Radiant barrier is a home insulation type that is focused on reducing summer heat gain.
Attic radiant heat barrier.
A radiant barrier is designed to increase the effectiveness of your thermal envelope.
Radiant barriers are installed in homes usually in attics primarily to reduce summer heat gain and reduce cooling costs.
Radiant barriers are made of aluminum and designed to reflect radiant heat from the sun.
By reducing the amount of radiant heat reaching the insulation in your attic the insulation remains cooler and is able to keep your home more comfortable.
Unlike traditional thick layers of insulation radiant barrier is a thin reflective material.
The hotter it gets the better radiant barriers work.
When installed properly radiant barriers can reflect up to 95 of the radiant heat off the attic.
A cooler attic space means less heat moving to the cooler space below the attic.
This thin reflective material is designed to bounce the sun s heat away from your home instead of allowing your attic to absorb the heat and pass it into your home.
It is meant to supplement insulation not replace it.
The best way i have seen to describe this effect is it s like putting your home or office under a shade tree.
Benefits of radiant barrier sheathing when utilizing osb radiant barrier sheathing you can reflect up to 97 of solar radiation which translates into an.