Fiberglass Attic Insulation Vs Reflective

Radiant barriers reflect radiant heat.

Fiberglass attic insulation vs reflective.

Next i compared adding an additional r 19 to my existing r 19 level of attic insulation vs installing radiant barrier and the results actually surprised me a little. Radiant barriers and reflective systems. Fiberglas insulation has been the undisputed standard for buildings for many years but foil insulation is the new contender. What is the right insulation for an attic.

The sun heats up the roof and then the heat is transferred by radiant heat across the attic space until it hits the attic insulation. Reflective insulation is significantly thinner than fiberglass insulation. The reflectix site provides a great range of information about this and about how it differs from other types of insulation. The reflective insulation trade association also offers installation tips.

Fiberglass has been in use by builders since the later portions of the 1800 s. In a new house an installer typically drapes a rolled foil radiant barrier foil face down between the roof rafters to. The key to using reflectix properly is that you should take a little time to understand how reflective insulation works in the first place. Which is better will depend on the topography of the specific roof you re insulating.

Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. Remember traditional attic insulation has r value that works to slow conductive heat. Find your zone on the map and then use the chart to determine the level of insulation you need to properly insulate your attic walls floors and crawlspaces. It s easier to incorporate radiant barriers into a new home but you can also install them in an existing home especially if it has an open attic.

Both types of heat are trying to enter your home on a hot summer day. The radiant barrier resulted in roughly 4 times more savings than the added insulation.