What is Radiant Barrier Paint Anyway?

Radiant Barrier Spray Paint is essentially "liquid foil". All Radiant Barrier Paints are different, but basically pure aluminum is ground into a powder and put into a clear paint. Once the clear paint dries the aluminum powder forms a layer of aluminum. The best radiant barrier spray spray is only available to commercial contractors, and is an environmentally safe, water-based low-e paint called HeatBloc-75, Radiance e.25. or Lo/MIT. When the spray is installed CORRECTLY it will reflect about 75% of the radiant heat and can be a good product.

Getting good results with radiant barrier paint assumes a couple of things: First, that the rafters are being sprayed completely (this usually costs more). Second, the paint is being applied with the correct coverage (many spray contractors put it on too thin or too thick). Finally, there are some contractors (even large ones who advertise heavily) that will cut the paint with WATER to extend the coverage. This is called "Cutting" and it is cheating to cut costs. As a result, the TRUE EFFECTIVENESS of radiant barrier paint installed by many contractors is really only about 15-40% reflectivity. The typical consumer can't tell the difference between a good installation and a poor job without testing.

Finally, Radiant Barrier Spray Paint is NOT a good Do It Yourself Project. The fumes are noxious, you MUST use a VOC Respirator, you need a high-end airless spray rig, know what size spray tip to use and the proper pressure to get correct coverage and eliminate cloggage. Painting with a roller is impossible since there are thousands of nails sticking through the roof deck and using a brush would take forever.

Basically you are counting on the PRODUCT to do the work not a PERSON. If the foil is installed somewhere between the roof or rafters and the insulation it WILL reflect 97% of the radiant heat. This is indisputable - Radiant Barrier Foil works! This is the difference between Quality Assurance and Quality Control. You can ASSURE that reflective foil will work. You can only HOPE that the Radiant Barrier Spray is installed correctly.

Call Cool Attix today at 281-900-3524, we will do it right!

NASA and the History of Radiant Barrier

The history of radiant barrier begins far back as the early 1920's when radiant barrier was used to insulate residential and commercial buildings in the United States. In 1945 the product was produced commercially by a New York company, but the government ruled the company a monopoly and shut down production. Radiant barrier was lost to the world until the mid 1950's when Clark E. Beck, P .E. refined and led the Team Wright Labs pioneered the development of the product for NASA.

In the mid 1950s, when Clark E. Beck, PE, of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base discovered and pioneered the development of radiant barrier technology for NASA and the space program, he couldn't have envisioned the variety of applications for which this insulation material would someday be used. But today, radiant barrier technology has been spun-off into products as diverse as energy-conserving building insulation, agricultural insulation, automobile insulation, protective clothing (like used by firemen), and many other products.

NASA was trying to find a way to protect the astronauts during space walks from the extreme temperature shifts ranging from -273 degrees Celsius to +238 degrees Celsius. They discovered that they would have to have a seven-foot thick protective layer on the space suit if they attempted to use conventional insulation. Obviously, this was way out of the question. Instead of trying to insulate the suits, they turned to reflective technology and used aluminum foil radiant barrier to solve the problem. NASA reflected the heat of their own body back at the astronauts to keep them warm, while at the same time they used the foil to reflect the deadly direct radiation from the sun (radiant heat) out of the space suit to keep them cool.

The material provided a reflective surface that kept more than 95 percent of the radiant energy from reaching the interior of the space suit. Small holes allow moisture to escape, while keeping longer heat waves from getting through. Weighing only slightly more than 17 pounds per thousand square feet. The material maintained constant, comfortable temperatures inside the space suit. Radiant barrier has been in use by NASA since the Gemini and Apollo missions. The insulation was the prime element of the environment control system that allowed Apollo astronauts to work inside the Command Module in shirt sleeves, rather than in bulky space suits. Since the Gemini and Apollo missions, the radiant barrier has been used on virtually all spacecraft, including unmanned missions where instruments required thermal protection.

Energy Efficient Landscaping

Trees are great for providing shade in the yard, but did you know that they can also help cut your cooling costs? Having a shady yard means that your house is also shaded at least part of the day. Direct sunlight on a house is one of the biggest factors in how hot it gets and how hard your air conditioner has to work to cool it off. You will also need to gauge the position of the sun at the different times of year to get the most effectiveness out of your tree placement. Pick spots that will throw shade over your house in summer but expose it to the sun during the cold months when heat in the house is needed.

Shrubs, bushes, and hedges are a vital part of energy efficient landscaping and a nice way to add beauty to your yard while helping your energy bill drop as well. These plants can provide a natural sound barrier between you and your neighbors, block wind and sun rays, shade the pavement or concrete around your home.

Paved areas are a major contributor to the heat around your house, which in turn raises the heat level of your house. By shading these spots, you create a cooler overall climate immediately around your house.

Although many people don’t realize it, plants constantly release water vapor into the air. These vapors reduce the temperature of the area by as much as nine degrees. Energy efficient landscaping should include a well manicured lawn, and plenty of small plants.

*Be sure not to plant the trees too close to the house as the roots have a tendency to grow into the foundation, but planting trees in your yard at a reasonable distance from the foundation will give them plenty of room to grow, and can keep them close enough to shade your house.

Tricks to help cool your home!

As the temperature rises, so does the cost of cooling your home, especially when your cracking down your air conditioner lower than you have to.

Fans and Ceiling Fans
If you’re looking for ways to beat the heat, a ceiling fan can be a great investment for your home. This one appliance can make a room feel 6 or 7 degrees cooler, and even the most power-hungry fan costs less than $10 a month to use if you keep it on for 12 hours a day. Good fans make it possible for you to raise your thermostat setting and save on air-conditioning costs. Fans don’t use much energy, but when air is circulating, it feels much cooler. Ceiling fans are best, but a good portable fan can be very effective as well.
You should remember that even mild air movement of 1 mph can make you feel three or four degrees cooler. Also make sure your ceiling fan is turned for summer – you should feel the air blown downward.

Shades, drapes, or blinds
Install white window shades, drapes, or blinds to reflect heat away from the house. Close blinds, shades and draperies facing the sun (east-facing windows in the morning and west-facing windows in the afternoon) to keep the sun’s heat out and help fans or air conditioners cool more efficiently. Always remember that the best way to keep your home cool is to keep the heat out.

Add Radiant Barrier and Insulation

A Radiant Heat Barrier will reflect heat AWAY from your attic and living space. Otherwise, the heat will simply penetrate into the living space. Some companies use spray on product which is not a True Radiant Barrier. According to the U.S. Dept of Energy a radiant barrier must have a minimum of 90% reflectivity or 10% emissivity (our product is 97 and 3) and have a dead air space above it. Sprays under the best possible application will have 75% reflectivity and 25% emissivity and in real life most are FAR less than that. So spray satisfies neither requirement of a true radiant barrier. Make your home more comfortable year round by adding attic insulation. The project can pay for itself in as little as two years in reduced energy costs. While older homes typically have less insulation than homes built today, adding insulation to a newer home may also pay off.

How to keep the Texas Heat Out

Everyday people ask me what is the single biggest thing they can do to improve efficiency and comfort in their home. When you live in Texas this is a huge concern. How do we keep out the Texas Heat?

I ask customers...How old is the home and where are the ducts located?
When I hear “home over 25 years old” a big red flags go up. Think of your house as one big refrigerator. Leaky ducts are like leaving the door open.

Duct leakage is generally measured as a percentage. For example, if you have 20% duct leakage this means that approximately 20% of the COLD air you are buying is being pushed OUT of the ducts and into the attic. Or, duct leakage can also mean you are SUCKING cold attic air INTO the duct system on the return side of the air handler. On new High-Performance homes, professional energy auditors are usually shooting for less than 2-5% duct leakage. On older homes (especially with metal ducts) it is common to see duct leakage OVER 40%.

Why do older homes have such bad leaky ducts? Back in the era between about 1950-1980 NOBODY cared about energy efficiency. Energy was CHEAP, so installers usually didn’t bother to take the extra time or money to seal the ducts. For metal ducts this meant sliding two sections of duct together and using three screws to connect them. Then, they would wrap the ducts with insulation to keep them from sweating or condensing moisture, not primarily to insulate them.

After repairing or replacing all duct work it is IMPORTANT to Ventilate, Insulate and add Radiant Barrier Foil! This the key to a cooler more energy efficient home.