Radiant barrier installation in Wichita Falls
Reflective foil under the rafters that turns back summer roof heat. A summer upgrade, and we will tell you honestly when insulation should come first.
Turn back roof heat before it reaches the attic floor
On a cloudless summer afternoon, the sun heats your roof deck and the deck radiates that heat down onto the attic floor and any ducts in between. Insulation slows heat once it gets there. A radiant barrier works earlier in the chain. It is a foil layer fastened under the rafters that reflects much of that radiant heat back toward the roof.
Around Wichita Falls, many roofs sit in full sun all day with few tall trees to shade them, and summer heat often runs for weeks at a time. That is the setting where a radiant barrier does its best work, especially with ductwork in the attic.
To be straight with you, a radiant barrier is a summer upgrade. It does little to keep heat in during winter, and it does not seal drafts. If your attic is thin or your house is leaky, insulation and air sealing come first. Many homeowners do both in one visit.
- Foil radiant barrier fastened to the underside of the rafters
- Air gap toward the roof, which the foil needs in order to reflect
- Soffit and ridge vents left open so the attic can breathe
- Blown in top up in the same trip if your attic needs it
- Free inspection and a written price before we start
When a radiant barrier pays off, and when it does not
Roof in full sun
Open lots and newer neighborhoods without mature trees see the most benefit.
Ducts in the attic
Ductwork under a hot roof gains the most from a cooler attic in summer.
Not a winter fix
If cold rooms are your main complaint, attic depth and air sealing will help far more.
Skip it with roof deck foam
If the roof deck is getting spray foam, a radiant barrier there adds very little.
Usually a one day job
Inspect
We check sun exposure, ventilation, access and your current insulation depth.
Written estimate
Barrier and any top up, priced together.
Install
Foil goes up on the rafters with vent paths kept clear.
Top up and clean
Insulation is added if needed, then we clean up the attic.
What a radiant barrier costs
Attic size and how easily we can reach the rafters drive most of the price. Low pitch roofs and cluttered attics take longer. Doing it alongside a blown in top up usually costs less than two separate visits.
See what affects insulation cost, or ask for a free written estimate.
Radiant barrier questions
Does a radiant barrier help in winter?
- Only a little. It is mainly a summer upgrade.
- For winter comfort, focus on attic depth and air sealing.
Does it replace insulation?
- No. It reflects radiant heat. Insulation slows heat moving through it. Most attics need both.
Will it stop drafts or dust?
- No. It does not seal air leaks. Air sealing and spray foam handle that.
Can the foil be laid over my insulation?
- We do not recommend it. Dust settles on flat foil and it stops reflecting. It belongs on the rafters.
What happens if my roof is replaced?
- Foil on the rafters usually stays put when shingles are replaced.
- If decking comes off, we can check it afterward.
Radiant barrier installation near you
Get a free radiant barrier estimate
Prefer to talk? Call us and we will set up your free inspection.