I am writing to inquire about a conflict that has arisen in the re-roofing project of my home. A contractor has replaced radiant barrier decking in some areas with regular decking. We both are hesitant to remove the shingles to replace the decking with the correct product, but are unsure if there is an appropriate DOE/ASTM approved solution? Paint has been brought up, but that after reading the literature on your website I see that is not an effective solution.
Answer
There are a couple of viable solutions.
- Use a loose/roll radiant barrier product and staple it to the underside of the structural sheathing. There is a stamp on the attic side of the structural sheathing that will tell you the thickness of the sheathing, make sure the staples are no longer than the thickness of the sheathing, you do not want to penetrate the top side of the sheathing. Using a light weight ¼” staple is sufficient to secure the radiant barrier. You can also cut the radiant barrier a little wider than needed to staple to the side of the rafter.
- The other alternative is to glue the radiant barrier to the underside of structural panel. Any home improvement store will sell a gallon of the white PVA synthetic glue (Elmer’s). With a brush or my preference is a roller, roll the glue to the panel and firmly press the loose radiant barrier to the glue.
There are several good manufacturers of loose radiant barrier all sold in most home improvement stores, make sure to consult the RIMA website for verified products to insure you are purchasing a true radiant barrier.