Metalized Radiant Barrier Vs. Laminated Radiant Barrier

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Metalized Radiant Barrier Vs. Laminated Radiant Barrier

We get a lot of questions about our radiant barrier. When you look at our barrier compared to what most other companies use, you’ll notice that theirs is thick and heavy while ours is thin and light.

Why Thicker Isn’t Better

What’s the difference between our barriers and our competitors’ barriers? Our light material looks flimsy, but it’s quite a bit stronger.

The thick material other companies use, called “laminated radiant barrier,” seems more robust but tends to sag or even fall over time because of its weight. 

It can “delaminate” when exposed to extreme environments – a problem that any material that is “glued” together and then placed in a high-heat, high-moisture environment—like your attic—is going to have.

The Problems With Laminated Radiant Barrier

Have you ever tried to use a box that has been sitting in your attic for years? As soon as you grab the box, all the glue used to hold it together comes apart.

It’s the same with the laminated barrier. As it sits in a hot, humid climate, you start to get bubbles in the barrier, spots where the material starts to delaminate. Those delaminated areas create hot spots that do not reflect heat the way they were designed.

If a roof leaks and your laminated barrier gets wet, moisture will speed up the de-lamination process. Think about putting glue under water—it weakens the bond.

Why We Prefer Metalized Radiant Barrier

Instead of a laminated barrier, we use a metalized foil. Think about how when you open a bag of chips; you can see that the inside is a reflective aluminum material.

Our metalized barrier is made in a similar process. For all our techie friends out there, if you’ve ever soldered wire, you know that when you solder, you melt the metal down into the product.

This is how the aluminum is attached to our barrier. There’s no glue and no laminating process. They melt the aluminum down into the plastic scrim. You can leave this in a swimming pool for a week, and it won’t delaminate! When installed in your attic for years and years, it will not fail when exposed to extreme heat or moisture.

So when choosing a foil barrier, ask yourself: Do you want a heavy laminated barrier that will eventually delaminate? Or do you want a thin, lightweight metalized barrier that will stay true? We would love to show you our product in person. Just click the button below for a free estimate!