Radiant Barrier Houston
Radiant barriers are installed in homes -- usually in attics -- primarily to reduce summer heat gain and reduce cooling costs. The barriers consist of a highly reflective material that reflects radiant heat rather than absorbing it.
When the sun heats a roof, it's primarily the sun's radiant energy that makes the roof hot. Much of this heat travels by conduction through the roofing materials to the attic side of the roof. The hot roof material then radiates its gained heat energy onto the cooler attic surfaces, including the air ducts and the attic floor. A radiant barrier reduces the radiant heat transfer from the underside of the roof to the other surfaces in the attic.
Radiant barrier keeps the attic space cooler and lowers cooling costs by up to 20% in hot climates like Houston.
Types of Radiant Barrier
Sheathing
Radiant barrier sheathing is composed of plywood with a laminate of aluminum foil on one side. This is typically installed during construction or during a total roof replacement.
Foil
Radiant barrier foil is applied to the rafters in your attic. An airspace is allowed between the bottom of the attic roof and the insulation.
Spray-on radiant barrier
A radiant barrier sprayed is applied directly to the underside of the roof decking in your attic.
