Top 10 Attic Insulation Materials — Cut Your Energy Bill at One Time!

When buying this product, you can choose one of two options: the 500 or the 1000 square foot option. Both come with a width of about 48”. Aluminum is the significant component material, and both sides of the insulation are reflective. This means that heat coming from the sun will be reflected, and neither will the heat rising up from your home be allowed to escape. Also, you can choose to go with the breathable option, which includes tiny holes on the surface or the one without any air pores.

The Ultima Radiant Barrier is class A fire rated so while it is combustible, it has a lower flame spread than other options. If you are looking to install this on your own, the only equipment you need is a staple gun and some utility scissors. Despite being very thin totaling 0.0065 inches, the aluminum sheet is tear resistant. After installation, you can practically leave it maintenance free. As a precaution, try keeping it in a clean and dry environment before installation.

What we liked:

• Provides an uninhabitable surface for insects and rodents
• Low maintenance
• Easy installation
• Reduces utility bills
• Tear-proof
• Lifetime warranty
• Unaffected by moisture

In terms of features, the Diamond Radiant Barrier is quite similar to the RadiantGuard Barrier. The perforated option is ideal for situations where you want to eliminate condensation. The attic is one such example where temperature differences on each side may bring about a buildup of liquids, and that may end up damaging wooden installations. The two top insulators on our list also have the same combustibility rating.

Where differences are concerned, this one is lighter than its predecessor for the same size of the material. However, this one is shipped in sizes of 2000 square feet. The double-sided metalized film, which makes up the bulk of the material is reinforced with polyester scrim fabric. As such, it is very durable, and you can expect it to do its job of maintaining temperatures in a reasonable range quite well.

What we liked:

• Lightweight
• Durable
• Perforated and non-perforated options to choose from
• Can also be used in basements and saunas for temperature regulation

DIYers are in luck with this product. While some of the other mentioned products come in limited square foot sizes, this one has different sizes offered for DIYers and professionals alike. As such, it minimizes the need to cut the material into usable sizes. The product is double sided with a 96% reflective efficacy. On the inside, there are two other layers of heavy gauge polyethylene bubbles making this one of our thicker options. In total, the thickness of the product stands at 5/16 of an inch.

Besides the attic, there are a few other applications that you can use this product for. Among them are water heater insulation, wall insulation, and animal confinement quarters, among others. As such, you can use leftover material with a few other projects in the house. Depending on the installation and use the insulator can have an R-value of up to 14.3.

What we liked:

• Various available sizes
• Variable uses
• Durable, multiple layering
• Vapor barrier
• Non-toxic composition
• Lightweight
• Easy installation

What could be better:

• Requires users take accurate

Next up is another class A fire rated offering by SES products. You buy this product in sizes of about 1000 square feet, and you can then cut it down to size depending on your needs. The product is non-toxic and non-carcinogenic, so at the very least you don’t need protective clothing if you are a DIYer. Also, it is compliant with a few fire codes, including the ASTM E84 and the E2599.

The insulation is mostly catered to a residential market and as such is perfect for your home.

Also anything this thin has got to be lightweight and easy to cut. The polyester scrim reinforcement ensures that there is no delamination or cracking on the surface of the foil. You can thus expect this product to last long.

What we liked:

• Easy installation
• Lightweight
• Low maintenance
• Non-carcinogenic

What could be better:

• Product can be fragile if mishandled.

The design on this one consists of polyethylene foam which is fitted between two sheets of aluminum. The foam is 3mm in total while the aluminum sheets are almost too thin to notice. As a result of the overall thinness of the product, it is easy to cut, and therefore, installation is also quite easy. Despite the size, the product is almost tear proof, and you can buy it in the various sizes available.

Like several other products mentioned on our list, this insulator is class A fire rated. The manufacturer was very keen to eliminate all allergens from the final product. There are also no toxic components. This makes it ideal for installation without using protective gear. In addition to reflecting about 97% of heat, whether back up through the roof or back down to your house, the insulation works well under humid conditions without taking damage.

The fact that it is mold resistant may also prove to be of benefit. Perhaps one of the key selling points of the product is that it is soundproof. Given that you can use it both indoors and outdoors, there are bound to be a few other applications you can use it for apart from the attic.

What we liked:

• Soundproof
• Moisture resistant
• Durable
• Lightweight
• Non-allergic

What could be better:

• You need accurate measurements of your intended installation point before making the purchase.

This is 4 feet by 250 feet sheet, which is more or less 1000 square feet in total. The fact that it is just a single sheet of aluminum foil means that you can use any of the two sides of the product and end up saving as much as 10% of your usual heating and cooling costs. There are other perks to using this product. Notable is that it doesn’t support insect and rodent nesting so your attic will be void of creepy crawlies.

Due to the product’s resistance to humidity, moisture, weather changes, and other external factors you need only install it once. After that, you will need to do very little maintenance. This foil sheet also cuts easily with utility scissors and staples easily. As you can see, the manufacturer is pulling no stops when it comes to letting you do the installation on your own.

With regards to building codes, this aluminum sheet remains compliant with its current fire rating all the while being non-toxic. You can use it in your attic, but there are no rules against installation in your garage or storage unit.

What we liked:

• Lightweight
• Easy installation
• Versatile
• Tear resistant
• Little maintenance

What could be better:

• Works better in hot conditions than in cold climate

The NASA TECH Radiant Barrier is one option you can pick as a means of reducing the utility bills. If you get the barrier’s installation right, you will be looking at a 10-50% reduction in what you would typically pay for heating.

This NASA TECH Radiant Barrier will turn 97% of radiant heat that would typically escape back into the house. It also has the effect of reducing temperatures in your attic by a substantial amount.

Also, the rolled radiant barrier is made out of aluminum. You might think that since the sheet is so thin, it would be an easy matter to poke holes into it. You would be wrong. In fact, the barrier is rated as both puncture and tear-resistant.

Another thing barrier buyers should be privy to is the ASTM-Е86 and ASTM 96-00 certification of the product. This serves as a stamp of quality. The insulation is also toxin-free as a bonus.

What we liked:

• The aluminum insulation is durable
• Comes with ASTM-Е86 and ASTM 96-00 certification
• Non-toxic and non-carcinogenic

What could be better:

• None

If handling a staple gun isn’t for you, there are insulators you can spray in your attic. However, they generally require a little more work than foil options. For one, you have to wear protective clothing before you get to work. If you are not a veteran DIYer, the overalls may be an additional expense. If you are, then you probably have the overalls tucked away in a suitcase somewhere in your house.

You also need to cover your nose and eyes, so the spray doesn’t get into your body. Once set up, you need to know how to spray the insulator to cover the whole of your attic adequately. This particular can comes with 5 gallons, which should cover approximately 2000 square feet. However, it is heavier than most and may present a challenge carrying up into the attic. For those unwilling to use a sprayer, the application may be done using a roller.

What we liked:

• A single pail covers a large area
• Mold resistant

What could be better:

• Complicated installation
• Strong smell on initial application.

Coming into contact with fiberglass can often have hazardous results. They include irritation to skin and internal organs once it becomes airborne and breathed in. As a precaution, you can wear protective clothing, including masks, goggles, and gloves. However, the manufacturer claims this product to be safe to touch.

The fiberglass insulation is pink in color and has an extremely low dust count. This is important, especially where inhabitants of the house may be suffering from bronchitis or asthma as that would cause breathing problems if inhaled. As a bonus, the insulation is soundproof.

Once you have, it extended it measures about 47 square feet, and if you need to use it on your attic, you might have to buy several of these.

What we liked:

• Soundproof
• Low dust count

What could be better:

• May need protective gear during installation.
• More expensive

Another fiberglass option is the R-10 by Kraft-Faced. There are a few differences between this and the Owens-Corning option despite both coming in rolls. The most notable one from afar is, of course, the color. Single rolls are priced quite cheap but given that you need more than a few rolls to cover an area the cost might be driven up significantly.

This one is also lighter, but that might be because the dimensions are smaller, meaning it covers less surface area. Overall it is still a reliable product and one that might serve your needs well.

What we liked:

• Single rolls are cheap
• Effective at insulation for both cold and warm weather

What could be better:

• Covers a rather small area