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Questions tagged [radiant-barrier]

Media that provide thermal insulation by reflecting heat

Radiant barriers are typically highly-reflective foils designed to reflect heat.

The U.S. Deptartment of Energy provides an overview here.

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Is there any reason not to use a radiant barrier in the attic?

I am considering putting up a radiant barrier in my attic, with a product like AtticFoil, to: Reduce the attic temperatures as my A/C ducting is in the attic, and Reduce heat convection into my home as well. Are there any drawbacks or concerns to…
funkadelic
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How should I insulate hydronic radiant heating under floorboards

A couple weeks ago a contractor installed hydronic radiant heating at my place. The building is two floors (studio above a garage) and the heating was installed under the floorboards. When he finished installing the piping and pumps he told me I'd…
Stickel
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Would a radiant barrier help stop this heat transfer?

Using my nifty thermal camera, I discovered that my furnace closet's combustion air duct (visible in this question) is getting really hot when the attic heats up, and then (being sheet metal) it radiates that heat into the furnace closet. When this…
iLikeDirt
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How to insulate under hot water radiant flooring over a crawlspace?

I just built a small extension on my wood frame house. We are in the northeast (winters down to the low teens). We added three small rooms (mudroom, laundry, bath). They all now have hot water radiant heat in the floors: Separate…
bib
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What kind of insulation should we put under new tin roof?

We live in an old long leaf pine farmhouse that has no insulation in it. We are going to be putting a new metal roof on the house. The attic of the house was made into living space and so there is really no attic space between the upstairs ceiling…
Sandra
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Is it effective to install foam sheets over radiant foil?

I'm restoring my childhood home and am considering changing to a conditioned attic. There's no drywall on the ceiling yet and I've already installed radiant foil on the bottom of my rafters. The attic is currently vented through the soffit and gable…
Newland
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Radiant barrier to improve attic HVAC?

Does anyone have experience with adding a radiant barrier to the attic rafters to keep the attic HVAC cool in the summer? I've got a 2.5 ton unit that really struggles when the attic gets to 130F. Multiple roofers have confirmed my soffit and ridge…
user1234057
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Radiant barriers and termites

I live in a warm climate and am working on improvements to improve my insulation and reduce cooling bills in the summer. I bought several rolls of radiant barrier which I was planning to install in the attic. I understand that there should be an air…
Kevin
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Trying to insulate a radiator steam pipe exposed in my bedroom

Have an exposed radiator pipe in my bedroom, which clearly supplies steam to other units in the building, so its always "on", regardless of whether my radiator is on or not. This makes the room unbearably hot. I've looked into some products online,…
Seth
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Easiest way to Airseal an attic space

House got gutted by a fire and now all of it has been demo'd down to the framing and the exterior sheathing. Location is Albuquerque. We are looking at the easiest way to air seal the attic space. Attic is typical height truss space. I think about…
Ya Guy Godzilla
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How to minimize radiant warming of unfinished uninsulated garage in California summer sun?

We have a 75-year-old attached but unfinished and uninsulated redwood stick-built garage, roughly 20x20 feet. In the unshaded California summer sun, the roof gets quite warm and radiates the heat into the garage, making it uncomfortably warm some…
Armand
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Is an aluminium radiant barrier allowed to cover insulation paper facing instead of drywall?

First some context: Geographical location: City of Sacramento, CA, USA Building: Residential detached garage. Goal: To keep it cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Approach: kraft paper faced fiberglass batt insulation was stapled between the…
Johan van Ravenhorst
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Is there any reason not to use radiant barrier sheathing in walls of attic room

I am finishing out an above-garage room that is currently attic space. The roof has radiant barrier sheathing (ie foil-lined OSB). I have a few walls that are currently just studs open into the attic. I plan to add OSB on the back of these walls…
Daniel
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Can radiant foil act as insulation baffles in an attic?

We're planning to put R60 cellulose insulation and a radiant barrier foil. We will staple those barriers into the roof framing. Will the radiant barrier foil withhold an R60 insulation to prevent it from going to the soffits or we will still need to…
Josh
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Replacing cedar shake siding and adding insulation

I have old cedar shake siding on a portion of my home, built in the 1950s, and am planning to replace it with a cement siding. Underneath the cedar are nailers, then the open cavity of the wall. In many places there is no insulation, and I plan to…
user15741
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