With the economy being at an all time low, people are trying to save money wherever they can. Radiant barrier insulation is used to keep heat out in the summer and cold out in the winter. This will significantly lower your electric bill by limiting the use of heating and cooling. It can be installed in residential or commercial buildings.
If you are looking to add some insulation to your home, you can easily do it yourself. Costs will vary widely, but it can be up to 50% cheaper if you complete the project without the help of a contractor. Radiant barrier insulation is typically made of a thin sheet of reflective material. Substances that can be coated with aluminum or another type of reflective coating are cardboard, plastic films and plywood sheathing.
It doesn’t take a genius to install this type of insulation. The barrier is ideally placed directly on top of the existing insulation in a home’s attic. If you are installing the radiant reflecting material to an existing home, this is going to be the easiest method of installation. Another way to attach the insulation is to secure it to the bottom of the roof’s rafters. If the home is not yet built, you can lay the insulated barrier on top of the roof’s rafters before the roof deck is applied.
Radiant barrier insulation works similarly as conventional insulation. The main difference is that the barrier reduces the amount of heat that is transferred between the roof deck and the attic floor. Conventional insulation traps still air within the material. This reduces the transfer of heat or cold by limiting it’s movement. The installation of certain types of radiant barrier insulation will depend on if you live in an area with very cold winters. If your product doesn’t have holes, or a way for water vapor to pass through, water may build up and end up freezing. In this case, it may be better to apply the radiant barrier to the roof instead of the attic floor in such very cold climates because this method does not require water to pass through.
Installing radiant barrier insulation is one of the easiest steps you can take to start making your home environmentally friendly. You will be pleasantly surprised at your lowered electric bill. It is very easy to manufacture, so don’t avoid adding this to your home because you think it is too difficult.