Reflective Insulation and Vapor Barriers
Radiant Barrier USA
High performance thermal and moisture protection for any structure.
ICAA MemberIf you don't stop radiant heat — no R-Value will save you.
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Reflective insulation in residential buildings uses shiny, low-emissivity surfaces to reflect radiant heat, reducing heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter, which improves energy efficiency and indoor comfort.
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Reflective insulation works by using a high-reflectivity surface to bounce radiant heat away from a building rather than absorbing it. When paired with an adjacent air space, this barrier prevents thermal energy from transferring into the structure, keeping interiors cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
Why reflective insulation
Built different.
Works differently.
Traditional insulation slows conductive heat. Reflective insulation rejects radiant heat, the kind that makes attics feel like ovens. Here's what that means for your building.
Reflective.Not
Absorptive.
Radiant heat travels as infrared energy. Our low-emittance foil surface reflects up to 97% of it before it reaches your living space. When installed facing an air gap, the result is dramatically lower surface temperatures, fewer HVAC run-hours, and a more comfortable building year-round in any climate.
How it works
Reflective Insulation
Traditional insulation absorbs heat and slows its movement. Reflective insulation bounces radiant heat back before it enters, addressing the dominant heat transfer mode in hot attics, metal buildings, and sun-exposed walls.
Sun heats the roof
Solar radiation strikes the roof deck and raises its surface temperature, sometimes above 70 °C in summer. That heat radiates downward into the attic as infrared energy.
Foil reflects it back
The low-emittance foil face reflects up to 97% of that infrared energy before it can pass through. The surface below stays dramatically cooler.
Air space is essential
A clear air gap on the reflective side (even ¾ inch) allows convection and lets the foil perform. Sealing the space removes the benefit.
Interior stays cooler
Less radiant load means less heat entering living spaces. HVAC runs less, energy bills drop, and rooms stay comfortable all day.
"Radiant heat accounts for up to 93% of heat gain through the roof in summer."
How it works
Crawl Space Encapsulation
An open crawl space lets ground moisture, outdoor air, and soil gases flow freely beneath your floor. Encapsulation seals all entry points with a reinforced vapor barrier, turning a damp space into a clean, dry one.
Cover the ground and walls
A heavy-duty vapor barrier is laid over the soil and sealed up the foundation walls, blocking ground moisture at the source.
Seal all penetrations
Vents, seams, gaps, and utility penetrations are closed with compatible tape and sealant, blocking humid air, pests, and soil gases.
Humidity drops
With moisture sources cut off, relative humidity falls. Condensation, mold, rot, and corrosion on joists and metal components become far less likely.
Home performs better
Drier air beneath the floor improves indoor air quality, supports steadier temperatures, and reduces heating and cooling waste long term.
"Up to 50% of the air you breathe on the first floor comes from your crawl space."
Radiant Barrier USA builds aerospace-grade reflective insulation and vapor barriers for installers and builders who need products that hold up in every climate and every application.
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