I was surprised that Reflectix would claim "R-21" performance in crawl space applications. While caulking is the recommended procedure for this, there may be situations where a large expanse of Reflectix will stop airflow. 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. I wish they made a more ridged and thicker version. Lowes and online vendors sell products with similar claims. "R-values range from R-3.7 to R-21 depending on application." Whether you use it in a crawl space, radiant floor, attic or walls, you'll find it easy to handle and install. I will add the details and copies of the documents in my next post. There are several factors behind the FTC's unwillingness to act.
Traditional fiberglass insulation is easier and faster, and it will insulate better. The product is more like a Thermos jug, in that it reflects heat back, rather than mass insulation such as fiberglass.
If you do not provide air space, Reflectix has less insulating value. Sturdy, easy to work with and should add 5-9 nore R-value of comfortwinter and summer.
Heat is transferred in three ways: radiation, convection, and conduction. Radiant barriers can have an impact on heat gain, e.g. * air tight enough to block performance losses to convection through the fiber insulation. In the home we sold, the A/C didnt come on for 3 days! Reflectix can help with any areas where cold air is blowing into your house. Unfortunately, every major manufacturer is pushing exactly that, e.g.
Where energy consumption is related to unwanted solar gain, radiant barrier products can make a huge difference! 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. Because Reflectix is so flexible, it can be wrapped around pipes and heating vents. Though effective in warmer climates, it will require being combined with other forms of insulation in colder climates. It is generally more expensive due to being a metal-based product. The foil tape is for seaming the double reflective and single reflective insulations. The Holometrix 'study' includes lots of formulas, and claims to be based on ASTM standards. 
The Best Hot Tub Covers to Protect Your Spa From The Elements, The Pros and Cons of Using Denim Insulation, Attic Flooring Guide: What to Know About Installation and Options, Insulating a Garage Door May Not Be Necessary, Window Replacement Basics: Cost, Materials, and Process. I then made covers for the large side windows. > The performance of Reflectix depends on the complete assembly. Note the differences. My miscalculations of garage width was a blessing in disguise. For more information on bubble wrap, see Martins Useless Products List. This feature has been temporarily disabled during the beta site preview.
No. 
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. No A/C upstairs was stifling! It kept the temp 3 degrees cooler than we had A/C set on. Reflectix, RadiantGuard, AtticFoil and eShield, hyping installations in crawl spaces, basements, radiant heat systems, etc.
It's flexible enough to bend back on itself. If you want to cool a room, then put it on the outside. 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). Gordon has been an online writer for over nine years. 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.
The protection provided by a reflective barrier under a roof will degrade over time, as dust accumulates on the shiny surface.
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. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Yes, a radiant barrier can make a difference in an uninsulated roof or wall assembly. As anyone who does remodeling / insulation work in attics also knows, dust accumulates on everything -- horizontal or not. Reflectix can be used as basement ceiling insulation when precisely stapled to the centers of the floor joists above. 2022 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved. The complete source for building, designing, and remodeling green homes. So does the assembly tested by Holometrix in 1991 match the R-21 assembly recommended by Reflectix in 2013? For this type of building, a radiant barrier works. I also found that published "performance studies" have to be examined carefully, e.g. Had to double it up on some applications. This is not the end of the story. R 21 ??
If you read the label on a roll of Reflectix or the Reflectix product description on the Home Depot or Lowes websites, for example, their solution looks simple, effective and easy to install, e.g. 
Standard insulation products do not make claims based on the "assembly". Dear Jane: Martin hit the 'radiant barrier' nail on the head.
Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters. Who cares what it does in Canad? Behind brick, Reflectix has an R-value of R-3.4. (A copy is attached.)
Behind aluminum or vinyl siding, its R-value is R-2.5. the claim of R 21 performance in a crawl space. Reflectix ordered and paid for it. Reflectix clearly picked a leading testing firm! Unfortunately, builders, contractors and customers continue to fall for these claims.
Just two, according to a research report I purchased from Hoovers. A company licensed to sell it installed it. 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. It is past time, well past, for professional builder organizations to join together nationwide and put an end to this charade. 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.
It is very effective in warm climates where it is useful in keeping buildings cool. 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}}. GBA has been whacking this mole every time it pops its head up.
I dug into the details and found some surprises. As a nice byproduct, its reflective surface would give your shop more ambient light. I purchased a copy of the matching ASTM standard. 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. Copyright 1995-2022 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. The bamboozled FTC lawyers end up not pursuing these cases. So the stated R-values on the Reflectix label are valid only when the insulation is applied in a certain way. No.
Reflectix can act as housewrap, too. Another problem is that our country's educational system does not produce high school graduates or college graduates with a grounding in science. Answer: It depends on which way you want the heat to go. So, when you see a product like Reflectix, it seems to be a relief to all of that hassle. item 1 2-Ft x 25-Ft Reflective Insulation Duct Pipe Attic Wall Garage-Door Water-Heater, item 2 4-Ft x 25-Ft Reflective Insulation Duct Pipe Attic Wall Garage-Door Water-Heater, 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 6 product ratings, 4.8 out of 5 stars based on 55 product ratings, 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 3 product ratings, 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 7 product ratings, 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 2 product ratings, 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 1 product rating, 2.0 out of 5 stars based on 1 product rating. This is 48" wide. 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. Here are a couple of quotes from Reflectix literature: (1) "A reflective product installed in an open attic as a Radiant Barrier has no R-value. Any additional thermal benefit is just the hard glaze on the top of the frosting, not the cake. What Is the Best Insulation for 2x4 and 2x6 Walls? 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? Inside of building assemblies the number of layers and construction details required to tease the performance out of it in a code-compliant manner is more trouble than it's worth.
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. One benefit of using Reflectix over fiberglass insulation is that Reflectix resists mold and mildew well. You're preaching to the choir; of course I agree with you. Even three inches of polyiso foam will not reach R-21. > Guess how many people worked for Holometrix? Jane,
Once we painted the temp upstairs was 40 degrees cooler! Reflectix is a little thicker than a quarter-inch (5/16-inch). It is thin, fairly lightweight, and much less bulky than other forms, making it easy to work with and fit. Customers need to search the Reflectix website and read a number of documents carefully to discover the actual requirements and limitations. This means that the efficiency of reflective products varies significantly based on the installation, angle of the air gap, the season and amount of sun, the amount of dust that has collected on the surface, etc. The product must be applied tightly, with room for airflow. Update: The "study" that backs R21 claims from Reflectix. Question: Would you recommend reflective insulation?
For more information on reflective building products, see Radiant Barriers: A Solution in Search of a Problem. In short, this is another example of the gap between facts and marketing hype. There is the potential of reflective insulation becoming an electrical hazard should a wiring fault occur. Found in the insulation aisle, Reflectix comes in tightly spooled rolls of shiny, reflective, foil-look insulation that resembles bubble wrap. Which Garage Insulation Is Right for Your Home? 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. When you are at the home center shopping for insulation, all of those giant bales of fiberglass, rigid foam, and even denim can look daunting. 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. from a hot roof -- but the issue is efficiency vs cost. R4.2 is only achievable with a perfect assembly, a consistent air space and horizontal orientation and no dust on the foil surface.
It also relies on being clean and free of dust and debris, both when fitted and when in use. Are Expensive Building Components Necessary? I use reflective insulation in my home, my daughters home and the home we sold. Quality and price point id outstanding as well! Rigid Foam Insulation Comparison, What You Should Know About Blow-In Cellulose Insulation, How to Add Insulation to Walls That Are Closed. Maybe some pressure on the commercial end will achieve some results, while the FTC sleeps. I was able to cover the whole windshield in our class A with 1 piece.
!! But Reflectix can supplement those types of dense insulation with reflective insulation to provide a more total, insulated home. R-values for reflective products are obtained when the product faces an air space in a enclosed cavity." It cut my electric bill almost in half! "Radiant barrier" insulation has almost no R value by itself; the results depend on the air gap, the angle of the assembly, the existing insulation, the location of the building etc. (More than three inches of polyiso foam board!)
(2) Another document notes that performance is limited to "R2" in the winter in southern states, and "R1" in the north. The Reflectix tape products are available through do-it-yourself retailers, contractor sales groups, HVAC and industrial or commercial building products suppliers. Its amazing. The high thermal mass of the contents and the moderate R of the EPS layer, combined with the air-tightness and low-E aspect of the bubble wrap keep the temperature extremes seen by the wine well bounded, independent of the weather in-transit.
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Become a GBA Prime member and get full access to GBA articles, enyclopedia, videos, CAD library, and more. *air tight enough that it won't allow copius amounts of fiberglass through the perforations to contaminate the air even in a high wind. Even if the customer lives in Dallas, the value of that shiny bubble wrap vanishes in winter. I didnt purchase at HD or Lowes. So, even though Reflectix functions best with airspaces, there are some applications where it is impossible to add airspaces, such as around pipes, vents, and water heaters. This means in some areas, such as roofs, it may require being cleaned of dust from time to time to ensure maximum efficiency. Thanks for your quick reply. You'll still want to install fiberglass, foam, denim, or rockwool in your home's large wall and ceiling cavities. Other types of insulation, like fiberglass wool, rock mineral wool, and polystyrene are also available. Kelly Bacon is a licensed general contractor with over 40 years of experience in construction, home building and remodeling, and commercial building. An inch of polyiso foam board = R6, period. I sent all of the info in my Q&A post to Home Depot and Lowes, and I plan to follow up with a phone call. Reflectix can insulate tight spaces where you cannot put thick insulation or where other types of insulation are not appropriate. 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. In short, Martin is right. So if u purchase the right product it really works!! Radiant Barriers: A Solution in Search of a Problem. For example, the R-6.1 masonry value stated on the Reflectix label is good only if you provide two 3/4-inch airspaces. One of the types of insulation used in building construction and retrofitting is reflective insulation. Looks like a completely uninsulated attic floor. These claims are not unique; launch a Google search for reflective insulation and see how many products and extravagent claims appear in your browser. Fiberglass vs.
A "study" done in January, 1991 by Holometrix Inc. Yep, 1991 -- more than 20 years ago. No one is suggesting any more that radiant barrier should be applied horizontally, where it will collect dust. This won't delete the articles you've saved, just the list. Question: When using reflective foil, which side should face the inside and outside? Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, but we're going to focus on reflective insulation. It's small, tidy, clean, and best of all, it offers thermal-blocking R-values of up to R-27. Stapling a layer of Reflectix along the rafters will cut down on some heat loss and stop air infiltration.
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. 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. We've updated our Privacy Policy, which will go in to effect on September 1, 2022. Ordered one more to complete and will us the remaining on another part of my house. Using a radiant barrier product reduced my garage temperature enormously.
I stopped by my local HD for more supplies and was surprised to see rolls of radiant barrier bubble wrap on the shelf. It can also be used as a vapor barrier as it is relatively waterproof and unaffected by moisture. So, I checked the Reflectix website: > Guess how they justify R-21? (A copy is attached.) When fiberglass insulation becomes moldy, it must be discarded. You might have a cold workshop with heat escaping through the roof. It's a different kind of insulation for different applications. Period! Something went wrong. When one vendor is hit by the FTC or an AG suit, another pops up. Radiant protection varies significantly from summer to winter. COPYRIGHT 2019 STINE HOME + YARD. If your local code allows, Reflectix can be wrapped around the water heater as a thermal blanket. After all, it is a metal and conducts electricity. If you cannot or are unable to insulate the ceiling with fiberglass or foam, Reflectix is an alternative. Reflective insulation (also known as foil insulation) is usually made from aluminum foil or aluminized polyester.
It is most effective when kept clean and dust free. The price is reasonable. Reflective insulation is very cheap to manufacture, so new products quickly appear with more wild claims. 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. View cart for details. My own empirical evaluation suggests just the opposite. As it turns out, Reflectix is not a competitor to fiberglass. (A copy is attached.).
Dear Dana: Exactly. It's very lightweight (about 1-1/4 pounds per square foot). This is literally the best Product for Garage/Car insulation You will ever need.
A collection of one thousand construction details organized by climate and house part. Making insulation reflective can often be useful. Put it on the side where you want the heat to radiate away from. Unlike other insulation, it does not degrade over time due to compacting, disintegration, or from absorbing moisture. Some homeowners face the inside of their garage doors with Reflectix to help insulate these spaces for use as workshops. Their conclusion: In a perfect state (with no dust on the surface), a radiant barrier with an air gap increased the efficiency of insulation in a wall by 10%. One airspace must be between Reflectix and the masonry wall and another space between the drywall and the Reflectix.
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