make at least a 1 0 inch 2 5 cm.
In this case the most reflective roofing material ivory ir selective metal tile is 23 4 f cooler than attic covered with dark shingles.
A cooler attic space means less heat moving to the cooler space below the attic.