How to Install Cost-Effective Attic Barrier Foil

Save on Your Energy Bill and Help Save the Planet with This Easy DIY Project

Attic barrier foil is an inexpensive, easy to install material that can drastically reduce your home's temperature control costs. Attic barrier foil provides a layer of aluminum that blocks radiant heat from escaping your home during the winter through your roof, and stops downward heat gain from raising your home's temperature during the summer. This can spell big savings for any homeowner. A recent survey in the Southeastern U.S. showed that, on average, the energy bill reduction that comes with installing attic barrier foil will make the foil pay for itself within six or seven years. After that, you will continue to save up to thirteen percent on your annual temperature control costs. This makes barrier foil installation an ideal project for cost conscious homeowners.

Barrier Foil Cutting And Measuring Tips
When installing attic barrier foil, it is a good idea to measure in the attic, and then cut your foil elsewhere. Barrier foil is usually sold in large rolls of up to a hundred square feet, which can be unwieldy to handle in a small area, so in addition to making the job easier, cutting your foil in a large, well-lit room with a flat, even surface rather than in an attic that is likely to be cramped or dark will reduce the likelihood of making an error. Using a measuring tape and a flashlight if necessary, measure the length of your attic roof so that the tape reaches all the way from the peak to the soffit. Then, head downstairs and cut your foil to that measurement. Roll up the pieces of foil that you'll be using, and bring them upstairs for installation.

Barrier Foil Placement Tips
The most effective placement for attic barrier foil is one that loosely covers the complete underside of your roof. This makes it convenient to use your roof trusses as a guide, so if your attic has visible roof trusses, staple your foil to the bottom side of the highest chord of the trusses found in your attic. If your attic's interior is finished in a way that hides the roof trusses, you can staple your attic barrier foil to the underside of your roof decking instead.