Thinking About Using Foil Faced Bubble Wrap Insulation??

[MountainDon]

Think again.  Here's an article from  GreenBuildingAdvisor.com 

An excerpt from the beginning of the article... 

" Posted on Mar 21 2014 by Martin Holladay, GBA Advisor   

Foil-faced bubble wrap is a thin product that comes in a roll. Its R-value is dismally low.

Most brands of foil-faced bubble wrap are only 3/8 inch thick or less, and have an R-value of only 1.0 or 1.1. Since the product often costs more per square foot than 1-inch thick rigid foam rated at R-5, why would anyone use bubble wrap as insulation?

The R-value of foil-faced bubble wrap is so low that it has few, if any, advantages over rigid foam. Of course, the product's foil facing can be used as a radiant barrier — but if you want a radiant barrier, cheaper products are available. (The bubble wrap layer is unnecessary, since it adds cost to the material without adding any useful thermal performance.)

Exaggerated R-value claims

Since the main benefit from foil-faced bubble wrap is due to its radiant-barrier facing, the product is basically worthless unless it faces an air space. A decade ago, when I was the editor of Energy Design Update, I noticed that many manufacturers of foil-faced bubble wrap were promoting their products for use under concrete slabs on grade. In this application, the shiny foil is clearly not facing an air space, so the exaggerated R-value claims made by bubble-wrap manufacturers were particularly outrageous. My article exposing the bubble-wrap scammers appeared in the September 2003 issue of EDU."..... more on the link above.

Comes down to be a more or less useless product for insulation, or at best a more expensive radiant barrier than alternative radiant barriers.

[rick91351]

Thanks for posting that MD so often it is if it sound to good to be true -----

[VannL]

I like the bigger bubble wrap. The bubbles are easier to pop.  LOL.

Thanks for the warning.

[flyingvan]

I'm a huge fan of the mylar faced bubble wrap---I never considered it for R value, but it does a very good job as a radiant barrier.  I don't think it's more expensive than the mylar faced OSB, especially when you consider how much of that gets wasted in cutoffs.  It was required above the living area.  It cooled things down in the framing so significantly I used it in the porch roof too.


My attic stays cool in the summer.   All my 'R' value is in the insulation in the ceiling joists.

The other cool thing (pun intended) is you can use it as a template for difficult roof panel cuts.  Just bring some up and lay it across the roof framing, and cut it to size with a box cutter.  Use it to trace the shape of the roof panel, then tack it in place before installing the panel.
You have to wear sunglasses when working with it.  It's very reflective


   Installation recommends draping it somewhat loosely over the rafters so there will be some air space between it and the roof decking.
According to this article, though, http://www.atticfoil.com/technical-information/r-value.html since I used it above a vented attic I wasted money---single layer foil barrier would have been just as effective.  I did like its stiffness though.  It was easy to work with.  I think I paid 25 cents a square foot for it and used about 800 square feet

[Erin]

Honestly, I thought that's why people actually used it; as a radiant barrier that was just easier to work with than the single-layer-foilish type stuff...

[UK4X4]

I think it depends on your expectations !

I used it on our trailer in -20oC conditions with single pane windows, it made a huge diference to our comfort

we shut off all windows at night and only opened the main south facing window during the day, the diference to the quantity of time the heating had to come went from permenant and never reaching temp

To cycling an obtaining the set temperature arround 20oC above...

A few positive facts;

It does reflect radiant heat
It does contain a sealing effect
It does contain captive air bubbles which slows down heat transfer

Would it replace 1" of foam board in R value, probably not

Could it help in keeping areas hotter or cooler than without- yes

Did the salesman lie- yes.....don't they all !

[flyingvan]

An important thing to remember is, this stuff does not breathe at all, and every bit of natural material in a structure should have some air exchange.  I know insulation methods are a very regional thing, but I like the surface above the attic airspace protected with radiant barrier, the airspace well ventilated, (1' square for every 150 sq ft of attic) the surface below the airspace (the ceiling) insulated with thick, unfaced glass wool.  Summer heat can't get in, all the moisture (cooking, showering, breathing, the earth below) can go up and out.