Attic Foil Radiant Barrier

Hybrid Method: Staple Up / Lay Out

Several customers use the hybrid method to install their foil. This method is simply a combination of laying radiant barrier foil on the attic floor where you can't reach to staple it up, and then stapling it up every where else.

hybrid install

Additionally, we have many customers who have the time and energy to fully do both methods (the Staple-Up method and the Over-Insulation method) and see great year round results; though it is worth mentioning that it is not essential to fully do both methods in order to see a vast improvement. One single application works to reject 97% of heat flow, whether it's flowing into the home or out of the home.

Reasons to consider the hybrid method:

1. You use part of your attic for storage, but the other part is open.

2. You have a tall attic but don't want to use the FlatTop Method.

3. You have areas that are too hard to reach to staple up.

4. You want the year-round benefits of laying the foil on your attic floor, but you have an HVAC unit (or lots of ductwork) in your attic space.

These are just a couple of examples of why someone might consider the Hybrid Method of radiant barrier installation. Consider your situation and decide what would be the best for you.

Staple Up Method

In this method, the radiant barrier foil is stapled on the bottom of the rafters inside the attic. During the installation you will work to leave a gap at the top and bottom of all rafters and a space is left along the ridge (peak), hips and valleys and any attic vents.

For more information, see How to Staple Radiant Barrier Foil to Rafters in an Attic.

Over the Insulation Method

This is probably the easiest method to install Radiant Barrier AtticFoil® is to lay the foil out over the existing insulation on the attic floor.

This method can be used in any climate, though it historically has been most popular in colder climates. We have also had many customers who do both methods (stapling it up and laying it over the insulation) and they have seen great results year round.

The reason this method is so effective is because radiant barrier makes regular insulation more effective. Installing foil on top of the insulation acts like the windproof shell on a jacket. It helps minimize the convective looping within the insulaiton. By minimizing airflow within the insulation and minimizing radiant heat loss/gain from your attic, radiant barrier will make your home more comfortable and more efficient creating a green energy barrier in your attic.

For more information, see How To Install Green Energy Radiant Barrier Over Attic Insulation.


This is an example of a customer who did a full staple up method and an over-the-insulation method.	Doing both methods is becoming more and more popular as people seek year round benefits.

Ductwork that sits above the insulation should be included under the line of the staple up method to keep it cooler.	Here the customer stapled up above the attic floor and then did an over-the-insulation method over blown-in insulation.

The goal with adding radiant barrier is to get as much covered as you can - sometimes this means doing both the staple up and on the floor methods.	When you have an HVAC unit in the attic, the staple up method should be the priority. Then, you can come back and add foil on the attic floor if you want.

If you have clear open soffit vents you can bring the run of foil all the way down to the top of the insulation.	Traditional hybrid method: the over the insulation method and the the staple up method on the rafters, starting about 4 feet up.

Instead of crawling to reach the rafters down to the eaves, you can stop the foil about 4 feet from the bottom and lay the foil over the insulation in this area.	Another example of an HVAC unit in the attic. We are often asked, "Can I wrap my duct work with AtticFoil?" The answer is yes, IF the duct work is sealed air tight and insulated, as it is in this case.