Radiant barriers have proven effective at reducing cooling bills in hot, sunny climates. But installing a radiant barrier adds a step to the construction sequence, a fact that discourages some builders from using them. Radiant barrier sheathing is an oriented strand board roof sheathing with a reflective foil laminated to its surface using a flame resistant adhesive. It lets you install the radiant barrier and the roof sheathing in one step.

Manufacturers claim that radiant barrier sheathing will block 97 percent of summer radiant heat, and that it can lower yearly cooling bills by as much as 25 percent. In fact, a study done by Davis Energy Group in Davis, California, showed the product to be as effective as a standard radiant barrier. In the study, one of a group of homes was sheathed with radiant barrier sheathing. Temperature sensors were installed to monitor the temperatures of the outdoor air, the underside of the sheathing, the attic air, the ceiling insulation and the drywall. The sensors showed that the barrier lowered attic temperatures by approximately 30 percent while reducing HVAC duct heat gains by 1000 Btu/hr. On a hot summer day, garage temperatures were also 10 percent lower than in the homes without the product.

Contact: Radiant Barrier Sheathing Manufacturers