What is a "radiant barrier?" According to the U.S. Department of Energy it's a way to reduce your monthly energy bill. Radiant barriers are designed to help block the summer heat from reaching the inside of your attic and home, and blocking heat means less energy costs to cool your home in warm weather.

"With an effective radiant barrier, your air conditioner won't have to work as hard to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature," says David Drew of Nashville-based LP Building Products, a nationally recognized leader in the field of residential energy efficiencies. "This can save energy and lower the cost of cooling your home, as well as make your home more comfortable regardless of the season."

However, not all products that claim to create a "radiant barrier" provide the same level of performance.

The most cost-effective form of radiant barrier is a thin layer of aluminum attached to the underside of your roof deck material. When the sun heats up your roof in the summer, the aluminum blocks much of this heat so it cannot radiate into your attic.

Ideally, the home builder will select roof sheathing that already includes a radiant barrier. In these cases, it is important to select a perforated (or incised) sheathing that will block heat, but not trap construction moisture in the wood.

It is also possible to install a layer of aluminum to an existing home. The aluminum is simply stapled to the roof trusses or rafters. Homeowners are cautioned not to allow an installer to apply the aluminum sheathing to the attic floor. Although this is easier for the installer, a radiant barrier can lose its effectiveness in less than a year if dust is allowed to accumulate on the surface. Studies have also shown concerns with moisture development and the aluminum being too close to electrical wiring and fixtures.

When correctly installed, radiant barrier sheathing and retrofit aluminum material will block up to 97 percent of the heat that radiates off your roofing materials from entering the attic space. This can lower the temperature of your attic as much as 30 degrees and reduce your cooling bill up to 17 percent during the summer months.

A variety of paints also promise to perform a similar function, but with lesser results. These paints are infused with ceramic or aluminum powder and can be sprayed onto existing roofing materials.

"Homeowners are often tempted to select paint over retrofit aluminum materials because it is less expensive to install in an existing home," Drew says. "However, homeowners should be aware that these paints do not technically qualify as a radiant barrier under today's industry standards, even if they say 'radiant barrier' on the product."

"Be sure to do your homework before purchasing one of these paint products," says Mary Edmondson, Reflective Insulation Manufacturers Association's executive director. "If it's being called 'radiant barrier paint,' beware."

Homeowners can check the quality of a paint product by examining the label for an emissivity number. This number should be 0.1 or lower for a radiant barrier or 0.25 or lower for an Interior Radiation Control Coating. Without an emissivity number, homeowners will not know the quality of the product they are selecting. It is also important to know proper installation methods with the IRCC materials. Some require two or even three coats to meet the stated energy savings.

Issues may also arise from the application of an aluminum-infused paint that will limit its effectiveness. An uneven coating of paint will allow heat to escape into the home in less thick areas. Also, installers must regularly mix the paint to ensure the aluminum does not settle to the bottom. Unfortunately, a visual inspection of the painted surface will not reveal if the mixture or thickness of paint is sufficient to achieve the emissivity number indicated on the label.

Homeowners have a variety of options to reduce their energy bills by applying aluminum to roofing products. Although paints can offer limited protection at a lower cost, properly installed aluminum radiant barriers provide superior performance and greater reliability.

To learn more about LP's radiant barrier sheathing product, visit LPCorp.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent