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Radiant Barrier Insulation - Protection from Heat and Cold

metal roof with Prodex Total Insulation

Radiant Heat Insulation - More than a Radiant Barrier - Stops Condensation, Cold and Heat

Prodex Total Radiant Barrier Insulation = Insulation + Radiant Barrier + Vapor Barrier + Air Barrier All in One Product. One solution to Cold, Heat and Condensation - You'll be warm in winter, cool in summer and dry all the time.

pole barn with Prodex reflective insulation installed

Condensation - It can seem like a tropical rain forest inside unprotected buildings. It's worse on those days where there is a greater contrast between temperatures at night vs. day. The morning sun hitting the cool sheathing will create a drip. When warm air comes in contact with the cool sheathing, condensation occurs. A temperature difference between the outside and inside of your building creates condensation - Similar to what happens when you have a cold can of beer outside on a hot day.

Radiant Heat - Mid-summer sun rays hitting the sheathing radiates downward (inside). It can make it unbearably hot and humid inside. The sheathing magnifies the heat of the summer and frigid temperatures of the winter. Metal is a very good conductor of heat and cold. In hot weather, metal framing and sheeting rapidly radiate the sun's heat into a building.

Cold - Winter temperatures turns sheathing cold. The cold sheathing chills the inside of your building making it like an ice box - colder inside the building than out.

Insulation That Loses R-value Due to Moisture

Once fiberglass insulation gets wet (and it will get wet, due to condensation) it will lose R-value! Water trapped between fiberglass insulation and the exterior of a building will also cause mold, fungus growth, rust and oxidation - Conditions that will degrade the framing and the sheathing, and shorten the service of the structure. In addition, fiberglass insulation does not prevent radiant heat transfer (the primary source of heat-flow in and outside your building).

Take a look at the white vinyl facing the next time you're in a building - It will be either sagging, or sagging and flaking. This is due to the added weight of water. Behind the white vinyl is a wet, mold filled blanket that will eventually cause the white vinyl to crack and fall off. At some point, when you're exposed to the toxic fibers, you'll be forced to remove the insulation - Hopefully before it does too much damage to the framing or sheathing. If you insist on using fiberglass, use it in conjunction with Prodex Total, so the Prodex can keep the moisture out of the fiberglass.

Once sheathing gets cold it can create a situation where it's colder inside than out. To combat this you need an insulation that doesn't lose its thermal protection (like fiberglass) when you need it most - Cold damp conditions!

Insulation That Doesn't Protect Against Radiant Heat Transfer

Like fiberglass, spray foam insulation doesn't protect against radiant heat transfer. Without a radiant barrier, when your roof gets hot it radiates solar-generated heat down. This often results in it being hotter in your building than out. Since open cell foam providers suggest you supplement open cell foam with a vapor barrier. Why not get the vapor barrier, insulation and radiant barrier all in one product?

Prodex Total Radiant Barrier Insulation Solves Condensation, Heat and Cold Challenges

Prodex Total Eliminates Condensation

Prodex eliminates the moisture and ice dams from forming on roof and walls. When the heat or cold from outside comes through the sheathing it hits the outside aluminum facing of Prodex and is reflected back upwards through the underside of the sheathing. This process keeps the sheathing temperature consistent on both sides. In addition, the inside layer of aluminum in Prodex reflects away the heat (heater) or cold (air-conditioning) from inside the building, from getting to the sheathing. This also helps in preventing condensation.

Prodex Total Prevents Radiant Heat Transfer

How Foil Insulation Keeps home cool and warm

Prodex reflects 97% of the radiant energy (primary source of heat flow) that strikes it. Prodex also reflects back the heat inside your building or home. Each unit of radiant heat energy that is reflected away from your building or home in the summer, and each unit that is reflected back during the winter, means less operation of your heating and air conditioning system - Less wear and tear on your equipment - Less money you pay in utility costs. Fiberglass and spray foam insulation do not prevent radiant heat transfer.

Prodex Total Keeps You Warm

The Prodex Total R-value is not affected by humidity. This feature cannot be over emphasized. There is humidity in every location. Your insulation must work in these conditions.

What Makes Prodex Total Radiant Heat Barrier Insulation Superior to Fiberglass, Spray and Bubble?

R-value unaffected by humidity
Prevents 97% of radiant heat transfer
Vapor barrier
Air barrier
Prevents condensation
Does not promote mold or mildew
Does not provide for nesting of rodents, bugs or birds
Seals around nails (no leak)
Increased lighting
Green product Certified

5 Reasons To Buy Prodex Total Radiant Heat Insulation

Independent reviews at Site Jabber. Site Jabber is the leading community of online business reviewers. The community helps consumers find great online business and avoid scams. The community has grown to over 850,000 members and has reviewed over 58,000 online businesses. Site Jabber was developed in part with a grant from the National Science Foundation.
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Prodex Insulation Reviews on every product page
ICC-ES Recognized - ICC-ES is an evaluation service that takes independent test data for a variety of products and analyses it against a uniform Acceptance Criteria that is recognized internationally.
Over 4 billion square feet sold worldwide.

Reviews - What to Believe

Jimmy Trout: Monday, August 17, 2009

Rating:

We have had the contractor install the Prodex on our roof and even over the screen porch on our new construction little cottage in the mountains. We are very happy with it. We already “feel” it will make a big difference in energy savings. I ordered a sample to show some builder friends.

For independent reviews visit site Jabber

Chart Comparing Prodex Total Radiant Barrier Insulation to Fiberglass, Rigid Board, Spray...

Differences in Radiant Barriers - Foil Only, Single Bubble, Double Bubble and Prodex Total

Take a look at the photos below. Even if you didn't know anything about foil insulation, you would likely select the correct product - Prodex Total Foil Insulation.

Foil Only Single Bubble Double bubble Prodex Total

Radiant Barrier Insulation Should Have Quality Core

Prodex Total has a high quality core that keeps its shape when exposed to forces. Prodex Total has a nominal thickness of 0.2 inch (5mm) closed cell polyethylene foam covered on both sides with reinforced foil facing. Under pressure, the Prodex micro-cells do not collapse -- With a pressure of 6 PSI Prodex compresses just 6%. When the load is relieved it takes back its initial shape. The density of the foam is between 1.25 lb/ft (sq) - 1.87 lb/ft (sq). This gives the material real body. Prodex seals around nails - That's important - Most installation methods require stapling, nailing or screwing the foil insulation to a surface.

Comparison Chart Prodex Radiant Barrier Insulation to Foil Only and Bubble

Double and Single Bubble Radiant Barriers - Balloons That Burst

Double bubble and single bubble radiant barrier insulation are composed of either one (single bubble) or two (double bubble) layers of air bubbles sandwiched between two metalized surfaces. The rows of air bubbles play the important role of separating the reflective foils. These products are more than just a radiant barrier, they're considered insulation. Unfortunately, air is not as effective as a separator as closed cell foam; therefore, long-term performance can be a concern.

Single bubble has a nominal thickness of 5/32 inch. Double bubble measures 5/16 inch. These measurements bear little resemblance to the effective measurement of the products (see photos above). We see little difference between the performance of single and double bubble insulation. The latter simply has a second layer of air bubbles (A balloon with more air). Once either is punctured, it collapses. Although we strongly suggest you order Prodex Total, if your budget doesn't allow you to purchase the quality of Prodex, we suggest you order a single bubble insulation rather than a double bubble. You'll get virtually all the benefits of the double bubble insulation while saving money. We do not offer double bubble insulation because we aren't able to justify its pricing relative to Prodex Total or single bubble insulation.

Foil Only Barriers Are Not Insulation

Foil only radiant barriers are typically perforated and composed of two metalized surfaces with a mesh woven in for strength. It is not a vapor barrier, it has no R-value - It is not insulation per se. It's a thin layer of reflective low emissivity film installed with an airspace to block radiant heat transfer between a surface that radiates heat. We refer to these products as foil only radiant barriers.

Quality Core Surrounded by Reflective Foil Facing = Quality Insulation

Prodex Total Radiant Barrier Insulation - Unlike foil only products (no inner substance), this radiant barrier insulation protects against the energy transferred via conduction and convection. Prodex is a radiant barrier + reflective insulation + Vapor Barrier. More than just a radiant barrier, Prodex Total is one solution for Heat, Cold, and Water. Prodex prevents condensation, heat from coming in and heat from getting out of your building!

How To Insulate With Radiant Barrier Insulation - Install Instructions

It's a lot easier and less expensive to install a 5mm or 10 mm roll of Prodex than a bulky 6 inch roll of fiberglass or spray foam. Pinching 6 inches fiberglass between the framing and sheathing is not easy. It's really tough having to use a wire mesh to hold fiberglass in place on an existing building. Spray foam is not DIY friendly.

Prodex Total can be installed before or after your sheathing.

Installation methods

HIGHER R | STRONGER | SAFER

New Prodex Total 5m Plus: R 17, Increased Tearing Resistance, Flame Spread 0. 5mm (0.2") closed cell polyethylene foam covered on both sides with reinforced reflective foil.

New Prodex Total 10M Plus: R22. Twice as thick as regular Prodex Total. 10mm (0.4") closed cell polyethylene foam covered on both sides with reinforced reflective foil.

Any metal building or pole barn that uses fiberglass insulation rather than Prodex Total will have moisture issues (typically hidden behind facing), Loss of R-value (consequence of the moisture) and heat gain.

New White Prodex Total 5M Plus: R15.3. 5mm (0.2") closed cell polyethylene foam with reflective reinforced foil on one side and plastic white finish film on the other side.

Insulation Reviews - What to Believe (Must Read)

Summary:

Fiberglass loses R-value with moisture, neither it or spray insulation will prevent radiant heat transfer.

It takes more than foil and air to make radiant barrier insulation. If you only have foil and a mesh than you don't have insulation. If your product is composed of air bubbles it's subject to collapse in time or lose effectiveness when punctured. It requires a quality core of foam and reinforced foil to make a great radiant barrier insulation.

Radiant Barrier Insulation Pricing

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