When installing Radiant Barrier with the Open-Ridge or Flat-Top Method, your main objective is to get foil between the roof deck and the insulation. Pretty simple right? You are not trying to make the foil air tight. All you are trying to do is bounce the radiant heat that is coming off your roof back toward the roof and outside.
Do’s and Dont’s
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| Work on the big wide open areas first, then worry about the harder areas. | Overthink this; it’s really pretty simple |
| Get a helper. The install will go much faster with fewer headaches. | Worry about the impossible and hard to reach areas. Foil is like shade. It has a cumulative effect. The more the better. |
| Leave gaps and openings in the foil as you install, for air flow. | Concern yourself about the hot air that might accumulate; it’s not toxic waste. |
| Plan ahead to make sure you have easy access to the areas you need to get to and that you choose the right width for your space. | Distress if it’s not pretty. Ugly, crooked, wrinkled foil works just the same as perfectly smooth pretty foil. Remember, it is your attic, not your living room. |
| Use foil tape or white tape to connect any areas you cut or need to bridge. | Trouble yourself with taping every single seam. All it does is make it look pretty, so this is optional. |
| Think, "Safety First!" and have secure footing, eye protection, and take breaks. Start early in the morning to reduce your exposure to extreme heat. | Worry, yes you can do this. It’s actually pretty hard to screw it up. Is there a path for air to flow to the top? If yes, then you're good. If not, create a pathway. |
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| Foil tape is good for sealing seams/cuts but it is NOT required. | Taping a nail to a long handle is useful for pushing pieces to the eaves in an over insulation install. | This is a Cobra staple gun – this particular version is their manual model. |
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| We recommend a half mask respirator with P100 pancake filters. | A simpler face mask would look like this – as long as it covers your nose and mouth it should work well. | This is another model (Stanley) that many customers like. Electric & pneumatic guns can be used too. |
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| A utility knife is useful and quick for cutting the foil. Scissors also work, but they dull much faster. | Any size staple will work with our foil. Most people choose 1/4″ or 5/16″. | A clamp work lamp can be helpful to illuminate your attic space and help you navigate the area with safety! |
