Ok, Update. I'm getting foil radiant barrier installed next week.

The measurement of area under the roof for my house is 3,500sq ft. and the roof pitch factor of 1.3. And this guy is going to charge $1 per sq ft. I actually have 2 attics and the main attic isn't flat. He's going to wrap my water heaters with radiant barrier foil with bubbles and he is also going to move my vents around a bit in the attic to space it away from the roof surface.
It's going to cost me $4,000. The spray quote was $2,900. I'm going with foil.

I will take pictures of my attic before and after and I will also post results of my little experiment.

Here is my installer from Dallas.

Mike at All Pro Services. 214-773-1651.

www.go2apro.com

Tell them John from Rowlett sent ya. He'll take care of you and I get a referral fee!!!

Did the guy say how the stuff will hold up?

Lifetime warranty.

quote:

---

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.

---

I briefly considered DIY. I went up in my attic and surveyed it for about 5 minutes.

No Freaking Way I'm going to risk my life installing foil Radiant Barrier.

Keep us posted

Will it stretch and sag?

quote:

---

Will it stretch and sag?

---

Shrugs..who knows. But I've flown 35 year old cessnas made of aluminum.

The foil barrier isn't just aluminum. It looks like a double layer of pliable aluminum with mesh in the middle. It does not have your typical cooking foil feel to it rather more like cloth.

I know what you're thinking. Aluminum foil wrap that's been sitting on a grill becomes thin and brittle and it can break apart.

But the radiant barrier has a copletely different feel to it.

Update: Install starts tomorrow.

Current temperature in the attic at 3:12pm = 116 degrees

Outside: Partly cloudy 94 degrees.

AD89,

you have gmail.

Why is he wrapping the water heaters?

This will reduce the heat in your attic, but it will take a long time to pay back $4000. Probably 15-20 yrs.

When I ran a heat load on my house, the load from the roof was 26% of the total heat load for my second story. It you reduce this by half you haven't removed that much overall load on the house.

Just don't think you are going to get $40 elec bills by adding radiant barrier.

quote:

---

Why is he wrapping the water heaters?

This will reduce the heat in your attic, but it will take a long time to pay back $4000. Probably 15-20 yrs.

When I ran a heat load on my house, the load from the roof was 26% of the total heat load for my second story. It you reduce this by half you haven't removed that much overall load on the house.

Just don't think you are going to get $40 elec bills by adding radiant barrier.

---

Great! So in 20 years I can look back and say it's been paid for!

And no, I will never ever have a $40 electric bill with a swimming pool and a 4,300 sq ft house.

BTW, did you account for the future increase in cost per kilowatt in the calculation to come up with 15 to 20 years?

My electric bill runs $250 to $650 per month. So without inflation, you're thinking I will save $16.67 per month on electric bill due to radiant barrier. I think I might be able to save slightly more than that...

I didn't account for future increases in elec. bills. you will save I just didn't want you to think it was a 5 year payback. All this being said I am looking at doing it for my house.

I know what you mean.

If I can keep the bill at the same level but decrease the temperature in the house by 1 degree, I would be ecstatic...Makes a big difference for us to go from 78 to 77 degrees in the house.

I suggest the foil. It's great as a radiant barrier and keep the government from reading your brain waves.




Seriously though... do any of you guys remember multi-level marketing people who sold Eagle Shield 20 years ago? They'd just sell you the rolls so you can put it up yourself. I helped my dad put it up in the attic and it's still there.

http://www.eagleshield.com/

The small attic is done and the main attic is more than half way done...so says the Mrs..since I'm not home right now.

She feels that some of the rooms are cooler and the air coming out of the duct seems cooler.

I'm sure this is all subjective placebo type of effect.

When I get home, I'll look at the thermometer and report back.

I'm going to give Mike in Houston a call. Setting the thermo to 77 in my house is actually cold feeling. Good thread.

quote:

---

Will it stretch and sag?

---

maybe a little, but it wont affect the performance.

the foil i got is pretty sturdy. imagine the blue tarps (that you can get from walmart or academy), but just a little thinner. then sandwich that tarp between two layers of foil.

you will pull the staple out of the wood long before you rip the foil.

Hard to tell how well mine is performing, but since I have had the barrier and insulation installed I have noticed the following:

1) Wife has not complained about the air conditioner blowing all the time (Our intake vent is loud, so she complains when it is running - needs to be made bigger)
2) Hallway where the attic door is seems cooler (door tent added as well).
3) House seems cooler when i get home (leave it on 80 while we are at work).

I seem to think it was a good deal. defenately worth it if you are staying in your house awhile.

Update.

They're almost done. I'm still not home yet but the report is from the Mrs. She said that all the rooms upstairs are cooler and no doubt about it. My 8 year old daughter who has no clue about the radiant barrier says her room and the closet are much cooler.

Mrs says one of the restrooms on the first floor is actually cold.

Thermostat has not been touched in my house.

Ok...it could be subjective right?

At 4:15pm today...96 degrees outside, the thermometer reading in the attic was 101 and the installation is not complete yet. Remember, a couple of days ago without the radiant barrier, the temperature in my attic was 116 degrees.

If you want to install it yourself check out this install method from AtticFoil.com

http://atticfoil.com/picts/1%20Foil%20Install%20Pictures/FlatTop%20Install%20Pics/radiant_barrier_install2.jpg



[This message has been edited by GreyBoy (edited 7/10/2008 11:48a).]

Sorry, I can't figure out how to get the picture to show up.

Rooks can't post pics:

I didn't read this entire thread, but if anyone is interested in the spray on reflective barriers, the only ones worth your money are Heatbloc-75, Lo/Mit (both versions I and II are great), and Radiance e.25.

Other than that they're all not worth your cash.

The 3 I mentioned all have emittance values all lower than .25 whereas most other competitors can only vouch for an emittance of .5 or higher.

Of course this does not compete with the foil, but for some people this is the right choice. Especially since you can install it yourself for a couple hundred bucks depending on the size of your home

[This message has been edited by McInnis 03 (edited 7/10/2008 9:40p).]

http://www.rimainternational.org/pdf_files/Evaluation%20of%20Coatings%20for%20Use%20as%20Interior%20Radiation%20Control%20Coatings.pdf

The report where I obtained said values.

what is the verdict

Just keep in mind if doing the foil method, you have to utilize an exhaust method near the top of your roof to remove the super heated air that will exist between the foil and the roof. Ridge vents or rotating turbines would work fine, but if your house is old like mine and has no ventilation at the peak, you may need to install attic ventilation to get maximum effectiveness from the foil method.

If anyone still doubts this technology, find a friend who has this installed and walk into their attic this month. It's proven technology, not bogus.

Soon as I get some other projects done I will have to get back up in my attic and finish my foil barrier.

Unfortunately replacing my AC Unit plus compressor got in the way of more passive methods for the time being.

Kool-Attics is installing a radiant barrier, attic fan, and attic tent in my house tomorrow morning.

Currently my house in Cypress struggles to stay between 77-80 degrees with the AC running constantly... I will post the results tomorrow.

If you install an attic fan, make sure you have plenty of open and clear soffit vents to allow air to come into your attic. Otherwise, the fan will just suck the air out of your home through can lights, etc. And, the motor will burn out very quickly.

quote:

---

If you install an attic fan, make sure you have plenty of open and clear soffit vents to allow air to come into your attic. Otherwise, the fan will just suck the air out of your home through can lights, etc. And, the motor will burn out very quickly.

---

I was told this.

Speaking of soffit vents...

When I started installing the foil, I found that the builder had stuffed every soffit vent with batt insulation. Zero air flow.



[This message has been edited by ryn (edited 7/14/2008 11:20a).]

Baffled Insulation? If he put a baffle down, there was airflow and he did it right.....

Thanks. This is useful data.