Having Radiant Barrier in your attic will contribute to an increase in savings on your energy bills and maintaining coolness and warmness in your attic at the appropriate seasons (i.e. winter vs. summer).

The image on the right shows you the attic temperatures with and without radiant barrier installation. As you can see, there is quite a difference.

Make sure you inquire with your consultant about the advantages of Radiant Barrier in the Attic. You too, can have an energy efficient attic.

What is the R-value of radiant barrier insulation?

The R-value depends on the number and size of the airspaces surrounding the radiant barrier and on the direction of the heat flow. Since radiant barrier is usually installed on top of existing mass insulation, its R-value is a moot point. It is radiant barrier’s ability to reflect heat that makes it such an energy saver.

How does radiant barrier keep me warmer in the winter?

Just like wrapping a baked potato in aluminum foil keeps a potato warm longer by holding the heat in, covering your attic insulation with radiant barrier holds heat in the house. Another analogy would be that radiant barrier in the winter works just like a space blanket, which, although very thin and lightweight, holds your body heat in. A thin space blanket can keep you warmer than several heavy blankets.

If radiant barrier keeps heat in during the winter, how can it keep heat out in the summer?

Just like a space suit, radiant barrier reflects the sun’s heat before it can warm up the insulation in your attic. When the insulation stays cooler, your house will stay cooler. It helps to understand how radiant barrier will work for you if you think of other things that work in a similar manner.

What if radiant barrier collects dust over a period of time? Will it still work?

Research institutes have studied this very issue. Most attics don’t accumulate enough dust to affect radiant barrier’s ability to save energy costs. Thousands of homes and structures have had radiant barrier installed for as long as ten years or more with no significant accumulation.

Won’t my roof get hotter when I have radiant barrier insulation in my attic?

That hasn’t been proven. Radiant barrier has been used extensively in the south, showing no difference in roof temperatures, as confirmed by field tests.

Do I have to take out my old insulation to put radiant barrier in?

No. Radiant barrier actually makes your present insulation more effective.

Where do you install radiant barrier?

Radiant barrier can be laid over your present insulation like a blanket or stapled under your rafters or crawl space.

What about foil-faced fiberglass? Isn’t it just as good as radiant barrier?

No. The foil on the fiberglass is in direct contact with the attic floor. Aluminum foil becomes more conductive when in contact with a solid surface. The air space facing the reflective surface is of primary importance.

I already have plenty of insulation in my attic. Do I need radiant barrier insulation?

Regardless of how much insulation you have in your attic, adding radiant barrier will save on your heating and cooling expense, and keep you much more comfortable. Energy savings for heating and cooling can be as much as 17%, depending on different factors, including climate, building configuration, materials used, site, family size and lifestyle.