Attic Solutions
Radiant Barrier
A radiant barrier reflects heat away from your living space, using the same type of highly reflective material found in an astronaut's space suit.
How a Radiant Barrier Works
Solar energy is absorbed by your roof shingles, heating the roof sheathing and causing its underside to radiate heat into the attic. When a highly reflective radiant barrier is installed on top of the attic, much of that heat is reflected away from the home instead of radiating downward, which reduces that energy flow and lowers the attic's air temperature. In winter, when the roof is cold, a radiant barrier works in the other direction — reducing indoor heat loss through the ceiling.
Radiant barriers are even more effective when your air conditioner or ductwork is located in the attic. The cold air moving through duct lines exchanges energy with the surrounding attic air, and that energy loss is much smaller when the attic temperature is lowered by the radiant barrier. With a cooler attic, your air handler doesn't have to work as hard to condition the air, and installing a radiant barrier typically produces a noticeable difference in comfort throughout the house.
Where It Helps Most — and Where It Doesn't
Radiant barriers are worth being straight about, because the benefit is real but uneven. They do the most work in a hot climate on a house with ductwork and an air handler in the attic — which describes a great many homes here. The cooler attic means less energy lost from the ducts, and that shows up as comfort rather than just a number.
They do the least work where the attic floor is already well insulated, because the insulation is already doing much of that job. If your attic is under-insulated, adding insulation usually returns more per dollar than a radiant barrier does — and the honest answer for some homes is to do that first and revisit this afterwards.
Why We Install It on the Rafters
A radiant barrier works by reflection, and reflection depends on the surface staying clean. Foil laid flat on the attic floor collects dust, and a dusty reflective surface loses much of its effectiveness over time. Stapled to the underside of the rafters it stays vertical or sloped, sheds dust, and keeps working — which is why that is where it goes.
It also has to keep clear of the soffit vents. A barrier installed over the intake ventilation trades one problem for a worse one.
Related Attic Services
Attic Mold
Mold in the attic is a problem that needs to be addressed to protect indoor air quality throughout the home.
Blown-In Insulation
Blown-in insulation is a good solution for attics because it fills irregular gaps and voids that batt insulation can leave behind.
Solar Vent
Eco-friendly solar vents help cool your attic and keep it moisture-free, while saving energy.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. In summer it reflects solar heat away from the living space, and in winter — when the roof is cold — it works in reverse, reducing indoor heat loss through the ceiling.
It can. A radiant barrier lowers the attic's air temperature, which reduces heat gain through ductwork and ceilings located in or near the attic, so your air handler doesn't have to work as hard to keep the house cool.
Yes. A radiant barrier addresses radiant heat transfer, which is a different mechanism than the conductive heat transfer that standard insulation resists — the two work together rather than duplicating each other.
They do different jobs, so it depends on where your attic starts. If the attic floor is under-insulated, adding insulation usually returns more per dollar, and it is the honest first move. If insulation is already at recommended levels and you have ductwork or an air handler up there, a radiant barrier is where the remaining gain is. R-value measures resistance to conducted heat; a radiant barrier works on radiant heat instead, which is why comparing them by R-value compares different things.
Because reflection depends on the surface staying clean. Foil laid flat on the attic floor collects dust, and a dusty reflective surface loses much of its effectiveness over time. Stapled to the underside of the rafters it stays sloped, sheds dust, and keeps working. It also has to be kept clear of the soffit vents, since covering the intake ventilation trades one problem for a worse one.
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Nov 2024
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