Radiant Barrier Installation Methods / Techniques

Below are the most common application installation instructions for our products.  Each installation method indicates basic highlights and provides a link to view the full details of the installation.

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Visit our Tips, Tricks & Techniques page on our website for great advice to consider to help your installation project go easier.

Attic Installations
	Over The Attic Floor - Install Highlights Found to provide the highest reduction in heat transfer. Recommended RadiantGUARD® products - Premium or Ultima (MUST be perforated) Can be rolled out over attic floor joists or over existing insulation (batted or blown-in) on attic floor No taping or stapling necessary Must stay 3" away from any heat sources (canister lights, furnace vents, etc) Must apply to knee walls *Note: Dust accumulation may diminish the effectiveness over time but not nearly as much as would be expected from the increases in emissivity caused by the dust. *Note: May introduce rare occurrences of condensation in colder climates. *Note: The EPA does not currently recommend this installation method. View Detailed Instructionsnss
	Under Roof Rafters - Install Highlights Recommended RadiantGUARD® products - Ultima (perforated is recommended) Stapled to the underside of the rafters or stapled inside the rafter space at least 3/4" from roof decking Stay 3" away from roof ridge and 3" from bottom edge soffit vents to allow for air flow behind barrier Cut out below all vents Must apply to gable walls. View Detailed Instructions
	Under Roof Decking (Above Rafters) - Install Highlights Recommended RadiantGUARD® products - Premium or Ultima (perforated is recommended) Draped and stapled over the top side of the rafters before roof decking is applied. Stay 3" away from roof ridge and 3" from bottom edge soffit vents to allow for air flow behind barrier Cut out below all vents Must apply to gable walls. View Detailed Instructions
	Cathedral Ceiling - Install Highlights Recommended RadiantGUARD® products - FOIL Double Bubble or Ultima solid. Minimum of 1" gap required next to roof decking for air flow. FOIL Bubble stapled directly to underside of rafters, overlaid with furring strips to which to attach ceiling drywall. View Detailed Instructions

More Residential Installation Instructions

HVAC Ducts

• Applied directly to duct - R-Value 4.2 - when used in conjunction with existing duct insulation (i.e. fiberglass) to increase the insulation systems overall performance.
• Applied with 3/4" air spacers and 1 layer of bubble insulation - R-Value: 6.0
• Applied with 3/4" air spaces and 2 layers of bubble insulation - R-Value 8.0

House Wrap Behind Brick or Siding

• Behind Brick - R-Value 3.4
• Behind Siding - R-Value 2.5

Side Walls

• 2" X 4" wall studs with R-13 un-faced - Assembly R-Value 16.0 - achieved by creating a 3/4" air space between bubble insulation and interior wall.
• 2" X 4" wall studs with R-19 un-faced - Assembly R-Value 22.0 - achieved by creating a 3/4" air space between bubble insulation and interior wall.

Crawl Space - R-Value 16.8 - achieved by attaching to the underside of 2" x 10" wood floor joists creating a 9.5" air space.

Basement / Masonry Wall

• R-Value 6.1 - achieved by attaching to middle of  2 X 2 furring strip frame creating a 3/4" air space on both sides of bubble insulation (between bubble insulation and masonry wall and between bubble insulation and interior room surface).
• R-Value 4.2 - achieved by attaching to surface of a 2 X 2 furring strip frame creating a 2" air space between bubble insulation and the masonry wall.
• R-Value 3.7 - achieved by attaching to surface of a 1 X 2 furring strip frame creating a 1" air space between bubble insulation and the masonry wall.

Hot Water Heater - R-Value 4.5 - achieved with 5/8" air space between product and water heater.

Garage Doors - R-Value 3.0 - achieved with product applied directly to garage door panels and product exposed to garage air space

Radiant Flooring

• Radiant Heating in Concrete - R-Value 1.1
• Radiant Heating under Wood Joists     R-Value: 17.0 - achieved by enclosing a 6" air space above the bubble insulation below the flooring above.

Metal Building Installations

Roof Installation Instructions:

• New Metal Roofs (open interior)
  • With Thermal Break - R-Value 9.2 (heat flow down)  R-Value 4.1 (heat flow up) - achieved by creating a 3/4" air space between roofing and bubble insulation and an 8" air space between insulation and the interior finish (if exists).
  • Without Thermal Break - R-Value 7.6 (heat flow down) R-Value 3.9 (heat flow up)- achieved by creating a 3/4" nominal air space between roofing and bubble insulation and an 8" air space between insulation and the interior finish (if exists).
• Retrofit Metal Roofs (open interior) - R-Value 11 (heat flow down) R-Value 4.4 (heat flow up) - achieved by creating an 8" air space between the roofing and the bubble insulation.

Wall Installation Instructions:

• New Metal Walls (open interior)
  • With Thermal Break - R-Value 5.6 - achieved by creating a 3/4" air space between the exterior finish and the bubble insulation and an 8" air space between the insulation and the interior finish.
  • Without Thermal Break - R-Value 4.7 - achieved by creating a 3/4" nominal air space between the exterior finish and bubble insulation and an 8" air space between insulation and the interior finish (if exists)
• Retrofit Metal Walls (open interior) - R-Value 4.5 - achieved by creating an 8" air space between the exterior wall and the bubble insulation.

Post Frame / Pole Barn Installations

Roof Installation Instructions:

• New Post Frame / Pole Barn Roofs (open interior)
  • Bottom of Purlins - R-Value 9 (heat flow down) R-Value 4.4 (heat flow up) - achieved by attaching to the underside of 2" x 4" roof purlins creating a 2" air space between bubble insulation and metal exterior roof.
  • Above Purlins - R-Value 6.4 (heat flow down) R-Value 4.3 (heat flow up) - achieved by attaching to the top of 2" X 4" roof purlins with at least a 3/4" drape between purlins.
• Retrofit Post Frame / Pole Barn Roofs
  • Bottom of Purlins - R-Value 9 (heat flow down) R-Value 4.4 (heat flow up) - achieved by attaching to the underside of 2" x 4" roof purlins creating a 2" air space between bubble insulation and metal exterior roof.
  • Bottom of Truss - R-Value 10 (heat flow down) R-Value 3.7 (heat flow up)

Wall Installation Instructions:

• New Post Frame / Pole Barn Walls (open interior)
  • Inside the Girts - R-Value 5.3 - achieved by creating a 1" air space between the bubble insulation and the outside panel.
  • Outside the Girts - R-Value 4.7 - achieved by creating at least a 3/4" air space between the bubble insulation and the outside panel.
• Retrofit Post Frame / Pole Barn Walls(open interior)
  • Inside the Girts - R-Value 5.3 - achieved by creating a 1" air space between the bubble insulation and the outside panel.