Your roof acts the same way.  It can easily reach 150º or hotter on a sunny day.  This heat will then be re-radiated through the attic and will be absorbed by your attic insulation causing high energy bills and comfort issues.

This video illustrates how a radiant barrier works – plain and simple.  Rather than absorbing the radiant heat from the roof, let’s bounce it back and keep the attic insulation cooler. If you keep the insulation cooler, then less heat enters the home and you save money and stay more comfortable.

Think of it this way:  Radiant barrier is your 1st line of defense against radiant heat and your attic insulation is your 2nd line of defense against conductive heat.  They will actually work TOGETHER for maximum efficiency and comfort.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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So, what is the deal with dust?

Watch this video I made to get the quick summary.  Basically, if you use a double-sided radiant barrier, dust will NEVER have an effect on the performance of the radiant barrier IF you leave an air space just below the foil. This is achieved by loosely laying the foil over the attic insulation.

If you staple it up to the bottom of the roof rafters, then there will automatically be an air space below the foil (your attic) if you lay the radiant barrier foil OVER the top of the insulation, there will STILL be a small air space between the foil and the insulation UNLESS you mash it into the attic insulation.

Remember radiant barrier works off TWO Qualities. 1) Reflectivity – This is the ability to reflect the radiant heat.  2) Emissivity – This is the ability NOT to convert stored energy INTO radiant heat.

Even if the top layer of foil gets completely covered with dust, and the bottom layer faces an air space, the radiant barrier will CONTINUE to work off the emissivity quality.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Dust Happens.  But installed correctly, all the dust in the world will not have a significant impact on the effectiveness of double-sided radiant barrier foil.

Looking for more videos on this topic? Check out my posts below.

Here is a video I made to illustrate how without an air space you can never have radiant heat.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Looking for more videos on this topic? Check out my posts below.