I am trying to reduce my electric bill by reducing ac costs. have any of you installed or had installed those reflective radiant barriers? what are your experiences? especially interested in experiences of those of you in the south.
attic radiant barriers
- Thread starter mikeinaustin
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Painting the roof white will help prevent attic heat. Someone I know really did this.
http://eetd.lbl.gov/coolroofs/
http://eetd.lbl.gov/coolroofs/
I struggled with this in my last house. There was nothing I could do to cool off the attic. The shingle roof really got hot. It would radiate down into the house, right through my insulation (yes it had a reflective layer). The AC could not keep up, mid summer. I installed a big attic fan, and it did pump out a good bit of the hot air (didn't help much). But the house remained hot.
So, when I moved, I had a pure white barrel tile roof installed on my new house. Along with 2 solar powered attic fans (the good ones). The attic remains at ambient temperatures, no heat radiates into the house and all is well. I have minimal insulation in the attic and adding more would not help. Cool air stays low.
I truly feel that many people have been misled into thinking major attic insulation is necessary in Southern states. The radiant heat was the problem in my old house.
So, when I moved, I had a pure white barrel tile roof installed on my new house. Along with 2 solar powered attic fans (the good ones). The attic remains at ambient temperatures, no heat radiates into the house and all is well. I have minimal insulation in the attic and adding more would not help. Cool air stays low.
I truly feel that many people have been misled into thinking major attic insulation is necessary in Southern states. The radiant heat was the problem in my old house.
White roof + Ridge vents
And yea Cujet the solar fan sounds kool. Wit ridgevents though it shouldn't be necessary. I agree that insulation is not the answer. Heat must be removed from the attic.
And yea Cujet the solar fan sounds kool. Wit ridgevents though it shouldn't be necessary. I agree that insulation is not the answer. Heat must be removed from the attic.
The sun light can be either evil or a blessing. All those roofs could be producing electricity. A strong political will is needed, though.
Imagine if the solar panels were seen as investments in a household. Businesses are allowed to depreciate fixed assets that are used to produce output as a course of business. The individuals are not allowed to depreciate fixed assets used for the household. But if the federal tax laws were changed to allow the households to depreciate solar panels, we would see many more houses installing them than now. They would be motivated by the possibility of saving money on electricity use, and the tax savings from the depreciation.
Once infrastructure like that is made possible, the utility companies will possibly start buying the excess electricity from households. They would then be able to make money by reselling, and have less need to build new power plants. And I am not talking about the spur in innovation for solar technologies.
But as I said, there needs to be a political will to implement such a tax policy.
Imagine if the solar panels were seen as investments in a household. Businesses are allowed to depreciate fixed assets that are used to produce output as a course of business. The individuals are not allowed to depreciate fixed assets used for the household. But if the federal tax laws were changed to allow the households to depreciate solar panels, we would see many more houses installing them than now. They would be motivated by the possibility of saving money on electricity use, and the tax savings from the depreciation.
Once infrastructure like that is made possible, the utility companies will possibly start buying the excess electricity from households. They would then be able to make money by reselling, and have less need to build new power plants. And I am not talking about the spur in innovation for solar technologies.
But as I said, there needs to be a political will to implement such a tax policy.
Oh man am I struggling with this. I live in a nice 1930's vintage bungalow that got the aluminum siding treatment sometime in the last 15 years or so. Well, they covered up the gable vents to the point where they are tiny slits. I installed biger vents but no help. The house has absolutely NO soffit vents. During 95+ degree days, my a/c struggles to keep the house below 77 degrees. That's with a supplimental window unit in our master bedroom.
I have a pile of soffit vents that I am too chicken to install myself and too scared to get an estimate on from a contractor. I had purchased a thermostatically controlled electic gable vent van for the attic but last time I had my a/c checked out, the guy who did it told me they refused to install those because they have a tendancy to catch fire.
I'd like to buy one of the solar fans but $200 is a decent investment for something I am not sure will help my situation. The insulation is the original rock wool but the inspector who checked out the house when I bought it a few years ago said it was fine. I'm also scared to throw in fiberglass myself as there are a few lengths of original knob and tube wiring runing through the attic. I don't THINK they are live but I was assured at closing that NONE of the knob and tube was live yet I discoved at least one bit, which supplies electricity to the garage is....
Any advice?
I have a pile of soffit vents that I am too chicken to install myself and too scared to get an estimate on from a contractor. I had purchased a thermostatically controlled electic gable vent van for the attic but last time I had my a/c checked out, the guy who did it told me they refused to install those because they have a tendancy to catch fire.
I'd like to buy one of the solar fans but $200 is a decent investment for something I am not sure will help my situation. The insulation is the original rock wool but the inspector who checked out the house when I bought it a few years ago said it was fine. I'm also scared to throw in fiberglass myself as there are a few lengths of original knob and tube wiring runing through the attic. I don't THINK they are live but I was assured at closing that NONE of the knob and tube was live yet I discoved at least one bit, which supplies electricity to the garage is....
Any advice?
my neighborhood association rules do not allow white shingles. actually all future roofing much match the color currently on.
i installed an electric gable vent fan over 5 years ago. still running fine, though i don't know if it helps much.
i have also thought of putting in a solar fan, a little nervous about cutting my shingles and roofing though. i'm afraid i'll just end up with leaks.
i have tons of soffit vents but probably only 5-6 roof vents for the heat to escape out of. i have one gable vent in the front peak of the house, none in the back peak of the house. lots of insulation. attic still gets above 130.
i installed an electric gable vent fan over 5 years ago. still running fine, though i don't know if it helps much.
i have also thought of putting in a solar fan, a little nervous about cutting my shingles and roofing though. i'm afraid i'll just end up with leaks.
i have tons of soffit vents but probably only 5-6 roof vents for the heat to escape out of. i have one gable vent in the front peak of the house, none in the back peak of the house. lots of insulation. attic still gets above 130.
Shade trees on E. and W. sides of house. Still get some direct mid-day, but you can't imagine how much they help!
Bob
Bob
I installed it in my attic last spring it really helps and really isn't costly.there needs to be lots vent area for proper ventilation .The year before I doubled the size of the soffit vents and added ridge vents .easy to do and you can feel the hot air exiting the vents.
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when you installed your ridge vents, did you pry off your existing shingle caps and re-install or just by new ones?
Originally Posted By: mikeinaustin
when you installed your ridge vents, did you pry off your existing shingle caps and re-install or just by new ones?
I had it done when the roof was redone. The ridgevent overlaps existing shingles. I believe the game plan would be just to take a circular saw and cut a couple of inches horizontally below thee peak the length of the roof. Install the ridge vent over the shingles.
when you installed your ridge vents, did you pry off your existing shingle caps and re-install or just by new ones?
I had it done when the roof was redone. The ridgevent overlaps existing shingles. I believe the game plan would be just to take a circular saw and cut a couple of inches horizontally below thee peak the length of the roof. Install the ridge vent over the shingles.
Quote:
The ridgevent overlaps existing shingles. I believe the game plan would be just to take a circular saw and cut a couple of inches horizontally below thee peak the length of the roof. Install the ridge vent over the shingles.
This is correct.
I'll also comment that when I had my Home Energy Audit performed about 6 weeks ago, I asked the auditor about attic fans. He wasn't a fan of them and said that they don't address the real problem. Attic, HVAC, lights, etc need to be sealed in the attic with the appropriate amounts of insulation. Given, I already have adequate ventilation and was part of your discussion. (Octagon gable vents, ridgevent, and soffit venting.)
The ridgevent overlaps existing shingles. I believe the game plan would be just to take a circular saw and cut a couple of inches horizontally below thee peak the length of the roof. Install the ridge vent over the shingles.
This is correct.
I'll also comment that when I had my Home Energy Audit performed about 6 weeks ago, I asked the auditor about attic fans. He wasn't a fan of them and said that they don't address the real problem. Attic, HVAC, lights, etc need to be sealed in the attic with the appropriate amounts of insulation. Given, I already have adequate ventilation and was part of your discussion. (Octagon gable vents, ridgevent, and soffit venting.)
Question. The gable end of my addition has a roof extended over it. I cut in an access hatch about 4'X 4'. I made the door out of 1/4" mesh over a layer of window screen to keep out the critters. Does this provide adequate ventilation? The house needs a new roof, It will be white shingles this time.
The standard for soffit vents seems inadequate these days.
My brother, thinking ahead, ran his soffit vents full length.
With a full length ridge vent and gable vents, his 'attic' is not much warmer than the outside.
White shingles.
White shingles seem to be hard to find in the better grades; light gray is the next choice.
My brother, thinking ahead, ran his soffit vents full length.
With a full length ridge vent and gable vents, his 'attic' is not much warmer than the outside.
White shingles.
White shingles seem to be hard to find in the better grades; light gray is the next choice.
I've considered a radiant barrier, but costwise, I'm not sure it's the best choice for me. I'm adding insulation, soffit vents, and a couple of turbine vents for about $1100. Should be good bang for the buck in terms of lowering the stifling attic temps I have now. The quote for the radiant barrier spray alone was $1300.
I may get up there this fall and staple some of that radiant barrier "foil" to the underside of the trusses, but in my case I really need to get some better ventilation going first.
I may get up there this fall and staple some of that radiant barrier "foil" to the underside of the trusses, but in my case I really need to get some better ventilation going first.
Originally Posted By: mikeinaustin
when you installed your ridge vents, did you pry off your existing shingle caps and re-install or just by new ones?
Pull off the shingles and put on new ones .I had to cut the plywood sheathing to make an air passage .I never worked on roofing before it wasn't too bad there are instructions on the box.
when you installed your ridge vents, did you pry off your existing shingle caps and re-install or just by new ones?
Pull off the shingles and put on new ones .I had to cut the plywood sheathing to make an air passage .I never worked on roofing before it wasn't too bad there are instructions on the box.
Originally Posted By: andyd
Question. The gable end of my addition has a roof extended over it. I cut in an access hatch about 4'X 4'. I made the door out of 1/4" mesh over a layer of window screen to keep out the critters. Does this provide adequate ventilation? The house needs a new roof, It will be white shingles this time.
While reroofing add the radient foil under the shingles and add vents and more soffit vents if needed.
Question. The gable end of my addition has a roof extended over it. I cut in an access hatch about 4'X 4'. I made the door out of 1/4" mesh over a layer of window screen to keep out the critters. Does this provide adequate ventilation? The house needs a new roof, It will be white shingles this time.
While reroofing add the radient foil under the shingles and add vents and more soffit vents if needed.
Our house was built in 2005, so it has radiant barrier for roofing. It really does help keep the heat out. I can be in my attic in the summer and it really isn't much hotter than it is outside.
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