Texas: Radiant Barrier, who has it?

[Zonie5]

i hope to soon settle down in Laredo . we plan to have a manufactured house . i am from Nebraska and there we used roof vents to take heat out from attic . while it has been a few years since i checked i wonder if that is still applicable ? either roof vents or vents on end attic at end of house . they used to be wind or power operated . with the power ones you had a thermostat that would kick the fan in when heat built up .just wondering for when time comes for me to make a decision .

[Poltracker]

Originally Posted by Zonie5

i hope to soon settle down in Laredo . we plan to have a manufactured house . i am from Nebraska and there we used roof vents to take heat out from attic . while it has been a few years since i checked i wonder if that is still applicable ? either roof vents or vents on end attic at end of house . they used to be wind or power operated . with the power ones you had a thermostat that would kick the fan in when heat built up .just wondering for when time comes for me to make a decision .

In texas, you will need both.

[ayev8tor]

There's a company in Phoenix that is rolling out radiant barrier called thermal control membrane (TCM) and also wrapping the ducts with it. The testimonials seem unbelievable but there's also a newspaper article about this system and the savings of the customers interviewed were consistent with the web site.
I was on the site and found it seeking information on attic venting. This company specializes in attic venting in fact that's how I found them. I googled "attic venting" and they were the number one hit site. Not a sponsored site either so it was driven there by sheer hits. I'm considering buying the TCM after I do some more testing suggested by this company...I forget the name....horizon? Horizon Systems I think.

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by Zonie5

i hope to soon settle down in Laredo . we plan to have a manufactured house . i am from Nebraska and there we used roof vents to take heat out from attic . while it has been a few years since i checked i wonder if that is still applicable ? either roof vents or vents on end attic at end of house . they used to be wind or power operated . with the power ones you had a thermostat that would kick the fan in when heat built up .just wondering for when time comes for me to make a decision .

Yes good ventilation is very important for the attic, however ventilation alone does not address the issue that radiant barriers are for. Here is a good article about cool roofs.

What's So Cool About Cool Roofs? | Sponsored by Cool Roof Rating Council | Originally published in the March/April 2009 issue of GreenSource | McGraw-Hill Construction - Continuing Education Center

I installed a power operated roof vent in one house, but my contacts at the City of Austin, Green Builder division, who were experts in energy conservation advised me that most power operated vents cost more energy in electricity then they save. Its much better to go with a passive ventilation system, with lots of intakes around the eaves and exhaust at the high points of the roof.

[slo1318]

Radiant barriers were very popular for a few years with high end custom builders, but not so much right now.

Sealed attics with spray foam insulation is the best way to insulate a home. Instead of cocooning your home to the attic with a 140 degree attic on top of it, you cocoon the house to the roofline with the outside are outside. Think of it like a styrofoam igloo cooler. Nothing insulates better. As was mentioned in an earlier post all of your AC system & ductwork is then in a conditioned space. Your attic will stay within 8 degrees of your inside air temp! Great for storage. Of course it costs more than regular insulation probably $5-6k on an average house, but your energy bills will be 40-50% lower than traditional insulation. Also you do not need radiant barriers, they do nothing whatsoever for a sealed attic.
If you do go radiant barrier, go with TechShield roof sheathing, its already on the plywood, and for a house your size, shouldnt cost more than $1000 to $1500 max.