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A Guide On How to Install Radiant Barrier Foil Insulation
Most of the heat that gets into a home comes through the roof. Radiant barrier foil insulation fitting in an attic can decrease attic temperatures by almost 30 degrees when stapled with a staple gun to the underside of roof rafters. It bounces back up to 97% of the radiant heat that strikes its surface. It decreases heat transfer from the attic to living spaces resulting in lesser utility bills. This method also cuts down the heat subject to attic mounted AC ductwork allowing them to work more effectively. However, the concern in many people remains how to install radiant barrier effectively.
A secondary method of how to install radiant barrier in attic is to lay the foil insulation over the attic floor. That is as opposed to installing under the attic rafters. Even though this method of putting the foil over the attic floor will not reduce the temperature of your attic space, it will bounce back up to 97% of the radiant heat that strikes its surface. That automatically reduces heat transfer from the attic to living spaces. It would be best to work with this installation method to recover for the exposed AC duct. Typically, you can easily lay a blanket of radiant barrier over the ductwork to shield them from the heat.
General Radiant Barrier Foil Insulation Installation Tips
The following tips help reduce the labor time involved when fixing a radiant barrier and make the radiant barrier installation project easy.
- Ensure that you start early in the morning when the attic is at its coolest.
- Take all of your radiant barrier and tools into the attic to avoid unnecessary trips to and fro.
- Carry plenty of water with you and keep sipping even if you do not think you are thirsty, especially during summer months.
- Bring some additional lighting source if the attic is not well lit.
- Find a central working area.
Always be careful of the attic floor joists you walk on. They have a tendency of “rolling” when not firmly fastened to the floor of the attic- For Do-It-Yourself gurus who may be interested in installing radiant barrier insulation in stud wall, avoid trying to complete the job in one day. Take your time and extend the installation over several days while taking advantage of the cooler hours of the day.
- Professional contractors can work in groups of two to three. Having someone focused on cutting the product and handing it over to someone else installing it helps cut down radiant barrier installation costs.
If you do not know how to install radiant barrier foam board, it will help is you engaged a professional for the job. Feel free to get in touch with us and get the work done at an affordable price.
