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Radiant guard® radiant barrier attic foil - premium
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RadiantGUARD PREMIUM - Designed for laying over attic floors with or without existing insulation already in place.
(Need more than 500 square feet? Just enter more than 1 roll in the "Your Quantity" field below when checking out).
For use under roof decking, under attic rafters, over existing attic insulation, in floors, walls and crawl spaces, and even as a house wrap during new construction to BLOCK heat from entering your building structure during the summer and RETAIN indoor heat generated during the winter.
All RadiantGUARD products are California Building Code Title 24 approved.
This product is made in the U.S.A.
Start lowering your heating and cooling costs by up to 40% by installing this double-sided 99.5% pure aluminum foil radiant barrier to BLOCK 97% of the radiant heat coming into your house through the roof during the summer and RETAIN the heat escaping out of your house through the roof during the winter.
Please compare our product specifications below to other competing products before purchasing to make the best possible purchasing decisions. All product claims, specifications, testing approvals and fire ratings are 100% intact for this product.
This BRAND NEW product is 99% PURE aluminum foil reinforced with a polyethylene woven fiber multi-directional scrim middle-layer for maximum durability resulting in a puncture and tear resistant product with the highest fire ratings offered by the The National Fire Protection Organization (NFPO) and The Uniform Building Code (UBC).
The product is "perforated" for breathability.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions you might have or to request a sample before purchasing.
Definition of a Radiant Barrier: Per the Department of Energy (DOE), a product classified as a "radiant barrier" must have a low emittance (10% or less) and high reflectance (90% or more). FACT: Our Standard, Premium, and ULTIMA radiant barrier foil insulation products have an emittance of 3% and a reflectance of 97%; considerably above the DOE's radiant barrier classification requirements. Visit the Department Of Energy website to read for yourself.
R-Values and Radiant Barriers: Radiant barriers do not have R-Values. Don't be fooled by others claiming an R-Value for the radiant barrier they are selling. An R-Value is a measure of how long it takes a heat "absorbing" product to absorb 100% of its potential and begin to transfer the heat out the other side of the product. Radiant barriers don't absorb heat, they BLOCK heat therefore R-Values do not apply directly to a radiant barrier. However, installing a radiant barrier between the heat source (sun) and an existing R-Value rated insulation will improve the effectiveness of the R-Value rated insulation. Why? Because only 3% of the heat is now hitting the R-Value rated insulation and therefore, it will take longer for it to absorb 100% of it's potential thereby holding the heat longer before passing out the back side into living spaces. Tennessee Value Authority studies state that radiant barriers combined with an R-11 insulation has the same affect as an R-19 insulation alone. Add a radiant barrier to an R-19 insulation and you have the effect of an R-30 insulation alone.
Single-sided vs. Double-sided Radiant Barriers: A double-sided radiant barrier product will reflect approximately 25% more radiant heat than a single-sided Kraft-backed radiant barrier product installed with foil side down as recommended. With the paper side of a single-sided radiant barrier facing the heat source, conduction of heat to the foil via the Kraft paper diminishes the reflectivity of the aluminum approximately 25%. FACT: Our Standard, Premium, and Ultima radiant barrier foil insulation products are double-sided radiant barriers therefore eliminating any conductive heat flow transfer to the aluminum allowing the product to reflect the full 97% of the radiant heat the aluminum is capable of reflecting. To avoid introducing any conductive heat flow to the aluminum, it is important to maintain at least a 3/4" air space on the side of the radiant barrier you want to reflect heat.
Dust Accumulation: Proponents of single-sided radiant barriers have made claims that dust accumulation on the aluminum side of a radiant barrier will diminish the reflectivity of the radiant barrier which is why they suggest steering clear of double-sided radiant barriers and instead install their single-sided barrier with the paper backing facing upwards. FACT: An exhaustive test performed by James R. Hall, project engineer for the Tennessee Valley Authority concluded that "...the dust appeared to have little effect on the effectiveness of the radiant barrier. The percent reduction in ceiling heat flux was remarkably similar to that of a radiant barrier with no dust." Why purchase a single-sided radiant barrier and install it with the paper side up thereby reducing it's effectiveness to reflect just to avoid dust accumulation when not necessary. Don't you want the highest reflectivity rate for your purchase? If so, choose double-sided radiant barrier products.
Perforated vs. Non-Perforated: A perforated radiant barrier is used to allow moisture within your home to escape. Without perforations, moisture would build up in the form of condensation and potentially cause damage to existing insulation and the internal structures of a home. You should NOT use perforated if you live in high humidity-high hydrostatic pressure areas like South Florida or South Louisiana and have a stucco structure OR are installing in sub-grade locations (basements/underground rooms). FACT: We offer both perforated and non-perforated versions of our Ultima radiant barrier foil insulation product. Please see our website if you are interested in purchasing the non-perforated (solid) version of this product.
Radiant Barrier Fire Ratings: There are two organizations that provide fire ratings for building materials; The National Fire Protection Organization (NFPO) and The Uniform Building Code (UBC). NFPO's highest fire rating provided is "Class A." UBC's highest fire rating provided is "Class 1." FACT: Our Standard, Premium, and Ultima radiant barrier foil insulation products have been tested under both stringent tests and therefore have both Class A and Class 1 fire ratings; the highest fire ratings offered. Visit the DOE / Oakridge National Laboratory website to read more information about fire ratings.
DON'T BE MISLED by others recommending you install two layers of radiant barrier - it is NOT necessary as the second layer will only reflect 97% of the 3% of radiant heat that was emitted by the first layer of barrier. This is extremely minimal compared to the cost of installing the second layer!
Radiant GUARD Product Specifications & Comparisons
Double sided reflective 99% pure aluminum foil with polyethylene mesh reinforced middle layer.
There are three primary installation techniques for radiant barrier products in attics:
Over The Attic Floor - Install Highlights
**MOST EFFECTIVE - MAXIMIZES SAVINGS!**
* Recommended RadiantGUARD products - Standard or Premium (must be perforated)
* Can be rolled out over attic floor joists or over existing insulation (batted or blown-in) on attic floor
* No taping or stapling necessary
* Must stay 3" away from any heat sources (canister lights, furnace vents, etc)
Under Roof Rafters - Install Highlights
* Recommended RadiantGUARD products - Premium or Ultima (Standard cannot be stapled)
* Stapled to the underside of the rafters or stapled inside the rafter space at least 3/4" from roof decking
* Stay 3" away from roof ridge and 3" from bottom edge soffit vents to allow for air flow behind barrier
* Must apply to gable ends and kneewalls.
Under Roof Decking (Above Rafters) - Install Highlights
* Draped and stapled over the top side of the rafters before roof decking is applied.
This product an also be used as a house wrap giving you the basic house wrap benefits of wind and moisture barriers AS WELL AS a radiant barrier designed to help you reduce your energy costs. Please see our website for house wrap installation instructions.
We installed the product on the attic ceiling, covering all joists, crossbeams and rafters with heavy-duty staple guns. The product is extremely durable and easy to work with. Me and my wife built the jig (per your website) with a few minor modifications. We used galvanized pipe and elbows with the PVC pipe for the roller. The jig is a must and I highly recommended it. It is worth the cost (very little I might add) in time and effort.
I have to tell you a story...My wife and I were in the attic and we started at the peak on one end of the attic ceiling. It was approx. 125 degrees and the going was slow. As we were putting the product on the attic roof, we noticed that on the side without the barrier, we could hardly breathe as the temperature was excruciating. The side that we were working on was considerably cooler. We could actually breath under the barrier side. We also had to have our evaporator replaced in the attic as our new home had a slight leak. I went to check on the technicians who were installing the new unit at 3:00 pm and I ask how they were doing and they said we can't believe how cool it is up here. They stated the last two attics they were in were so hot that they thought they were going to be sick. Prior to installing the radiant barrier, I wanted to cool the attic down and I was thinking about the spray on barrier as I heard someone in the neighborhood had it done. I thought I would try an attic gable vent, so I went to the Hardware store and bought one with a thermostat. I installed it and had to program it to turn on at 110 degrees and it continually ran between 12:00 pm to 4:30 pm. After finding your web site as well as others, I decided to purchase from you and I must say....Your site was the most informative and the delivery time was unbelievably prompt. We installed the product and the attic temperature rarely exceeds 92 degrees. The gable fan is now worthless. Our average electric bill without the radiant barrier in April, May, and June was $140.00. After installing the radiant barrier our electric bills have been reduced by 50 % even in the hottest months. We also have double pane windows, high efficiency bulbs exclusively and we keep the thermostat between 71 and 73 degrees. Start installing in the early am and quit around the hottest times. Resume two hours after nightfall. Drink plenty of water and Power Aid if installing during the hot months. You will probably need a step ladder to reach the peak if installing on the ceiling of the attic.
I have bragged about this product and your company to all interested parties. They are skeptical until they hear my testimony. We love the product and the results.
Installed 2500 square feet of Ultra laid on top of pre-existing R-40 fiberglass attic insulation in my house with truss roof construction and a metal roof. Immediately noticed a stabilization of room temperatures and a reduction of AC usage. Radiant heat gains previously experienced from the metal roof are finally neutralized. Am expecting similar positive results during the upcoming heating season through improved reduction of living area heat loss.
Quality of material-excellent
Ease of installation-despite expected truss construction challenges, quality and forgiveness of material made installation doable for a one man crew.
Purchase/delivery: excellent, couldn't be better.
Satisfaction level: highest I can rate.
Motivation: Typical home improvements offer the homeowner reimbursements only upon the sale of the home. Insulation improvements are unique in that the homeowner will realize monthly reimbursements in the form of reduced power bills, and a reimbursement at the time of sale. Also, the general feel of the house now having stabilized temperatures is very nice indeed.
Am I glad that I installed a RadiantGUARD barrier: absolutely!
I purchased your premium grade Radiant Barrier on 8/16/07 and had it installed shortly afterward. Having spent a good portion of my career as a Quality Control supervisor, I was use to analyzing data, so I decided to evaluate the performance as best I could of the installation of your product..
This graph shows the temperature difference with and without a radiant barrier at various times of day during the month of August, 2007. After reading numerous articles on how a radiant barrier can reduce summer heat gain and winter heat loss, I decided to test the effect this had on my home. I used wireless thermocouples so as to collect the data at one location. The placement was: 1 - Outside facing north under a patio cover, 2 - Inside the center of the house, 3 - In the attic under the blown in insulation and touching the ceiling wallboard, and 4 - In the center of the attic s framing space (hip roof). The Radiant Barrier was laid over the existing insulation and on top of the AC ducts. The parameter of attic flooring was tacked and mark with tape. Two men with minimal experience took four hours to complete the job. Preliminary indications are that the AC runs less, temperature throughout the house is much more uniform, with no warm or cool spots which was a problem before installation of the radiant barrier. After seeing what severe effect the sun has on the attic, insulation, and heat infiltration, short of shade trees, a radiant barrier does make a lot a sense. Energy usage is down 20 -25% so far.
I have noticed the a/c kicks on less often, though I cannot report any utility savings at this time due to the fact I have no bills to compare yet.
Carmel (Indianapolis), Indiana
I live in Cincinnati Ohio and bought the Premium barrier. I laid it directly on the attic floor over loose fill insulation. The big surprise to me is the difference it makes in the Winter. We turned the thermostat down two degrees during the day and are very comfortable. We turned it down six degrees at night and sometimes we wake up in the middle of the night because we are too warm! One word of advice, do not skimp on the plywood platform when you are working in the attic. I did, and put my foot through the Master bedroom ceiling! But I have a great wife, she was only mad for about 5 minutes.
This has got to be the best business we have ever dealt with, just superb!.
In May of this year I got up in the attic with a friend and we installed the Standard radiant barrier insulation purchased from you all. I was impressed with the thickness of the product. It was so much more 'substantial' than the product we had previously installed. Our utility bill has lowered an average of 600 kilowatt hours each month for the last 3 months.
Hi; I just want to say it has been a pleasure doing business with such a service oriented company as you guys are. I received my order with out a hitch. You have revived my faith in the Internet. Thank You.
We decided to install a radiant heat barrier, based on what we read on both commercial and government web sites. I ordered the medium weight barrier from the Radiant Guard website.
I had assumed the radiant barrier would have to be babied going up, and would be easy to tear. Actually it is just the opposite. It is quite rugged and survives rolling, folding, and minor accidents with blunt objects, all of which got thoroughly tested as I fat-fingered my way through the job. I trusted the web-sites that a radiant barrier was a good idea, but as you're installing it, it's hard to believe it is actually doing anything for your house. The whole thing is kind of theoretical, or was until I got near the center. I was finally able to sit in a stooped position and I noticed how hot my face and head felt. It was like I had sunburn. Then I sat back and the heat went away! It was just the "shadow" of the foil barrier. As I moved under I felt fine, as I moved out from under, I was distinctly hot and uncomfortable. This through the asphalt shingles and 1x6 roof sheathing! It was obvious that the thin layer of foil was making a huge difference in the amount of heat coming in through the roof. It was like being hit by a heat-lamp when I wasn't under the foil.
Overall, I highly recommend a radiant barrier in any house that does not already have it built into the roof sheathing. It was cheap, relatively easy to install, and made a significant difference. I don't have a full month's electric bill to compare yet, but our bill dropped by $75 with only a partial month of radiant barrier and insulation so I am looking forward to the first full bill.
I'm sure you have good data showing the effectiveness of Radiant Guard, but I thought that I'd share my results with you and your guys. You can take the engineer out of the business, but you can't take the engineer out of the retiree. The middle grade radiant barrier was very easy to handle and install without tearing or puncturing. After installing 2000 sq.ft. Radiant GUARD in my attic, mostly stapled to the underside of the roof rafters, peak attic temperatures were lowered about 11 deg. F. Corresponding electric power usage was lower by 20% for the month of May compared to May 2005. For maximum benefits, I made sure that ambient air vents fed both the attic space above and below the foil, and the air space between foil and roof had unubstructed communication with either ridge vents or mechanical ventilators. The only thing better is to install a new roof using aluminized decking. Great Stuff!!
We are your online source to gain educational knowledge about and purchase radiant barrier reflective foil insulation. We bring you the popular RadiantGUARD product line of reflective insulation - the ENERGY STAR qualified radiant barrier reflective foil insulation system inspired by NASA research, development, and use that offers consumers today a permanent way to help reduce heating and cooling utility costs.
We will gladly accept your returns as long as the following conditions are met:
* You contact us for a Return Authorization (RA) number within 14 days of receipt of your item. Please contact us indicating the following information:
* Original Order Number
* Product being returned (size and qty)
* The item(s) have not been used, cut or damaged; must be in new, resalable condition. The item(s) must be returned with original packaging including all product inserts, tags, and labels.
* The item(s) are returned to Radiant GUARD within 15 days of obtaining a Return Authorization (RA) number from Radiant GUARD.
* The Return Authorization (RA) number is clearly identified on the outside of the package.
We currently do not support item exchanges. If you need to exchange an item, please follow the process above for obtaining a refund and place a new order for the replacement item you need.
Looking for other ways to save energy costs around your home? Visit one of the following sights for helpful energy saving tips:
* U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Savers
