Radiant Barrier Roofing Decking
Stay cool, dude! Ok, so you might be able to “stay cool dude” in certain parts of the country where the temperature doesn’t reach a hundred degrees plus in the summers, but if you don’t, the sun can make even a home with air conditioning unbearable sometimes. You know you can only take off so many articles of clothing before you’re…well, you know.
Attic Insulation
There are a couple of things you can do to help remedy the problem of an overheated home in the summertime. One is to add more insulation in your attic. You should insulate to a recommended level to R-38 or about 10-14 inches of insulation. The other is Radiant Barrier Sheathing. Both insulation and radiant barrier are excellent methods of keeping your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter. When insulation and radiant barrier sheathing are used in conjunction with one another you can experience a significant reduction in your heating and cooling costs.
What is Radiant Barrier Sheathing? Most homeowners are knowledgeable of, and aware of, the benefits of adequate insulation in their attics, but as for Radiant Barrier… maybe not so much. Radiant barrier is a sheathing panel of OSB with foil laminated to one side of it to reflect the heat. When shingles heat up from the sun blazing down on them the heat is transferred inside to the attic space through conduction. These foil laminated panels reflect the heat rather than absorbing it. That’s important, especially when you’re roofing in San Antonio Texas.
Attic Heat Build Up
Attic heat can be reduced from up to 30 degrees using radiant barrier sheathing. Radiant barrier sheathing works best in extreme summer heat, the hotter the better. The best time to replace radiant barrier is during the spring or fall. If you plan to replace your radiant barrier in the summer, it is best to work in the early mornings and evenings when the attic is cool.
A great time to install radiant barrier decking is after a hailstorm when the shingles will have to be removed from the decking anyway. Replacing the radiant barrier at this time saves steps and expense.
Types of Roofing Radiant Barrier
There are other types of radiant barrier that can be installed or applied, but foil laminated panels are the most popular. One type is radiant barrier that comes on a roll and is cut and placed between the shingles and the roof decking. Another type is lightweight panels of radiant barrier cut and stapled to the underside of the decking inside the attic. And still another is rolled on like paint inside the attic roof.
You can find out all the information you need on radiant barrier sheathing by contacting your local roofing contractor. Radiant barrier sheathing should be installed by professional qualified roofing experts. If you would like to DIY, using these other types of radiant barrier that can be installed or applied inside the attic, your endeavor should be well thought through as to not waste your money.
So, taking it from the top… yes, you can “stay cool dude.”