Radiant Barrier Installation

Radiant Barrier Installation in Glendale, CA

It's July. Your attic hits 160 degrees. That heat radiates down into your living space all day and night. A radiant barrier reflects 97% of it back toward the roof. Your attic drops 30 degrees. Your AC stops running constantly.

The Science of Cool

How Radiant Barriers Actually Work

Here's the thing most people don't realize: regular insulation doesn't stop radiant heat. It slows conductive heat (stuff touching stuff) and convective heat (air moving around). But radiant heat? That's what you feel when you stand in the sun. It travels through your roof and radiates into your attic like a space heater pointed at your ceiling.

Radiant barriers are basically giant sheets of aluminum foil. They reflect that radiant energy back toward the roof before it can heat up your attic. Simple concept, huge impact.

97% of Radiant Heat Gets Bounced Back
Almost all of it. That's not marketing - it's physics. Aluminum reflects infrared radiation extremely efficiently.
Your Attic Drops 30 Degrees
We've measured this in Glendale homes. A 155-degree attic becomes a 125-degree attic. That's the difference between an oven and merely hot.
Cooling Costs Drop 10-17%
Your AC doesn't have to fight a 160-degree ceiling anymore. It cycles less, your bills shrink, your compressor lasts longer.
Lasts 20+ Years - Zero Maintenance
There's nothing to replace, nothing to inspect. Once it's up there, it just works. We've seen 30-year-old installations still performing fine.

Radiant Barrier Impact

Real results for Glendale homeowners

30F

Cooler Attic Temps

97%

Radiant Heat Reflected

17%

Cooling Cost Reduction

20+

Year Lifespan

Get Your Free Estimate

Built for Southern California

Why Glendale's Climate Demands Radiant Barriers

We get 280+ sunny days a year. That's a lot of solar radiation cooking your roof.

All That Sunshine Has a Downside

Everyone loves Glendale's weather. But all those sunny days mean your roof absorbs heat from sunrise to sunset. By 2pm on a summer day, your roof tiles hit 150 degrees or more. That heat doesn't just stay in the attic - it radiates down into your bedrooms all afternoon and well into the night.

Homeowners in Adams Hill and Chevy Chase know this problem well. Those hillside homes catch even more direct sun. A radiant barrier reflects that energy before it can turn your attic into a furnace.

When It Hits 105 Outside

Those brutal July weeks when it's triple digits? Your attic hits 155-165 degrees. We've measured it. At that temperature, your AC can't keep up no matter how hard it runs. The heat just keeps radiating down through your ceiling.

Drop that attic temp by 30 degrees and suddenly your AC isn't fighting an impossible battle. It cycles less. Your upstairs bedrooms stay comfortable. Your August SCE bill doesn't make you wince.

Most Glendale Homes Don't Have One

Radiant barriers weren't standard practice until the 1990s. That means homes in Rossmoyne, Verdugo Woodlands, Montecito Park, and most of Glenoaks Canyon were built without them. They've got some insulation, sure - but nothing to stop radiant heat.

The good news? Adding a radiant barrier to an existing home takes one day. It's non-invasive. And you'll feel the difference that same week.

The Full Package

Why Radiant Barriers Work Best With Insulation

They solve different problems. Together, they solve all of them.

Insulation Only

Slows Heat

+ Radiant Barrier

Reflects Heat

They Handle Different Physics

Insulation slows conductive heat - think of a pot holder. Radiant barrier reflects infrared radiation - like a mirror bouncing light. You need both. One without the other leaves a gap in your protection.

Without Barrier

140F Attic

With Barrier

110F Attic

Your Insulation Works Better

Here's something interesting: insulation performs better when there's less temperature difference to fight. A 30-degree cooler attic means your R-38 insulation doesn't have to work as hard. It's more effective, even though you didn't add any more of it.

AC Runtime

12 hrs/day

After Install

9 hrs/day

Your AC Gets a Break

We hear this from homeowners in Sparr Heights and Adams Hill all the time: "My AC used to run constantly. Now it actually cycles off." Less runtime = lower bills, longer equipment life, and a house that maintains temperature instead of constantly chasing it.

How It Works

What Happens on Installation Day

One day. Start to finish. You'll notice the difference that same week.

We Check Your Attic First

Every attic's different. We'll look at your current insulation, ventilation setup, and figure out the best way to install the barrier for your specific home.

You Get a Straight Answer

Sometimes radiant barrier alone is enough. Sometimes you'll get better results pairing it with blown-in insulation. We'll tell you what makes sense - and what doesn't.

We Staple It to the Rafters

The barrier goes on the underside of your roof rafters, reflective side down. This creates the air gap it needs to work properly. Takes 4-6 hours for most Glendale homes.

You Feel the Difference

Seriously. Your upstairs rooms will feel noticeably cooler within days. One Montecito Park customer texted us three days later: "Is this real? My bedroom's actually comfortable."

Your Questions

Radiant Barrier Questions We Hear Often

Real questions from Glendale homeowners. Straight answers.

I've already got insulation. Do I still need this?

You've got insulation - great. But it's only doing half the job. Insulation slows conductive heat. Radiant barrier stops radiant heat. They're solving different problems. The best-performing attics in Glendale have both. We install the barrier on your rafters, so your existing insulation stays right where it is.

My house has a tile roof. Does radiant barrier still work?

Works great with tile. Actually, tile roofs get hotter than shingle roofs - all that thermal mass absorbs heat all day. Spanish tile is beautiful, but it turns your attic into a brick oven. The radiant barrier doesn't care what's on top - it reflects the infrared energy radiating from the underside of your roof deck. Tile, shingle, metal, flat roof - all good.

Why can't it touch the insulation?

Physics. A radiant barrier reflects infrared radiation - but only if there's air between the barrier and whatever's below it. If it touches your insulation, heat transfers through contact (conduction) instead of bouncing back. We need at least 3/4 inch of air gap. That's why we staple it to the rafters instead of laying it on the attic floor.

Won't it get dusty up there and stop working?

It would if we installed it wrong. Here's the trick: we put the shiny side facing DOWN. Dust can't settle on an upside-down surface. Gravity's on our side. The reflective surface stays clean forever. Contractors who staple it shiny-side-up are making a mistake - those installations lose effectiveness over time.

My attic's already got R-38. Is this worth it?

Honestly? Yes. R-38's solid, but your attic still hits 150+ degrees in summer. That heat stresses your insulation, bakes your ductwork, and radiates down all day. A radiant barrier drops that attic temp by 30 degrees. Your R-38 works better. Your ducts stop leaking cool air into a furnace. Your stored Christmas decorations stop melting. It's worth it.

Tired of Your Upstairs Being an Oven?

Let's fix that. We'll come out, check your attic, and tell you exactly what a radiant barrier would do for your specific house. Free assessment, no pressure, no sales pitch.