Radiant Heat Barrier Vs Attic Fan

This would be like blowing a giant fan on your sunny driveway and expecting it not to be hot.

Radiant heat barrier vs attic fan.

However the fine print exists when the best available radiant barrier paint can only reflect about 75 of the radiant heat transfer. Installing radiant barrier under the roof decking is the preferred method versus on top of the insulation because it gives an air gap for the heat to escape to the ridge vent without creating a potential moisture problem between the radiant barrier and the attic floor. If you install a radiant barrier it will drop the surface temperatures inside the attic compared to the air temperature in the attic. A radiant barrier works together with decent attic ventilation to drop both air temperature and surface temps.

Keep in mind in order to get this price you must be very savvy with electrical and active venting solutions. Here is where many people screw up attic ventilation. Meanwhile the radiant barrier foil will reflect 97 of the radiant heat transfer. Air temperatures would drop but surface temperatures would not drop much due to the radiant heat gain.

Total diy radiant barrier installation costs w attic fan. This is really what drives heat flow the top surface temperature of the insulation. 95 of homeowners will not be able to install a roof mounted attic fan with temp switch or proper venting. More is not always better.

Total diy radiant barrier comparison cost vs savings. When utilizing osb radiant barrier sheathing you can reflect up to 97 of solar radiation which translates into an attic heat reduction of up to 30 f. The hotter it gets the better radiant barriers work. A cooler attic space means less heat moving to the cooler space below the attic.