Attic Foil

[ampy51]

I've seen advertisements that make this idea look very appealing. Has anybody done this in their attic. I'm thinking about using it over the garage where storage items would be protected from the heat a little better.
Thanks

[jimbo2012]

It asouluty works if U do a searchh it has been explained, it's cheap and useful

[CarGuys]

First project we did before we moved in. Before the Golf Cart, Landscape, Garage floor or water system.

Abshire Insulation did our installation. I did my own research and you can watch a demonstration at the Seco Website. Abshier also has a demonstration set up at the Lake Sumter Landing store.

SECO has energy conservation tips and tools to help you save money (http://secoenergy.com/radiant.html) is the Seco link

Loweres our attic temperature about 30-40 degrees from the roof to attic floor. I also installed one Solar attice fan. Our home called for two but we did not need it as the radiant barrier was doing most the work. The Fna is up there to keep a slight air movement to stop any condensation that might try it build.


I had insulation installed in the Garage ceiling durning construction and in the garage walls.

When ever we have a service contractor that has to go up in the attic they are always glad to see the radiant barrier. Especially in Summer time.

Radiant barrier also helps save energy in the winter.

[rhood]

We had it installed three years ago by the company that SECO recommended. We have seen no significant power savings during those three years. Despite everything that is published on this stuff, the payback will be really long for us. I wouldn't do it again.

[jimbo2012]

logically it should save energy, if there is less heat in the attic the A/C should be used less.

[rhood]

Here is what we used (kWh) for 2005 through 2012 for Jul, Aug and Sep, the hottest months. We have an Amarillo.

2005 4093 kwh
2006 3785 kwh
2007 3779 kwh
2008 3786 kwh
2009 3448 kwh
installation of radiant barrier in spring 2010
2010 3716 kwh
2011 3761 kwh
2012 3484 kwh

Following info from SECO site:
Lower attic temperature in the summer up to 30 degrees.
Lower humidity in buildings where air-handlers are in the attic.
Lower air temperature of air conditioning out of AC ducts.
Lower cooling and heating costs.
Increased attic temperature in winter months.
Increased comfort throughout the building.

We had this stuff from Energy Home Shield installed primarily as an economic measure, but our usage doesn't support SECO's claims.

Energy Home Shield site says payback will be 3-4 yrs for 1800 sq ft home. And a 25% reduction of total bill. I am not disputing the claims but figures show it isn't doing anything for us.

[jimbo2012]

Well there is a difference in 2005 to 2012 of about 600?

U also have to consider the temps during those years.

Beyond that I would call them ask for an audit along with a inspection of the install.

If all that good ask for a refund

[sarodnap]

I've seen advertisements that make this idea look very appealing. Has anybody done this in their attic. I'm thinking about using it over the garage where storage items would be protected from the heat a little better.
Thanks

Had done to my home 3 years ago, a smart investment. I used Rex with Central Florida Insulation, Inc. Nice guy, honest, very good work and no BS. His number is 352-598-7948. My name is Marcus Polk and if you would like to call me I am at 352-561-4436.

[Rebel Pirate]

Had done to my home 3 years ago, a smart investment. I used Rex with Central Florida Insulation, Inc. Nice guy, honest, very good work and no BS. His number is 352-598-7948. My name is Marcus Polk and if you would like to call me I am at 352-561-4436.

How much has your electrical consumption been reduced when comparing "after" to "before" your installation?

[ducati1974]

If you've ever gone up in the attic of a hip roofed house in TV you'd be real skeptical about what kind of job they could possibly do. Pre-fab roof trusses of multiple configurations, flex duct snaking everywhere and penetrating the ceiling many times, inaccessible areas under the low parts of the roof...etc.
I've been up there to do some work and you can barely manipulate around never mind do some kind of a nice job installing foil. I'm a former HVAC installer and I'm real skeptical about what kind of job they can do not to mention the compacting of your insulation that must occur.

[Rebel Pirate]

If you've ever gone up in the attic of a hip roofed house in TV you'd be real skeptical about what kind of job they could possibly do. Pre-fab roof trusses of multiple configurations, flex duct snaking everywhere and penetrating the ceiling many times, inaccessible areas under the low parts of the roof...etc.
I've been up there to do some work and you can barely manipulate around never mind do some kind of a nice job installing foil. I'm a former HVAC installer and I'm real skeptical about what kind of job they can do not to mention the compacting of your insulation that must occur.

My observations echo yours about the apparent inaccessibility (or at least difficulty accessing) of much of the attic space. However, about compacting the insulation, even if it occurs during installation, most installers will recommend blowing in additional insulation as part of the job after the foil is installed. That's why I think it's important to get real world observations/results before/after any investment like this that's intended to produce savings. Everything said by proponents makes logical sense - but the real question is whether or not it makes financial sense. If the simple pay-back-period is three years and I plan to own the home for 10 years, that makes for an easy decision. Similarly, if the simple pay-back-period is 20 years, it also makes for an easy decision. So far, from reviewing this and similar threads, it seems that most who have made the investment think it was worthwhile, but that's not backed up by hard evidence.

[gomoho]

So I have enclosed my lanai and now wish to inulate the roof above - would blown insulation be a better way to go in that situation?

[Rebel Pirate]

So I have enclosed my lanai and now wish to inulate the roof above - would blown insulation be a better way to go in that situation?

Yes. It's probably your only option at this point.

[bluedog103]

I had this installed in the NY house and it reduced my heating bills significantly. I had a guy from Fairbanks Construction here at the TV house last week for an estimate. He gave me a price of close to $5000. Not a chance. I'd never save enough to recover that expense. I don't know if that was a typical estimate or not but I know it was much, much higher than I paid in NY a few years ago. Even allowing for inflation they were way too high.

[jimbo2012]

The foil only costs about $175, remember no reason to do the north side????

[batman911]

I have never seen this type of material. Is the foil applied to the underside of the roof or on the attic side of the ceiling?

[Rebel Pirate]

I have never seen this type of material. Is the foil applied to the underside of the roof or on the attic side of the ceiling?

It can be installed either way you described.

[ampy51]

Thanks for all the feedback. I wasn't that interested in the savings as much as lowering the temp to help protect things I will be storing in the attic. It seems like its a very good product for that usage. Thanks again.

[tommy steam]

If you've ever gone up in the attic of a hip roofed house in TV you'd be real skeptical about what kind of job they could possibly do. Pre-fab roof trusses of multiple configurations, flex duct snaking everywhere and penetrating the ceiling many times, inaccessible areas under the low parts of the roof...etc.
I've been up there to do some work and you can barely manipulate around never mind do some kind of a nice job installing foil. I'm a former HVAC installer and I'm real skeptical about what kind of job they can do not to mention the compacting of your insulation that must occur.

I agree with everything you said. I think someone trying to work in one of those type of attics ,would make a huge mess of the insulation up there.

[JB in TV]

Just a comment....We just moved here from AZ, where the sun produces ALOT of heat in the attic. The house we bought there had the foil radiant barrior, which we thought was a good idea....until we moved in and started having cell phone reception issues. The foil blocks the signal, and we constantly missed incoming calls. Outside it was fine, inside very poor. Just a note to anyone before you decide to have foil placed in your attic over the house.

[jimbo2012]

I agree with everything you said. I think someone trying to work in one of those type of attics ,would make a huge mess of the insulation up there.

I was crawling around up there last week to add an electric run, it's a pia to walk beam to beam, U can't see where you're stepping.

But the fluff fills right back in where your foot was.

When U get to where you need to and do work it does get disrupted for sure.

Almost need to bring a small rake to get back nice.

I would guess that if U hire someone to install the foil they mess up a lot it and don't reset it.

Oh at 10am it's really hot up there later must be unbearable.

Someone suggested a sheet be laid down first or a board????

Oh and you need a mask!

I'm skipping the foil idea that I thought I would do later.

I'm working on a new type attic fan design that can push 1,000 cfm each.
one or two of those on a temperature driven on/off switch say at 75 degrees looks like an easier way to go.
It should cut the attic temp down 30-40 degrees.

The fan(s) can run off 110volt or solar.

.

[getdul981]

I was crawling around up there last week to add an electric run, it's a pia to walk beam to beam, U can't see where you're stepping.

But the fluff fills right back in where your foot was.

When U get to where you need to and do work it does get disrupted for sure.

Almost need to bring a small rake to get back nice.

I would guess that if U hire someone to install the foil they mess up a lot it and don't reset it.

Oh at 10am it's really hot up there later must be unbearable.

Someone suggested a sheet be laid down first or a board????

Oh and you need a mask!

I'm skipping the foil idea that I thought I would do later.

I'm working on a new type attic fan design that can push 1,000 cfm each.
one or two of those on a temperature driven on/off switch say at 75 degrees looks like an easier way to go.
It should cut the attic temp down 30-40 degrees.

The fan(s) can run off 110volt or solar.

.

1000 cfm and solar???

[jimbo2012]

correct, well 950 to be exact

[rjm1cc]

Just a comment....We just moved here from AZ, where the sun produces ALOT of heat in the attic. The house we bought there had the foil radiant barrior, which we thought was a good idea....until we moved in and started having cell phone reception issues. The foil blocks the signal, and we constantly missed incoming calls. Outside it was fine, inside very poor. Just a note to anyone before you decide to have foil placed in your attic over the house.Thanks for mentioning.