Does Radiant Barrier Work?

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

You’ve seen our radiant barrier and heard us talk about the huge difference it can make in lowering your attic temperature. Did you know that how it’s installed makes a big difference in answering the question of does radiant barrier work? The poorly installed radiant barrier will not get you the results you want.

A radiant barrier is a material that reflects the heat of sunlight. The purpose of this material is to prevent the sun’s heat from entering the attic space. Radiant barriers are very effective in areas with significant temperature changes throughout the year.

The radiant barrier keeps the attic cooler in summer, reducing your air conditioning costs. It also keeps it warmer in winter, decreasing your heating bills. There are many advantages of installing a radiant barrier.

Please continue reading to learn more about the Energy Attic difference in radiant barrier installation and our advice.

How We Install Radiant Barrier

A properly installed radiant barrier is stapled to the rafters of your attic. This method leaves a 6-8 inch air barrier, allowing the foil to breathe. This reduces the chance of any radiant heat being conducted into your attic! Radiant barrier foil LOVES air…let it breathe!

As hot air rises, the foil allows it to travel from your soffit vents up to the top of your attic, which can be exhausted through your roof vents. Whatever ventilation system you may have: passive, turbine fans, ridge vents, electric fans, or solar vents…radiant barrier can be engineered to allow proper airflow and reduce your attic temperatures dramatically!

On the other hand, anything applied directly to your roof deck will not breathe and will most certainly conduct radiant heat into your attic space. It’s essential to consider the different types of products out there and ensure that you are getting FOIL stapled to your rafters!

Why We Do Not Recommend Installing Radiant Barrier On The Floor

Radiant barrier installed on the floor is mostly a thing of the past…but we still see it occasionally. In the northern states, it’s still popular, but remember, a radiant barrier is designed to stop heat from entering your attic at the source: THE ROOF!

Moisture can be trapped under a radiant barrier installed on the floor, insulation underneath can be damaged, and it doesn’t work effectively. Make sure you are installing products to do what they are designed to do: radiant barrier stops heat from entering the attic, and insulation on the floor of your attic will keep your conditioned air in your living space.

What To Do If Your Already Have Radiant Barrier Installed On The Floor

Some of the hottest attics we’ve ever been in already have radiant barriers on the floor. They called us out, saying, “Hey, we got a barrier, but it didn’t work!” And they were right. It didn’t work because it wasn’t installed properly! By removing foil off the attic floor and adequately installing it on the roof rafters, we will change your mind about radiant barriers forever!

Would you like to see how a radiant barrier in your attic can lower energy bills? Give us a call; we’d love to talk to you!