Spray-On Radiant Barriers:
Not all spray-on radiant barriers are created equal...
To really understand how radiant barriers are judged and compared, you must first learn about something called e-value. E-value is the measurement of a surface's ability to emit or radiate heat, otherwise called its emissivity. The ratings are usually shown in decimal points and should be interpreted as a percentage out of 100. For example, we use Lo/Mit spray-on radiant barrier which has an e-value of .23. This means that our radiant barrier will radiate 23% of its heat away from itself and stop 77% from radiating off of its surface. So one could say that our spray-on radiant barrier blocks 77% of the heat trying to radiate off the bottom side of your roof. E-value is a universal way to judge the effectiveness of radiant barriers much like R-value is to regular insulation.
Any company that can't tell you the e-value of their product should not be trusted as they themselves do not know how well the product is going to work in your home. Unfortunately, many companies have not taken the time to properly research and understand the product they are putting in your home. Please be sure to ask any of our competitors what the e-value of their product is and have them prove it, or show them the independent testing below and ask for an explanation.
The Lo/Mit radiant barrier has been independently tested as well as every other product that markets themselves as a radiant barrier. You can find that independent test here.
The shocking truth...Now that you know what e-value is and why it is important, you should also know that in all honesty, spray-on radiant barriers are not radiant barriers at all! The U.S. Department of Energy has determined that the E-value of a radiant barrier can not be higher then .10 and that spray-on radiant barriers have a classification all their own. They are technically called Interior Radiation Control Coating Systems, or IRCCS. This classification is for any coating that has an e-value of less then .25 and more then .10. This means it has to block at least 75% of the heat trying to radiate off a surface such as the underside of your roof.
What's so special about our coating?Rest assured, the Lo/Mit brand coating is the most safe and effective coating available. We use the Lo/Mit 2 for inside attics and residential jobs because it has less then 6% volatile compounds. This means it will not harm you or your family, cause an inverse reaction with allergy problems, or cause long term health concerns. All other products that work about as well as the Lo/Mit have more then 36% volatile compounds mixed in. We wouldn't put a product like that in our homes so we won't offer to put it in your home.
Why would I choose a coating over foil?Most companies prefer to install coatings instead of foil type radiant barriers because of the difference in install time. This is the same reason that most homes will actually see a quicker return on investment with the coating. The foil has a lower e-value but is very labor intensive. Because of that, the total cost of installing a foil radiant barrier is usually quite a bit more. This means your return on investment will be reached in a longer period of time.
Next, we have to figure out if your home is even a good candidate for the foil. Our install technicians will have to be able to physically reach every square foot of the underside of your roof to install the foil product. Homes with steep roofs or high peaks in the attic tend to be so costly, that the return on investment is much too far away. For this reason, we install the coating for about 75% of our customers. It just makes sense, err....dollars, however you want to look at it.
Location, Location, Location...Our typical install location is on the underside of the roof, inside the attic. You want to be able to see the radiant barrier if you're standing in your attic. All radiant barriers have to have an airspace on at least one side in order to work. The most effective place to stop the heat transfer is on the underside of the roof. This keeps the attic as cool as possible and allows the heat to move back up to the top of the shingles and be carried away by the outside air.
Don't worry, it only increases your roof temperature by 3 degrees at the most! This does not void shingle warranties or shorten the life of your roof. It might actually increase the lifetime of your shingles because your attic will not store as much heat after the sun has gone down and continue to cook your shingles.
There are many different locations we can install the Lo/Mit on both the interior and exterior, including everywhere from the backside of your garage door to the top of your barn or anywhere solar induced heat gain is a problem. It's even used in automotive applications to protect components from the heat of the engine.
Want to know more?Watch the video from the manufacturer here or visit their website here. You may also contact us with any questions you may have at 972.792.8842. Please ask to speak with one of our energy experts.
"WOW! That’s all I can say! I expected to save a little on my electric bill and boy did I. My bill went from about $450 in July to just over $300 in August! I know I will make my money back in a few short years with savings like that plus my home is more comfortable. I can actually use my home office now in the afternoons. I would highly recommend your products to others and already have.
Thank you for the great job!"
Sherry
Arlington
PROUDLY INSTALLING
