How to install Reflectix radiant barrier insulation between the rafters with an air gap!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ค. 2022
- I am using a radiant barrier in my garage to insulate it and keep all the stuff from falling into my garage as I do my roof! Two birds with one stone! The insulation is just keeping the hot air in between the insulation and the roof. The way that I stapled the foil in between the rafters will allow me to add a second layer of insulation over the rafters if I need it! Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to see my latest videos! Thanks for watching!
I have been in a wheelchair for 26 years because I fell and broke my back while repairing a tree stand. All ladders have warnings not to stand on top because it makes them very tipsy. All it takes is one time to ruin your life. Oh, I know, it won't happen to me. Don't teach the kid bad habits.
Thankyou! I appreciate that!
sorry for your accident . My
friend was an Electrician doing
a job in NEW HAVEN . He fell
25 or 30 ft off a step ladder . I
had to see him in the hospital.
extensive HEAD SURGERY . You
could of Safety. Lined above the
Ladder first . ????
@@homeimprovementdiyguy9088 Use a taller step ladder.
You are correct that top of that ladder is marked this is not a step
in the UK we don’t need telling the top isn’t a step.
Same as ladders never go higher than third rung from the top.
Perfect, I'm installing radiant barrier insulation for exactly the the same reason as you are. THANKS
Awesome. Thanks for watching. I'll be installing a second layer soon and I'll do a video on that!
Thank you for the video/info, and practice good safe working habits. Be safe!
you channel air right from the soffit to the ridge vents, if you have 12 inches of insulation in your attic, you come up 12 inches, then leave 2 inch gap, then run it up to the ridge, then leave 2 inch gap. You need open soffits, I use perforated soffits, and you need a good ridge vent. Hot air rises, of course we all know that, you will channel air from the soffit to the ridge vent. You still need some ventilation in attic, that is why you leave the other gaps I talked about. Been a carpenter since 1984.
Is there a video of how? What you're talking about?
Well done! I'm starting mine over the holiday's.
Awesome! Good luck with your project!
Did u
@@CCCC-tq8yo yes. It's a quarter of way finished!
@@douglasroberts5368 whow how much energy u save
@CC CC will know more this summer. Hoping for 40%.
I have reflectix wrapping my cabin and it works!!
Yeah, I noticed a big difference immediately! Thanks for watching!
@@homeimprovementdiyguy9088it’s been a year how about a video update?
If you have soffit vent and ridge vent, you may want to consider how the air circulation on ceiling plenum work
I don't have any vents in the garage. I'm just trying to keep it cool in there. I added a solar vent at the top of the garage. I will be making a video on that soon! Thanks for watching!
We use this in our ceilings under the roof it makes a difference
Awesome! I noticed a difference immediately!
How much
@@CCCC-tq8yo It was about 15 degrees difference during last summer!
Thanks for doing this. I have to ask about moisture build up in the winter time. It needs an escape route now that the roof under-surface is sealed. Any thoughts?
I just installed a new roof right after the installation of the insulation, So I shouldn't have to worry about that. Yes, if you have moisture buildup, you may want to install more roof vents or a ridge vent. I only installed this type of insulation in my garage. I blew insulation into my house attic. The radiant barrier insulation itself has a pinprick hole every so often to help with this as well.
Cute kid! Annoying dog! Thanks for sharing the tip about putting the reflectix kinda in the middle of the rafters.
Yes! My neighbor's dog is annoying. It's barking right now! Thanks for the support!
Great video. Question: Why the ‘tight seal’ at top? wouldnt you want the hot air to
go out the ridge vent? would it hurt to leave it more open at top? Thanks for the help in advance!
Thank you! There is no ridge vent in this garage. Using this material is a lot like using fiberglass insulation. You are trying to keep the outside temperature from affecting the room's temp as much.
Thanks for the video. What size staples did you use? I will be doing this to my garage.
Thanks! I used 10 mm T50 staples. Good luck with your project! I should be making another video on it soon. I installed a solar fan at the top of the roof. It's making a big difference.
Aargh! Never stand on the top of a step ladder! Basic ladder safety.
I know. I have already been warned about that! Thanks for watching!
Great video, I planned to do the same using a foam foil barrier. I noticed at the top section you did not leave a gap and so the area is sealed off completely. Won’t that create a lot of hot air in that void that can’t escape?. I planned to make a bigger gap here and create a channel to channel the host air out through a gable vent or ridge vent.
I do not have a gable vent or a ridge vent. I have nowhere for the hot air to escape. My best bet is to trap the hot air before it gets into the garage. I have a solar vent in the garage, but I staple the insulation around it so that the vent is venting the garage and not in between the rafters. The insulation is just keeping the hot air in between the insulation and the roof. The way that I stapled the foil in between the rafters will allow me to add a second layer of insulation over the rafters if I need it! Good luck with your project!
Don't u get mold
@@CCCC-tq8yo It was a wet winter here in California central valley. No signs of mold yet!
You might want to leave 2 inches of space around the water heater vent unless that stuff is rated for b-vent contact. BTW, did it help to keep your garage cooler?
My garage was definitely cooler this summer. When it was hot outside you could go into the garage and feel the difference. You couldn't before, and it's cooler into the evening! Thanks for watching and good luck with your projects
I accidentally responded from my other channel earlier (Wrenches Corner), but that was me! Thanks for your support!
Thanks, I'll do that on my install.
I thought that TH-cam switched what I was watching to an episode of ‘Survivor’.
Insulation is a matter of survival in the valley here! Thanks for watching!
Can i board plywood sheets over the foil with no gap but the foil will have 150mm air gap between it and the roof tiles. Is it ok with no air gaps between foil and plywood sheets???
It is ok. But it won't be as effective without an air gap in between. Air is a great insulator. That is why double-glazed windows are so effective...the air gap in between the glass. Thanks for watching, and good luck with your project!
The air gap could create condensation and, as a result, may introduce mold.
Looking at some of your replies, I have a question. DO you have a spot to put a gable vent in? From what I've heard from multiple sources, trapping the hot air will eventually cause damage to you roof. I added a gable vent and a gable fan. It got rid of the hot air and dropped the temperature between 20 to 30 degrees.
I could put a gable vent in the garage, but it wouldn't remove the heat between the insulation and the roof. I don't think that it would cause any more harm to the roof than installing fiberglass between the rafters though.
@@homeimprovementdiyguy9088 Just the gable vent by itself won't do much. Adding an attic fan with an automatic thermostat would do wonders, as long as you have some air flow at the bottom of the garage. What you are doing up top will definitely help. I opted for rock wool instead of fiberglass since it's very fire resistant and can hold itself in place. For added security, I stapled radiant barrier on the rafters on the off chance the rock wool might sag or come down. Your lucky you have rafters though. My garage only has a few crossbeams.
@@1228carlito I love it! I did install a solar powered roof fan at the top of my garage. I will make a video about that as well! Thanks for watching!
I have to admit, I've been doing a ton of research on this product and proper attic ventilation. While this product can be very effective, it has to be done in coordination with attic venting or the overall effect will be diminished. An attic fan is good but it has to be done in coordination with some sort of intake. Whether that be intake by gable vents or eve vents, eve vents being the most productive.
I'm with some of the other commenters, I would have just gone stud to stud direct instead of inside of the studs. I would have left the full 3 1/2 inch gap the rafters created for a vent way. At least that's what I will be doing when I put mine in.
On one video I watched of this product, the reflex alone dropped the temperature 10 degrees. The guy did the before and after temperature measurements where he installed it. A 10 degree difference can really ease the burden of an air conditioner.
It makes more sense to me to install it perpendicular to the joists and staple to the joists as it traverses over them. That should make the installation must quicker and easier. Thoughts??
It allows for 2 layers of insulation. If you need, you can come back later and put on another layer and still have an air gap in between them. Thanks for watching!
So let me get this straight because I have just started the loft in my house... I am going across the rafters not in-between them.. but do I seal up completely, or do I need to have an air gap somewhere??
This is per manufacturer's instructions. To provide a higher rating of insulation requires two layers of insulation. The first layer goes between the rafters, and the second layer goes over. The first layer is stapled halfway up the rafter, not against the roof. That way there is an air gap between the first layer of insulation and the roof, and another air gap between the two layers of insulation.
You want to contain the heat in between the insulation and the roof.
make sure you dont put ir close to the roof, you need an air gap
Im currently putting this stuff up in my Garage.
How did it perform during the winter months ?
Hi, it went well this past winter, although we don't have real harsh winters. I felt like it helped for sure. The temp in the garage was warmer than outside! Better than the year before.
How much of an air gap do I leave between the roof and foil? And can’t I run it over the studs?
If you run it over the studs, you don't have any way to add two layers of insulation. Run the first layer halfway down the rafter, approximately 2 inches. Then later you can run a layer over the rafters to add two layers while still providing an air gap in between layers for more insulating quality.
Why not staple it at the front of your rafters,edge to edge giving yourself more air flow from the soffit to the roof vents
I have no roof vents in my garage attic. I am just trying to trap the hot air between the roof and the insulation.
@@homeimprovementdiyguy9088 same i have no vents either no soffits nor ridge vents.
So its been almost a year how are things going?
Is everything still cooling and no damage to the wood itself?
It appears you dont have a soffit vent or a ridge vent which is what you need for a radiant barrier to work correctly. You also need a space aroud the chimney pipe on your hot water heater and should not have a combustable material like the bubble wrap touching it.
Nice video I am thinking about doing my garage how is your insulation holding up
So far so good. It's only been up for one summer. I will do a follow up video in the fall. Thanks for watching!
Can this be used in the attic?
Yes! Just don't cover the roof vents!
👍👍👍🔥
Thanks!
Ive been using this product since 1980. On rafters i always attach it to the bottom of the rafter and not just between them
I'm planning on making a double layer. It gets hot here! I'm going to do a video on that soon.
Working on a bus conversion and using metal studs. How do we attach to them?
I would glue it to the inside of the paneling you are going to use before you attach them. Good luck with your project!
Maybe insulation tape. It's like tinfoil with a sticky side. That's what I'm going to try using on my metal studded shed.
Wouldn't it have the same affect and be easier to install by going perpendicular over the wood instead of bay by bay?
If you want to add double protection, you can add more insulation and go over the rafters and it leaves you with a 2" gap the way I do it. If you start with going over the rafters in the beginning you can't add 2 layers of insulation. The way I do it you can double it up! Good luck with your project
I accidentally responded from my other channel earlier (Wrenches Corner), but that was me! Thanks for your support!
It disintegrates in about 9 to 10 years I walk around and pick up pieces of that stuff all the time and it’s just getting worse and worse
Thanks for the heads up! I'll start looking for problems like that in the future. That's good to know!
almost at year when this video was posted, how is the radiant so far....also what state are you in?🤙
I'm in the valley in California. Today it was 104 degrees outside, and in my garage it's about 90 degrees. It's working, before it would be the same temp as outside and stay that way till early morning. Thanks for watching!
@@homeimprovementdiyguy9088 same i live in california as well and it get hot in san bernardino area.
I have question since thier are no ridge vent or soffits where does the trapped hot air eventually go?
Do not install flush onto anything ...... It has to have air in between to let moisture dry up ...... Otherwise mold and or mildew folks. Good luck out there
The Reflectix has small pinholes every few inches to let moisture escape. Thanks for watching, and good luck with your projects!
Does it has a vapor barrier?
It is a vapor barrier in a sense, because it is made of bubble wrap with tinfoil backing on both sides, but it isn't meant to be used to keep moisture out of the house. If the roof is leaking, it would trap the moisture between the roof and the insulation. Make sure the roof is nice! Good luck with your project!
@@homeimprovementdiyguy9088 thanks, for answering my question 🙏
How do you seen this help at all?
It's noticeably cooler in the summer!
Was the difference noticeable after installing?
Absolutely! During the summer I usually couldn't tell a temperature difference between outside and in my garage. After the install it was quite a bit cooler in the garage!
@1:46 Let the clown music start to play. Bright yellow caution label on the ladder and this character does it anyways. FreeAgent4Life! -CGA
is this working ?
It's working so far! It is much cooler in the garage by at least 10 to 15 degrees than before during the summer.
By stapling the radiant barrier to the rafters can it possibly cook the rafters or damage them because all radiant heat gets reflected up towards them. I plan to do a retrofit of my house by going into the roof cavity space and then stapling the radiant barrier. Also I did some research and they say to leave gap of 3 inches from top and bottom, so just curious did u end up doing that or did u just cover whole area? Thanks so much for video
I covered the whole area. Same concept as putting fiberglass insulation in between rafters. Thanks for watching!
@@homeimprovementdiyguy9088 There is an air gap for a reason. There is suppose to be a flow from the outside sofits up thur the rafters and out the roof vents. with out the flow heat gets trapped in the winter and will cause ice dams. With out a natural flow of the cooler air from the bottom as the warmer air goes out the vents mold will certainly happen. What the cost of mold remediation or the effect on your family?
Is that how the manufacturer suggested to install?
Yes. This is the correct means of installation per manufacturer's instructions. Good luck with your project!
Only thing is that it does need an air gap around the b-vent, that can cause problems, that can run a 400+ stack temp
@@georgewelker853 I have put a gap around the vent, and you are correct! Thank you for the support!
No, the manufacturer wants you to leave a gap at the top of the truss to allow the hot air to escape. The way he did it is just going to trap all the hot air in the pocket he created.
I don't understand the installation of the first layer. You commented multiple times that it's supposed to he attached halfway up the rafters, but I see you stapling along the entire span of each rafter.
The first layer is stapled on the inside of the rafters, halfway up the rafter and up the entire span of the rafter. It allows for 2 layers of insulation. If you need, you can come back later and put on another layer and still have an air gap in between them. Thanks for watching!
Why not just staple it to the bottom of the rafters or floor
Joists depending on the location verses stapling inside each set
Of trusses???
It allows for 2 layers of insulation. If you need, you can come back later and put on another layer and still have an air gap in between them. Thanks for watching!
What’s the R value of this?
One layer is R7. If you add another layer over the rafters, it becomes R21. That is why I put my first layer halfway up the rafter, So I can make it two layers without them touching eachother.
@@homeimprovementdiyguy9088Thank you for your prompt reply . I saw that on the package but find it hard to believe. 21R in a 5.5” rafter bay?
@@coolramone It is two layers. You've got air bubbles in between two layers of tinfoil. Air is a good insulator. You are creating two layers of air by using two layers of this stuff...plus the insulating material. I believe it should work as stated.
you will still have heat transfer on all of your rafters.
Not enough gap for hot air to escape. I know you know what you are doing, but I saw you go crazy on stapling almost all of the rafters. Maybe if the insulation radiant barrier would sag and separate cuts, you might get better results.
Thanks for the tips
The attic foils should be perforated
This type is perforated with the smallest of holes. Thanks for watching!
You sealed your air gap where the hot air needs to exit. No ventilation
I have a solar fan in the roof. I will do a video on that soon. Thanks for watching.
@@homeimprovementdiyguy9088 You're missing the point. Hot air rises. By sealing it at the top, you've just created a pocket of hot air.
You should not form an enclosed space between the Reflectix and the roof. That will lead to condensation.
Add venting and allow the hot air to get to the peak and exit.
Gable end vents would be the easiest to install.
I did install a solar powered fan as a roof vent. Forming the enclosed space is what insulates the room (garage). It's basically doing the same thing that fiberglass does...prevents the hot air from getting into the room. It also traps the cool air at night and the enclosed space has to heat that up during the day, so the temp shouldn't cause a problem. The reflectix also has small perforations in it to prevent moisture buildup. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Sorry, I’m skeptical of the intended use of this material as “insulation”. First, the aluminum is highly effective as a radiant heat reflector during the summer. For that purpose, the aluminum just needs to be covering as much area as possible. For heat insulation, which is to keep outside cold air out and warm inside air in, you need r factor material which is quite thick. I don’t think you can tack on a thin layer and try to seal it, like a double pane glass window with an insulator gas. So what this guy has done is install a very expense radiant heat barrier to reflect radiant sun waves, but I dont think it’s effective for winter heat insulation. But I’m not an expert.
The radiant barrier that I used is like bubble wrap with tinfoil on both sides. It's not super thin. The way that I installed it, it keeps an air gap between the roof and the insulation, trapping the heat (or the cold air) in between the roof and the insulation. I can tell you that it does make a big difference. It's also not as expensive as other types of insulation.
Expensive-af @ $10.00/USD per linear-Ft.!,
Listening to a neighbor's dog bark is exhausting and so is this video, I made it about 45 seconds in...SMH.
I can't help that the neighbor's dog is a jerk...I did the best I could to explain how to install the material. Thanks for watching!
Could have had 3.5 inches of air gap,stapleing to the face. Then stapleing the top as heat rises,you just trapped the heat.Total fail
Staple on the foil products on the rafters and not between the rafters. Failure to provide air space between deck and foil renders it nearly useless.
Please watch the whole video! I left an air gap between the foil and the roof! I explained that very clearly and thoroughly in the video. This is per manufacturer's instructions. To provide a higher rating of insulation requires two layers of insulation. The first layer goes between the rafters, and the second layer goes over. The first layer is stapled halfway up the rafter, not against the roof. That way there is an air gap between the first layer of insulation and the roof, and another air gap between the two layers of insulation.
did you miss the parts where he mentioned to leave an air gap? He probably said it about 5 times. lol
Air gap is not a good idea. You want most heat transfer to be prevented right at the board. Otherwise all hot air will move down from gap. Isn’t that right?
The air gap is crucial.
The radiant barrier is there to stop the hot sheathing from radiating heat into the house.
Full contact with the sheathing allows all that surface area to transfer heat directly into the barrier via conduction.
By leaving an air gap, heat has to transfer via radiation, which the barrier reflects most of it.
Consider aluminum foil.
If you stand near a campfire, you feel heat on your face like you are getting sunburned.
This is radiant heat (light).
If you hold up aluminum foil in front of your face, it will reflect that heat.
Now consider foil on a baking pan that is pulled out of an oven.
The foil is going to be very hot because it is touching the pan because it is getting heat via conduction (touching).
The moment it stops touching the pan, it cools rapidly.
The radiant barrier isn't meant to stop conduction or convection (air).
It is meant to stop radiation (light).
How many times do you have to say the same thing over and over and over??? You only had to mention the air gap once.
It's probably the most important part about it! I'm just trying to make sure the point gets across! LOL
In spite of that there are still comments on here about him needing to leave an air space. Some people. lol
@@thisplaceisazoo Thankyou! I appreciate the support!
Oh my, please do not follow this example as a proper installation of radiant barrier insulation.
The proper way to install the product is to run it perpendicular to the studs and be sure to cover the studs. Also, leave a gap several inches from the top. Do not staple it shut.
This is the proper way if you want to run two layers of insulation. If you run it perpendicular over the studs, you can't put two layers. This is per manufacturers instructions. Please don't hate! The next layer will run perpendicular without touching the first layer. This creates twice as much protection from the heat!