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Frequently Asked Questions About Radiant Barrier Foil Insulation

Most Commonly Asked Radiant Barrier Questions

How should I install a radiant barrier in my attic?

Do I need a a radiant barrier or bubble insulation for my my attic?

Do I need a perforated or solid radiant barrier in my attic?

Can I install a radiant barrier directly underneath my shingles when reroofing?

Will dust accumulate on a radiant barrier and reduce its effectiveness?

What is the difference between Standard, Premium and Ultima radiant barrier?

General Radiant Barrier Questions

Is a radiant barrier the same as basic kitchen foil?

How does radiant barrier foil insulation work?

Can a radiant barrier keep me warmer in the winter?

What is the "R" value of a radiant barrier?

Do I have to have other insulation in my attic for a radiant barrier to be effective?

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

Will my roof shingles get hotter and deteriorate with a radiant barrier in my attic?

Will the radiant barrier aluminum corrode over time and lose its effectiveness?

Will dust accumulate on a radiant barrier and reduce its effectiveness?

How much money can I expect to save on my utility bills if I install a radiant barrier in my attic?

Are radiant barriers tested by qualified independent testing agencies or governmental agencies?

Can I return any unopened rolls of RadiantGUARD™ for a refund?

Shipping Questions:

I received a shipping tracking number but FedEx nor UPS show a current status of my package(s).

Answers:

How should I install a radiant barrier in my attic?

Please see our INSTALLATION Instructions page for the most common radiant barrier installation methods.  Our instructions can be easily reviewed online, printed and even saved to your local pc for later reading.

There are also many other locations in your home where a radiant barrier reflective insulation product can be effective.

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Do I need a a radiant barrier or bubble insulation for my my attic?

There is no need to purchase and install the more expensive reflective bubble insulation for your attic space as it will end up performing exactly the same as a radiant barrier which is almost 1/2 the cost.  However, you certainly can install the reflective bubble insulation in your attic space but stapled to the roof decking or underside of rafters only.  You cannot lay a bubble insulation product over the attic floor because it is a vapor barrier and will trap moisture that rises from your living space thereby causing condensation and potentially causing water damage in your attic space.  If you want to install one of our products on your attic floor, you much choose one of our perforated radiant barriers; Standard, Premium or Ultima.

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Do I need a perforated or solid radiant barrier in my attic?

A radiant barrier used in the attic floor application MUST be perforated to allow water vapor to pass through it. This is necessary because, during the winter, if there is no effective vapor retarder at the ceiling, water vapor from the living space may condense (and even freeze) on the underside of a radiant barrier lying on the attic floor and cause water damage to the ceiling and any existing attic floor insulation. Why? Because warm moisture laden air always moves towards cooler air and will condense on surfaces trapping the air if it is not a perforated material allowing the moisture laden air to pass through it and out the building structure

Read more here to determine if you need a solid radiant barrier.

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Can I install a radiant barrier directly underneath my shingles when reroofing?

No, a radiant barrier needs at least a 3/4" air space on at least one side of it for it to be effective.  If a radiant barrier were sandwiched between two surfaces, it would merely conduct heat all the way through it as if it were not installed.  The best location for installing a radiant barrier is in your attic space.

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Will dust accumulate on a radiant barrier and reduce its effectiveness?

This very issue has been studied by several research institutes.

An exhaustive test performed by James R. Hall, project engineer for the Tennessee Valley Authority concluded that "... dust appeared to have little effect on the effectiveness of the radiant barrier.  The percent reduction in ceiling heat flux was remarkably similar to that of a radiant barrier with no dust.  He stated that a radiant barrier's performance "...may not degrade nearly as much as would be expected from the significant increases in emissivity caused by small amounts of dust." Click here to read the report - summary conclusion is on page six.

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What is the difference between Standard, Premium and Ultima radiant barrier?

The primary differences in RadiantGUARD® Standard, Premium and Ultima radiant barriers are in the weights of each and the puncture and tear resistance factors.  Ultima is our most durable and industrialized radiant barrier with an extremely high puncture and tear resistance factor.  It is ideal stapled to the underside of roof rafters and stapled to wall studs as a house wrap.  Ultima perforated can also be laid over the attic floor.

Premium is our next durable product and is the most versatile of our radiant barriers ideal for both stapling to attic rafters and laying over the attic floor.  Standard is our entry level radiant barrier with the least puncture and tear resistance making it primarily suited for laying over the attic floor.

All RadiantGUARD® radiant barrier products are high quality, double-sided, tear and puncture resistant radiant barrier products of higher quality than many of the other radiant barrier products in the marketplace.  They each BLOCK 97% of the radiant heat.

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Is a radiant barrier the same as basic kitchen foil?

Basic kitchen foil is not the same as our RadiantGUARD® radiant barriers.  Basic kitchen foil is comprised of approximately 22% aluminum  along with other alloys and minerals that will cause the kitchen foil to break down over time.  Our products are made of 99.5% pure aluminum.  The higher concentrated aluminum makes our products highly reflective allowing them to BLOCK 97% of the radiant heat.  Our radiant barrier foil insulation products also contain small perforations so they breathe eliminating condensation issues.

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How does radiant barrier foil insulation work?

Radiant barrier foil insulation is unlike mass insulation that merely slows down or resists heat transfer.  A radiant barrier BLOCKS radiant heat.  Heat always moves to colder areas by natural law - the problem is how to keep the heat in the winter and how to keep it out in the summer.  There are three ways in which heat moves from warm spaces to cold spaces: CONDUCTION is the direct heat flow through a solid object such as a wall or a ceiling.  CONVECTION is heat movement through air, occurring when air is warmed.  The warm expands, becoming less dense and rising.  RADIATION is the movement of heat rays across air spaces from one warm object to a cooler object.  The heat we feel from a wood stove or a quartz space heater is radiant heat.  ALL OBJECTS AND BODIES GIVE OFF RADIANT HEAT.

Radiant barriers BLOCK radiant heat by reflecting it back towards the direction it came as well as REDUCE convective heat by acting as a blockage against convective air flow.  With a radiant barrier properly installed, you can significantly reduce the amount of heat that common insulation materials are designed to slow down thereby maximizing the efficiency of common insulation materials making your living space more comfortable and reducing your overall energy utility costs.

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Can a 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, installing a radiant barrier in your attic will help hold heat in the house.  Another analogy would be that radiant barrier foil insulation 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 wool blankets.

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What is the "R" value of a radiant barrier?

Radiant barriers do not "absorb" heat like mass insulation (fiberglass, cellulose, foam, etc).  Instead, our RadiantGUARD® radiant barriers, with their highly reflective surfaces, reflect 97% of the radiant heat that hits it and therefore, have no R-value rating.

Installing a radiant barrier between the heat source (sun) and an existing R-Value rated insulation will improve the effectiveness of the R-Value rated insulation.  Why?  Because only 3% of the heat is now hitting the R-Value rated mass insulation giving it more time to absorb heat before becoming saturated and passing the heat into your living spaces.

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Do I have to have other insulation in my attic for a radiant barrier to be effective?

No.  Radiant barrier foil insulation actually makes your present insulation more effective.  Installing a radiant barrier between the heat source (sun) and an existing R-Value rated insulation will improve the effectiveness of the R-Value rated insulation.  Why?  Because only 3% of the heat is now hitting the R-Value rated mass insulation giving it more time to absorb heat before becoming saturated and passing the heat into your living spaces.

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

Regardless of how much insulation you have in your attic, adding radiant barrier foil insulation 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 a number of factors, including climate, building configuration, materials used, site, family size and lifestyle.

A1   SUMMER:  "A radiant barrier system can stop 97% of the thermal radiation across an attic space.  If it is not stopped, that radiant energy would be absorbed by the ceiling insulation and eventually be transferred to the living space below."  "The Solar Collector," Quarterly Newsletter of the Florida Solar Energy Center.

"The heat storage capacity of reflective insulation is low.  As a result, it does not store heat during summer days, only to pass it on down into the rooms of the house from the attic at night when coolness is most apt to be desired from the point of view of sleeping comfort."  "Progressive Architecture," Nov. 1949, Page 76.

A2   WINTER:  "CONCLUSIONS: Reflective foil retrofitted to fiberglass insulated . . . buildings is demonstrably effective in reducing heat loss . . . Installation of foil in uninsulated buildings would show even more pronounced reduction in heat loss."  "Effects of Reflective Foil On Heat Loss in Attic Floors and Metal Building Installations," Northeastern Illinois University, Prof. Charles Shabica, May 20, 1986.

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Will my roof shingles get hotter and deteriorate with a radiant barrier in my attic?

A radiant barrier may cause an increase in shingle temperature between 2-5 degrees Fahrenheit on a hot summer day.  Given that shingle temperature at that time is in the range of 160-190 degrees, this increase is negligible and does not accelerate shingle degradation.

Radiant barrier foil insulation has been used extensively in the south, showing negligible differences in roof temperatures, as confirmed by field tests.  Read more about radiant barriers and roof shingle temperatures.

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Will the radiant barrier aluminum corrode over time and lose its effectiveness?

A1 "Hundreds of samples of aluminum foil have been stored in the laboratory for various periods of time up to 10 years with no visible signs of deterioration."  "American Society of Heating & Air Conditioning Engineers' Journal Section."

A2 "Aluminum is highly resistant to the effect of corrosion . . . Aluminum is constantly being used where it is exposed to weather, salt spray and other conditions, which would adversely affect most metals."   The United States Rubber Co. Booklet, "Serving You Through Science." Page 5.

As long as RadiantGUARD® radiant barriers products are properly installed and not exposed to outdoor weather conditions, they are expected to last the lifetime of the building structure in which they are installed.

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How much money can I expect to save on my utility bills if I install a radiant barrier in my attic?

Although RadiantGUARD® radiant barriers BLOCK 97% of radiant heat, your utility bills savings will vary because there are other forms of heat flow in a building that contribute to the total cooling (or heating) load.  Data varies by region.

Based on a radiant barrier study performed by the Tennessee Value Authority, savings averaged approximately 9% with some results found as high at 17%. 

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Are radiant barrier tested by qualified independent testing agencies or governmental agencies?

The Florida Solar Energy Center at Cape Canaveral has tested radiant barriers in both small scale laboratory and full scale building models.  Their results indicate that radiation barriers provide significant resistance to heat transfer.  Current tests conducted by the Tennessee Valley Authority and the University of Mississippi support the findings at the Florida Solar Energy Center.  Northeastern Illinois University conducted winter tests in residential and commercial structures using infra-red thermograph photography.  The photos showed significant resistance to heat transfer over the regular insulation.

All RadiantGUARD® radiant barrier products meet the Standard Specifications for Sheet Radiant Barriers for Building Construction Applications ASTM C1313 and the State of California Title 24 Insulation Standards.

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I received a shipping tracking number but FedEx nor UPS show a current status of my package(s)

Shipping labels for orders are generated the day before the order is shipped in most cases.  FedEx and UPS will show a current shipping status once they actually pick up your order from our warehouse.  If you currently do not see a shipping status on the FedEx or UPS websites, wait until the end of business day after your order was placed.  You should be able to inquire on the shipping status at that time.

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Can I return any unopened rolls of RadiantGUARD® for a refund?

Yes, please see our Return Policy for information about the conditions under which we will accept a return for a refund.

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