Radiant barrier for hot SoCal attics.
Inland and East County attics hit 140 to 160°F in summer. Most of that comes from radiant heat off the roof deck. A foil radiant barrier reflects 90+ percent of that infrared back through the deck — attic stays cooler, AC works less, ducts in the attic deliver cooler air. Best paired with insulation, not in place of it.
What's included in this service?
- Staple-up foil to underside of rafters
- Reflective deck on top during reroof (alternative method)
- Verify air gap above the insulation for radiant performance
- Pair with attic ventilation review (passive or solar attic fan)
- Recommend baffle and insulation upgrade as companion
When do you need this service?
- Inland or East County home with a hot attic
- HVAC ducts run through the attic
- You are reroofing and can install a reflective deck
- Upstairs rooms run hot in afternoon despite working AC
- Solar attic fan alone has not been enough
What do homeowners ask about Radiant Barrier?
Does radiant barrier replace insulation?
No. Radiant barrier handles the radiant component of attic heat. Insulation handles the conductive component. Each does a different job. In a hot inland attic the combination is what matters — barrier on the rafters, insulation on the floor.
Will it help on the coast?
Less than inland. Coastal homes — Encinitas, Carlsbad, Imperial Beach — usually do not see attic temps high enough to make radiant barrier the highest-return move. We will tell you whether to skip it on the coast.
Does it really cut the AC bill?
On hot inland homes with attic ducts, yes — typically 5 to 15 percent on cooling bills. The bigger payoff is comfort: rooms that used to lag the thermostat by 5 to 8 degrees in afternoon catch up faster.
Where do we offer Radiant Barrier in San Diego County?
We provide radiant barrier in every city and community in San Diego County. Pick your city for local climate notes and service specifics.
See radiant barrier in all 48 cities
Homeowners who hired us for this
We had R-13 batts from 1979 that had settled to nothing. Crew air-sealed top plates first, then blew cellulose to R-49. Upstairs bedrooms feel different now — the AC actually keeps up on hot afternoons.
Got three quotes. Thermal Pro was the only one who recommended air-sealing before insulation and pushed for the radiant barrier given the East County heat. Bill dropped 18 percent in the first August. Worth every dollar.
Our vaulted ceiling was the hottest room in the house. Closed-cell foam at the roof deck completely changed the room. Crew masked everything carefully, came back to check the cure, walked us through the reoccupancy timeline. Professional all the way.
Need radiant barrier in San Diego County?
Call for a free quote. Most work scheduled within the week.