Retrofitting Your Home With Radiant Barrier Insulation

You have done it before, that is, install a solar water heater to provide your hot water needs, converted into a fluorescent lamp advocate, or even created a homemade windmill to harness the electric energy of the wind. There is no way that an avid do-it-yourself enthusiast who has great concern for the environment and for the capacity to save home energy at great extents can not retrofit their home with Milwaukee radiant barrier insulation to promote more energy-efficiency at home.

Before you do it, remember to keep in mind the following tips to keep yourself safe and sound even when you are working on an attic supported by rafters and a ceiling drywall below and surrounded by electrical wires.

1. Watch where you step on. Do not step on the ceiling insulation (especially if it is foam insulation) or on the drywall. Both were not made to support human weight. Stay on top of the rafters or trusses and always stay at the center of the beams. Moving to the sides will cause an imbalance and may cause the rafters to tip over.

2. Watch out for protruding nails, electrical wiring, and junction boxes. Accidentally bumping your head on the roof may cause wounds and punctures that might lead to tetanus infections if not treated properly. Scattered electrical wiring may also be a cause for electrocution.

3. Work only when it is comfortable, particularly in the cooler early mornings or late afternoons. If needed, bring extra lighting and ventilation materials to keep the attic bright and airy as you work.

4. Use the proper gear for installing radiant barrier insulation. If you have fiberglass attic insulation, it is good to wear goggles, a mask, or a handkerchief over your nose and mouth, especially if you are sensitive to mineral fibers. A tool belt where you can place your little tools while working is also advisable.

5. Prepare all materials you need-enough radiant barrier insulation materials, a measuring tape, a pair of heavy-duty scissors, staple guns and heavy-duty staples, two pieces of one-inch thick plywood, and an able and willing partner.

When you are ready, it's time to get down to business. Here is what you should do:

1. Measure the dimensions of your Milwaukee attic. The most useful measurements are usually those pertaining to the lengths from the peak of the roof to the soffit. Once you have taken precise measurements, cut the radiant barrier insulation materials according to these measurements. It is best to do the cutting out of the attic and outside the house, since most radiant barrier materials (aluminum, usually) are sold in rolls of 50 meters to a few hundreds.

2. Make a stable surface by placing the plywood across two adjacent beams that make up the attic truss. One surface should be near the peak of the roof, while the other at the soffit.

3. Unroll your prepared radiant barrier materials and, with the help of your partner, place one end of it at the peak and the other at the soffit. Make sure to leave a couple of inches of free space at the peak to ensure that air and vapor can breathe properly through the roof. Staple one end of the insulation to the truss and continue to do so every 6 to 12 inches as you go down to the soffit. Do the same thing to the adjacent truss. The finished product should be a complete covering of the entire roof, save for a few bare inches at the peak.

Simple and cost-effective DIY projects such as this are what make it easy for Milwaukee homeowners to save home energy and generate savings in electricity bills without having to invest in costly commercial-made green equipment and energy-saving appliances. Do it yourself, then, and remember to do it right.

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