How Much Does Radiant Barrier Installation Cost

A home is always up for getting rid of excess heat during the summer days or getting more of it during winter nights. If you have this in mind, you may be trying to answer the question “how much does radiant barrier installation cost?” The cost of radiant barrier ranges from 10 cents to $25 per square foot for a single-sided barrier and $45 to $1 per square foot for double-sided ones.  This excludes labor costs for installation. Usually, the installation of a radiant barrier insulation costs 10 cents to $1 per square foot. With that, having this installed may cost around $300-$500 for a 1,500 square feet attic space; however, some homeowners who opted to install it by themselves reported to have spent around $200. Most importantly, keep in mind that costs will always vary.

What is a Radiant Barrier Insulation?

A radiant barrier is layer of metallic foil that serves as a reflective material similar to a reinforced aluminum foil. This material is usually installed in the attic over the insulation in order to gain heat during the winter and cut heat gain during the summer. A radiant barrier can also be stapled under the roof; however, more labor would be needed. Most homeowners invest in installing radiant barrier insulation not just because of the insulating benefits it provides but also because of its promise of helping in saving when it comes to utility bills.

How does a radiant barrier work?

As we go through “how much does radiant barrier installation cost?” We must also know how it works. The radiant barrier works in such a way that it reflects the heat that comes off from the roof. Without this insulator, the heat normally travels across the attic and is absorbed by the insulation in the attic and eventually, when the attic insulation heats up, the heat is transferred inside the home. However, with the radiant barrier, heat coming from the roof will be reflected which will make the insulation cooler and as the radiant barrier reduces the insulation temperature, it also reduces the flow of heat into the home.

Does a Radiant Barrier really Help your Utility Bills?

The cost of radiant barrier ought to be less compared to how much it will help us in our bills. However, As much as we want to hear hard numbers of estimated savings from the installation of radiant barriers, it is not that easy to predict or estimate. To judge its effectiveness or ineffectiveness would require us to consider a whole lot of factors. According to a study conducted by the United States Department of Energy, it was found that installing radiant barriers did reduce heat gain by 40% which led to a 17% reduction of utility bills. This, however, may not be applicable to all that installed radiant barriers in their attics as this will vary from place to place. However, many other studies have reported energy savings from 12% to 39%.

How and When Should I Install a Radiant Barrier?

Now that we have gotten radiant barrier insulation costs out of the way. Let’s move to how and when it should be installed. Some homeowners do not bother shelling out a few more dollars for the installation of this radiant barrier. However, as for those who want to save; there is no need to worry since this can easily be installed at home by yourself.

Radiant barriers are advised to be installed when the outside temperature is mild so as to avoid discomfort in the part of the installer. This means spring or autumn are the best seasons when it comes to installing radiant barriers. In the event wherein you are forced to install it during summer or winters, make sure it is installed early in the mornings or early in the evenings. Moreover, homeowners are also advised to have radiant barriers installed during the construction of the house as it will cost lesser.

There are two ways to install radiant barriers depending on the climates. The first installation method is to install it at the bottom of the roof rafters. This method is for hot climates wherein cutting off heat gain is more essential than taking heat in. This will keep the entire attic cooler and will block the radiant heat from striking through air handlers and ductwork. This method may be the most efficient, however, it is also considered the most challenging as it takes so much time and effort to install. The second method of installing radiant barriers is for both cooler and hot climates. This method includes installing radiant barriers over the insulation and ductwork. The location of the radiant barrier, which is on the floor covering the insulation and ductwork, is set to primarily reduce heat loss. Furthermore, it also works for reducing heat gain during the summer.

Before discussing how to install the barrier, let us first look into the necessary tools for this Do-It-Yourself project:

• Staple Guns
• Safety Glasses
• Ladder
• Box Cutter
• Dust Mask
• Measuring Tape
• Gloves
• Shop Light
• Dowel with Nail Point

Indeed, answering the question “how much does radiant barrier installation cost?” was a breeze as we found out that the radiant barrier insulation costs are actually quite reasonable. It is safe to say, therefore, that the cost of radiant barriers are much less than the benefits it provides every homeowner—a warmer or cooler home when necessary and a major savings in the utility bills.