Foam Board Insulation Radiant Barrier

The rigid foam insulation addresses the conduction and convection and adding a radiant barrier addresses radiation you ll find that adding a radiant barrier is best practice but only when there is an air space.

Foam board insulation radiant barrier.

Radiant barrier sheathing is inexpensive and reflects thermal radiation to keep attic spaces cool. Benefits of installing spray foam insulation. Whether you use it in a crawl space radiant floor attic or walls you ll find it easy to handle and install. Double reflective insulation roll with staple tab edge for a versatile insulation product select for a versatile insulation product select reflectix insulation to help save energy costs throughout the home.

Rigid foam insulation also known as insulating boards provide high r values. A number of factors should be taken into consideration when choosing between these two especially the climate zone that you re building in. May 16 2013 posted in. Builders dealers diy framers.

They keep your home at a comfortable temperature without the need to crank your heat. When installing attic insulation a case can be made for both radiant barrier sheathing with typical types of insulation as well as spray foam insulation. Foam insulation rigid boards are 4 x8 sheets usually cast of closed cell polystyrene designed to fit directly inside walls against the interior or exterior of plywood sheathing as well as on top of sub floors. What is foam insulation.

Radiant barrier foil is different than spray foam because atticfoil s reflectivity of radiant heat is 97 meaning you stop the heat from ever even entering the home. If you remember back to high school science days heat transfers three ways conduction convection and radiation. Foam isn t going to perform like radiant barrier because like traditional insulation foam slows conductive heat gain loss but it doesn t actually stop it. The radiant barrier acts as your first line of defense against radiant heat and the foam closed attic acts as the second line of defense against conductive heat flow.

You can even place it under the foundation slab. A radiant barrier insulation system can reduce your attic temperature by as much as 30 f providing cooler attic spaces and more beneficially more comfortable living spaces within your home without the extra load on your cooling system.