This feature has been temporarily disabled during the beta site preview. The product must be applied tightly, with room for airflow. He is a member of The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board. I dug into the details and found some surprises. Found in the insulation aisle, Reflectix comes in tightly spooled rolls of shiny, reflective, foil-look insulation that resembles bubble wrap. Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 12 years. It is commonly used in two main areas: This type of insulation reflects radiant heat and works best with a still air layer of at least 25mm/1 inch. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. A "study" done in January, 1991 by Holometrix Inc. Yep, 1991 -- more than 20 years ago. "R-values range from R-3.7 to R-21 depending on application." 2022 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved. Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. It's very lightweight (about 1-1/4 pounds per square foot). Had to double it up on some applications. I will add the details and copies of the documents in my next post. I wish they made a more ridged and thicker version. from a hot roof -- but the issue is efficiency vs cost. It is generally more expensive due to being a metal-based product. Reflectix can help with any areas where cold air is blowing into your house. 4x10 reflectix Fiberglass vs. Looks like a completely uninsulated attic floor. The layer of still air itself gives it a degree of extra insulationprovided it is still, otherwise it will be taking heat away through convection. Jane, For example, the R-6.1 masonry value stated on the Reflectix label is good only if you provide two 3/4-inch airspaces.

If you want to keep a room warm, put it on the inside. Put it on the side where you want the heat to radiate away from. The label on the Reflectix roll boldly claimed R6, with a small note that R4.2 was the expected level of insulation with HVAC ducts. Who cares what it does in Canad? R4.2 is only achievable with a perfect assembly, a consistent air space and horizontal orientation and no dust on the foil surface. Unlike other forms of insulation, it is also non-toxic and non-carcinogenic, making it safer and easy to install with the use of less safety equipment. His articles often focus on home repair or video games and Warhammer. For example, here are the benefits promised by a leading vendor: An easy-to-install double reflective, double bubble insulation, R-values range from R-3.7 to R-21 depending on the applications, Energy-saving residential applications include: cathedral ceiling, crawl space, radiant floor, wall, HVAC duct, water pipe, garage door, knee wall. Radiant Barriers: A Solution in Search of a Problem. The Reflectix family of tapes are designed specifically for use with the Reflectix reflective insulation products. The protection provided by a reflective barrier under a roof will degrade over time, as dust accumulates on the shiny surface. In short, this is another example of the gap between facts and marketing hype. The lowest-priced brand-new, unused, unopened, undamaged item in its original packaging (where packaging is applicable).Packaging should be the same as what is found in a retail store, unless the item is handmade or was packaged by the manufacturer in non-retail packaging, such as an unprinted box or plastic bag.See details for additional description. Dear Jane: Martin hit the 'radiant barrier' nail on the head. Reflectix can insulate tight spaces where you cannot put thick insulation or where other types of insulation are not appropriate. One benefit of using Reflectix over fiberglass insulation is that Reflectix resists mold and mildew well. Where energy consumption is related to unwanted solar gain, radiant barrier products can make a huge difference! As Reflectix notes in their FTC "facts" document, one layer of reflective insulation -- with an air gap -- will provide R6 to R7 protection in summer, when the roof is hot from the sun. I use reflective insulation in my home, my daughters home and the home we sold. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, but we're going to focus on reflective insulation. In short, Martin is right. One of the types of insulation used in building construction and retrofitting is reflective insulation. The bamboozled FTC lawyers end up not pursuing these cases. If you want to cool a room, then put it on the outside. > The performance of Reflectix depends on the complete assembly. Some polystyrene insulation is backed with reflective foil to combine the advantages of both. You'll still want to install fiberglass, foam, denim, or rockwool in your home's large wall and ceiling cavities. Maybe some pressure on the commercial end will achieve some results, while the FTC sleeps. if you read the excellent reviews and commentary on GBA, you know you should read this fine print very carefully. This is not the end of the story. Thanks for your quick reply. After all, it is a metal and conducts electricity. Stapling a layer of Reflectix along the rafters will cut down on some heat loss and stop air infiltration. R 21 ?? To understand how insulation works, some knowledge of how heat is transferred is required. No. In the home we sold, the A/C didnt come on for 3 days! underground sprinkler replacement nozzles, drip irrigation emitters and micro sprays, combo smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, cable management, cable ties and electrical tape, recreational vehicle parts and accessories, Additionally, our reflectix foil tape is strong and flexible making it a versatile choice for other projects, The quick release liner and easy tear feature makes for quick installation and handling, The strength of the adhesive provides quality seams. Note the differences. Just two, according to a research report I purchased from Hoovers. The foil tape is for seaming the double reflective and single reflective insulations. It cut my electric bill almost in half! While caulking is the recommended procedure for this, there may be situations where a large expanse of Reflectix will stop airflow. The white poly tape is specified for the white side of the single reflective insulation. These are only two examples of the key problem: the difference between marketing hype and facts with reflective products -- even the company's own facts. COPYRIGHT 2019 STINE HOME + YARD. The complete source for building, designing, and remodeling green homes. It's a different kind of insulation for different applications. It's flexible enough to bend back on itself. (A copy is attached.) So if u purchase the right product it really works!! Because Reflectix is so flexible, it can be wrapped around pipes and heating vents. Included below are links to a number of reputable sites and independent studies: Healthy Heating: 20 years of research studies on reflective insulation: http://www.healthyheating.com/Page%2055/Page_55_o_bldg_sys.htm#.UqHyQMRDvNk (Scroll down to see the newer studies), GBA: Is Bubble Wrap Duct Insulation a Good Idea? An inch of polyiso foam board = R6, period. Reflectix states this in its sales literature: Reflectix lets you insulate spaces that might ordinarily go uninsulated because it would be prohibitive to insulate them with fiberglass. Though effective in warmer climates, it will require being combined with other forms of insulation in colder climates. Unfortunately, builders, contractors and customers continue to fall for these claims. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. It is most effective when kept clean and dust free. You noted that "no one is suggesting" that radiant barriers should be applied horizontally. My own empirical evaluation suggests just the opposite. Rigid Foam Insulation Comparison, What You Should Know About Blow-In Cellulose Insulation, How to Add Insulation to Walls That Are Closed. The key to using Reflectix properly is to understand how reflective insulation works in the first place. (A copy is attached.) (More than three inches of polyiso foam board!) It is very effective in warm climates where it is useful in keeping buildings cool. This article is accurate and true to the best of the authors knowledge. The price is reasonable. Whether you use it in a crawl space, radiant floor, attic or walls, you'll find it easy to handle and install. Become a GBA Prime member and get full access to GBA articles, enyclopedia, videos, CAD library, and more. As GBA articles and posts note, the typical claims for radiant insulation are snake oil, put to the lie by 20 years of independent studies, FTC and Attorney General actions etc. Reflectix can act as housewrap, too. Reflectix can be used as basement ceiling insulation when precisely stapled to the centers of the floor joists above. We used reflective paint at my daughters house. Unlike other insulation, it does not degrade over time due to compacting, disintegration, or from absorbing moisture. This means in some areas, such as roofs, it may require being cleaned of dust from time to time to ensure maximum efficiency. Question: Would you recommend reflective insulation? The only real use I've found for radiant barrier is to use the perforated aluminized fabric type material to hold batt insulation in place in ceilings in unfinished spaces like attics or basement ceilings. 2022 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. This highlights a key problem with reflective products: performance claims are based on an "assembly", including an air gap and the perfectly shiny surface when the product is installed. The merits in that type of application are: * it's sufficiently vapor permeable to not create a moisture trap (unlike bubble pack or foil), *is much cheaper & easier to install than gypsum board, *has adequate fire ratings to be exposed (unlike paper facers on batts). It is past time, well past, for professional builder organizations to join together nationwide and put an end to this charade. Reflectix's stated R-14 R-values for exterior walls are good only if the Reflectix is paired up with R-13 fiberglass batt insulation. Even three inches of polyiso foam will not reach R-21. Does Reflectix "Big Bubble" insulation really achieve R-6? If you are familiar with math and the analysis of construction materials, compare the ASTM standard and definition of R value to the formulas and results in the Holometrix study. For example, the HVAC contractor at our latest project showed up with a big roll of Reflectix and began to wrap the plenums. Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in Insulation, Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- You may also like, {"modules":["unloadOptimization","bandwidthDetection"],"unloadOptimization":{"browsers":{"Firefox":true,"Chrome":true}},"bandwidthDetection":{"url":"https://ir.ebaystatic.com/cr/v/c1/thirtysevens.jpg","maxViews":4,"imgSize":37,"expiry":300000,"timeout":250}}. As a nice byproduct, its reflective surface would give your shop more ambient light. Dear Dana: Exactly. Standard insulation products do not make claims based on the "assembly". It is thin, fairly lightweight, and much less bulky than other forms, making it easy to work with and fit.

No A/C upstairs was stifling! HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. If your garage roof was insulted with standard foam board, spray foam, rock wool bats or even fiberglass bats or panels, the insulation would be more effective for less cost, year round. Yes, a radiant barrier can make a difference in an uninsulated roof or wall assembly. !! I then made covers for the large side windows. Like you, I am frustrated that the FTC, a government agency charged with protecting consumers from fraudulent claims by manufacturers, is asleep at the switch. But film applied to an inside surface of the roof where the operative surface is adjacent to an air space and is subtantially vertical, is cheap, easy to install and highly effective in hot climates. https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/qa-spotlight/bubble-wrap-duct-insulation-good-idea, Energy Vanguard: The Foil Faced Bubble Wrap Sham http://www.energyvanguard.com/blog-building-science-HERS-BPI/bid/29497/The-Foil-Faced-Bubble-Wrap-Sham-Understanding-Radiant-Barriers, GBA: A great collection of all of the questions and claims for HVAC installers: https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/community/forum/green-products-and-materials/23805/reflectix-still-claiming-r42-its-bubble-wrap-my-h. A copy of a thorough 2010 study by the Canadian National Institute for Research in Construction is also attached. Behind aluminum or vinyl siding, its R-value is R-2.5. Reflective insulation (also known as foil insulation) is usually made from aluminum foil or aluminized polyester. With perfectly air-tight assemblies and enough layers with gaps (but no convection) between them, it's possible to hit any arbitrary thermal performance point, but if it were easier or cheaper to get there with a radiant barrier approach the world would have gone there ages ago. This is 48" wide.

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