Topics: (Scroll down or click a topic to jump directly to it)   Tools   Preparation   Locations to install radiant barrier   Material Selection   Stapled above the Attic Space   On top of attic insulation

Tools

Required Tools: Staple Gun and extra staples Utility knife or scissors Additional Helpful Tools: Shop Light Measuring tape Dust Mask or respirator Safety Glasses Ladder Sheets of plywood or decking Long stick

Preparation

Safety First - As with any construction job, safety should be your primary concern.  The following items are things to keep in mind when planning your project.

Health - It is a good idea to wear a dust mask or respirator any time you work in the attic as many types of insulation produce small airborne particles that can easily get into your lungs.

Electric Shock - Aluminum foil is a good conductor of electricity, so be sure to check for any exposed wiring.  Rats, squirrels and other pest will occasionally chew the insulation off wiring leaving them exposed.

Footing - Remember that when working in an attic you must take care to only walk on the ceiling joists.  If possible try to distribute your weight across several joists.  Drywall will not hold your weight!  If need be, lay some pieces of plywood down to create a working platform.

Lighting - Good working light is important for safety so take some time to set up some shop lights and consider wearing a head lamp.

Installation Locations

• Without question, the most common location to install radiant barrier is in the attic.  The roof on your house is basically a large solar collector which heats up and reradiates much of that heat down into the attic and eventually the living space.  This makes under the roof or in the attic an ideal location to install radiant barrier.
  
  Other common retrofit applications include: walls under siding, crawl spaces, floors, and basements.

Material Selection

• Material comes in basically two different forms, foil or paint.
  Paint - Even though the paint doesn't meet the performance specifications of radiant barrier, that is often what it is called.  Technically, paint would be considered an Interior Radiation Control Coating (IRCC).  Click this link for more information on foil vs paint.
  Foil - Make sure the product you purchase is double sided (aluminum foil on both sides).  It is generally available as perforated and non-perforated and comes in different strength/grades.  The type you need depends on your geographic location and particular application.

Stapled above the Attic Space

• You should use a high strength industrial grade material like ARMA FOIL for this job.  That material is strong enough to hold staples and will not fall down over time.  In addition, whenever installing radiant barrier in an attic you should use perforated material so as not to trap and accumulate moisture in the attic space.

On top of attic insulation

• The most important thing to remember when installing radiant barrier on top of the insulation is that you must use a perforated material.  Using a non-perforated radiant barrier runs the risk of trapping moisture within the insulation.



• I recommend using the high strength industrial grade material in this location as well.  If you shop around, you will find that the cost isn't much more then the lower grades.  However, if in a pinch you can get by with the lower strength materials.

Under Construction...