For many Texas residents the home is a welcome escape from a sometimes hot and humid climate. While an AC unit is often the primary means of keeping a structure cool, have you considered the importance of high-quality residential roofing? A well-designed roof will most definitely affect the overall thermal efficiency of your home, or any building. Much of this protection is achieved with the help of radiant barriers. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of a radiant barrier, here’s what you need to know.
Can Radiant Barriers Help Cool the Home?
If you’ve ever considered installing radiant barriers in your home, you’ve probably done some research online and found a great deal of conflicting information. We’d like to take this opportunity to clear the air and present you with the facts. We believe that once you understand how radiant barriers work and where they are best used, you’ll know whether they are a good investment for your home or not.
What Is a Radiant Barrier, And How Does It Work?
If you own a car, you might at time put a reflective barrier inside the windshield of the vehicle. This barrier helps to keep the car cooler by reflecting light and heat energy, keeping it from entering the vehicle. A radiant barrier for your home works the same way. Reflective sheets or strips of plastic or aluminum foil reflect heat and light away from your home, keeping it cooler during the warmest months.
Can Radiant Barriers Reduce Cooling Costs?
As with most home upgrades, it’s important to evaluate this technology’s benefits and compare them with the upfront costs of installation. In practice, warm climates like Texas typically benefit the most from radiant barrier installation as the reflective materials perform a larger role here than in cooler temperatures. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy suggested that radiant barriers can reduce cooling costs by 5% to 10% in warmer climates.
Where Can You Install a Radiant Barrier?
There are many potential places to install a radiant barrier:
- Under the shingles on the roof
- On the underside of the roof in the attic
- On top of existing insulation
- Under the siding (as a house wrap)
Where you install the barrier depends on a wide range of factors, such as what work is being done on your home, where your greatest cooling losses are, and what your budget is. A roofing or insulation professional can help you make the best decision for your home.
Why Is Radiant Barrier Insulation Necessary?
In a warm climate like Dallas and Fort Worth, keeping homes cool in the summer is more important than keeping them warm in the winter. Therefore, it simply makes sense for homeowners in our areas to consider any extra measures that will help their homes stay that much cooler. Not only will installing a radiant barrier help your family stay more comfortable, but it can also help you save on utility bills and wear and tear on your cooling equipment. Finally, any steps you take to reduce the amount of energy your home uses are good for the environment.
Additional Benefits of Radiant Barriers
Alongside the installation costs and resulting comfort, there are some additional advantages of choosing radiant barriers.
- Low Maintenance – Minimal checkups are made during scheduled residential roof maintenance services.
- Easy to Integrate – Radiant barriers may be integrated with other insulation for improved thermal efficiency.
- Increase Home Value – An energy-efficient roof appeals to buyers and could add to the home’s market value.
These benefits and many more demonstrate why radiant barriers are so popular among homeowners, businesses and property investors.
Professional Radiant Barrier Installation in Texas
Meis Roofing provides high-quality radiant barrier repair and installation services for homes and businesses in Texas. When you need expert roofing services (including repairs, maintenance or roof replacement), you can count on our experienced roofing contractors. Call 866-211-1116 or request a free roofing inspection today.
