Homeowners install radiant barrier roofs to reduce heat transfer in the house. The barriers work by reflecting heat to the sun. This keeps your home cool, reducing the work of the HVAC system hence lower energy bills. 
The heat from the sun travels to other areas through conduction, convection, and radiation. Heat transfer through a solid material to a cooler place is called conduction, and this material could be a piece of metal.
Convection is when heat travels through a liquid or gas from a warm place to a cold one. Heat can also travel through a straight line from its source to another surface. This is called radiation.
When you apply insulation on a surface, heat transfer through conduction slows down. However, radiant barriers block heat transferred through radiation.
The barrier materials have a reflective surface that mirrors sunrays and prevents them from hitting the roof. This ensures no heat gets into the house, maintaining the temperatures inside.
To ensure the heat barrier is effective, check if you’ve installed it rightfully. The barrier should face the sun so that the rays reflect. One of the reasons your barrier might not be working well is if it is dusty.
There will be little to no reflection when the surface is dusty. Therefore, cleaning it will help to reduce dust accumulation. However, the best way to deal with dust problems is to ensure the installation style minimizes the chances of dust settling on the surface.
To ensure your radiant barrier serves you well, contact a professional to install it. Roof master and construction will help you choose the best radiant barrier for your home and help with the installation.
Why Your Roof Needs a Radiant Barrier
It is essential to know that the radiant barrier works better in some conditions. The main factor is your home’s climate. You will see the benefits of the barrier if your house has;
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Poor Insulation
If your house has poor insulation, you are likely to benefit from a radiant barrier roof a lot. On the other hand, homeowners with a well-insulated attic might not feel the difference when the roofing is applied because the insulation is doing more work.
If your home is old and has wearing-out insulation, you will spend less money if you buy a radiant barrier than replacing the insulation.
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Direct Sunlight Hitting the Roof
Your house has high temperatures during summer because your roof gets directly hit by sunlight. If your roof is facing the sun, the remedy to high temperatures is installing a roof barrier.
Also, it will make more sense to install a roof barrier instead of insulators on metal roofs. These conduct a lot of heat from the sun and are likely to make the house very hot.
Radiant Barrier Roof Sheathing Facts
Before you decide to install this new home cooling system, you might first want to know how it will benefit you. These are facts about the radiant barrier roof, and until you try it, you might not come to terms with the truth.
A radiant barrier roof will maintain the correct temperatures in your home. As a result, your house will be cool during summer and warm in winter. This ensures your heating system does not stay on, saving on the cost of energy.
Most radiant barriers have perforations that allow air to flow, so humidity does not affect them. It is also not affected by hot air because it works by reflecting heat away.
While some insulators have harmful particles from their material falling, radiant barriers do not. However, these particles cause skin irritation and respiratory problems. You, therefore, have to wear gloves and eyewear when handling these insulation materials.
Radiant barriers are long-lasting. They rarely wear off because they reflect sunlight away and are moisture resistant. On the other hand, insulators wear off after some years and get less effective.
Note that the radiant barriers are a sure way of reflecting the sun and preventing excess heat in the house. In fact, they can reflect about 97 percent of the heat, which shows how effective it is.
You can install radiant roofing together with the insulation materials in your house. This will add more insulation to the home.
Birds and other rodents cannot infest radiant barriers because they are products of inorganic materials. So, the barriers will therefore last longer on the roof.
You can use radiant barriers on other systems like hot water tanks to prevent water from heating and being too cold. Plumbers will also use them on hot water pipes to keep the water at the correct temperatures.
Adverse Facts about Radiant Barrier Roofing
While most people target the positive facts about things, it is also essential to share the disadvantages you will get. This helps the buyer to prepare in all ways.
You will enjoy many advantages of the radiant barrier roofing, but it might not be a good idea if you live in a cold climate. It works better in hotter climates because it reflects the sun. Homes in cold temperatures need insulators more than radiant roofs.
A radiant heat barrier is only good at preventing heat transmitted through radiation. If your home’s heat is due to conduction or convection, the system might not work for you.
You need to keep checking if there is dust on the barrier after you install it. A dusty radiant barrier does not reflect heat well, and it will not be efficient. You can also prevent dust from settling by installing it in a way that dust will not settle on it.
Is It Worth It?
If you live in hot climates or your house does not have an insulator, installing a radiant barrier is all worth it. It will prevent heat transfer and keep the house at the correct temperatures.
If you have an insulating system or live in a cold climate, you will not experience the advantages of a radiant barrier.
Final Words
Although there are many myths about roofing and getting the proper insulators, you need to research more to get the facts right. Installing radiant barrier roofs comes with many benefits, and it will be even more worth it if you live in hot climates.
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