When it comes to insulating an attic in West Palm Beach, Florida, closed-cell foam is the best option for providing the most insulation and an extensive barrier to air, steam, and water. It is essential to ensure that the air distribution ducts are airtight to prevent negative pressures from forming in the house, which can lead to mold on vinyl floors in the kitchen and bathroom. Additionally, adequate return air paths should be installed in bedroom doors to avoid negative pressures when closing interior doors. To get the best results, it is important to hire authorized solar contractors with good references and to check customer satisfaction with their systems and the contractor's service.
When it comes to wall systems, the finish is important. Dark finishes lead to greater solar absorption, so consider light or white colors and planting trees to help shade walls. To learn more about radiant barriers, watch the video below. Sealed attics can have energy efficiency advantages compared to ventilated attics, especially in beachside properties where they can prevent wind-blown moisture and salt-laden air from entering attics.
Research tests have demonstrated cooling energy savings of 9% in sealed attics compared to ventilated attics with dark gray shingles. White tiles (76% solar absorption) resulted in savings of 4%, indicating that combining white shingles with a sealed attic is likely to result in greater savings in cooling energy. Tests have also revealed significantly greater savings (17 to 23%) in white tile and white metal roofing systems. A radiant barrier will block 95 percent of the heat radiated by the roof before it reaches the insulation. It can be stapled or nailed to the bottom of the upper rope of the roof trusses or to the bottom of the roof covering.
Your attic must have the right level of insulation for the climate (at least R-1), adequate ventilation grilles to allow warm air to escape, and a radiant barrier to protect the house from heat. The aluminum radiant barrier and good ventilation can reduce heat gain through the roof by 40%. The house's cooling system should also work more efficiently and last longer because the ducts are colder. Radiation to the sky is an important part of cooling outer surfaces of buildings, even when the sun is shining. With a conventional attic, the temperature of the attic air on the roof's insulation surface can reach 135°F at its peak, while inside the house it is 75°F, that is, dT% 3D 60°F.
In a sealed attic, heat transfer occurs between the maximum outer surface. Remember, more things happen in heat transfer than you can accurately judge with your eyes. You see less than half of sunlight energy and even much less than total energy transferred by radiation. If outside air is 87° F, the roof can reach 148° F and attic air can be over 120° F. The heat from warm attic roof radiates downward into house. Installing a radiant barrier when insulating an attic in West Palm Beach, Florida is essential for achieving optimal energy efficiency and preventing heat gain through the roof.
The aluminum radiant barrier combined with good ventilation can reduce heat gain through the roof by 40%, resulting in significant cooling energy savings compared to ventilated attics with dark gray shingles.
