Insulating paints

[bmar]

I was wondering if anyone has any feedback on insulating paints?

I have found a place to buy the ceramic spheres as an additive which is
claimed to do the same as any of the paints themselves. (this is cheaper
and can be added to any paint)

it would seem, to keep your house cooler in the summer. paint the
outside
to keep your house warmer in the winter, use the paint on the inside.

or maybe the whole idea is hoaky

thanks, bill

[Peter Bucy]

You are right, it is hoaky.

Peter A. Bucy - Home Builder
Charlotte, North Carolina

[Paul Broussard]

bmar wrote:
>
> I was wondering if anyone has any feedback on insulating paints?

You know, I would love to have a paint like that. I'd spray the
underside of my own roof with it if I thought it would work even 1/2 of
what they claim. I've researched the topic and asked contractors from as
far as Australia, but no one seems to have any data that shows it works.

--
Broussard Paint Contractors, friend of Bill's
"reality.exe corrupted. reset universe? (Y)es (N)o"
family pics from Paul & Laurie-
http://members.home.net/pbroussard/index.html

[Daniel Hicks]

bmar wrote:
>
> I was wondering if anyone has any feedback on insulating paints?
>

> I have found a place to buy the ceramic spheres as an additive which is
> claimed to do the same as any of the paints themselves. (this is cheaper
> and can be added to any paint)
>
> it would seem, to keep your house cooler in the summer. paint the
> outside
> to keep your house warmer in the winter, use the paint on the inside.
>
> or maybe the whole idea is hoaky

The main thing you need for effective insulation is THICKNESS. The
insulator itself is air in all common forms of house insulation, but the
stuff you install traps the air so it can't convect and carry heat
away. (Still air is an excellent insulator -- one of the best -- but if
air is moving it becomes a lousy insulator.) A good insulating product
prevents the trapped air from moving and also doesn't conduct a
excessive amount of heat around the pockets of trapped air. (Eg, you
could make an insulator out of copper sponge but it wouldn't be a very
good one because the copper "framework" of the insulation would conduct
heat around the air pockets. Similarly, solid glass isn't nearly as
good an insulator as fiberglass since there is no trapped air, and air
is a better insulator than glass.)

With a layer of paint you're just not talking about enough thickness to
do much good. The R value per inch may be pretty good, but there's only
1/50 of an inch or so.

[bmar]

I'm not advocating this product in the least. just trying to see if anyone has
used it.
I agree that nothing is going to replace tried and true insulation for what it
is intended for. this is a link to the companies web page. the ceramic in the
paint helps with radiant heat.
forming a barrier the reflects the heat before it leaves. It just seems like
it *might* work
this would be my first winter in this house and i would have to wait until
next year to see if there was any savings in heating.
http://www.insuladd.com/heatflow.html

bill

[TinMan1332]

>I was wondering if anyone has any feedback on insulating paints?
>
>I have found a place to buy the ceramic spheres as an additive which is
>claimed to do the same as any of the paints themselves. (this is cheaper
>and can be added to any paint)
>
>it would seem, to keep your house cooler in the summer. paint the
>outside
>to keep your house warmer in the winter, use the paint on the inside.
>
>or maybe the whole idea is hoaky

This subject got tossed around a few months back. I agree with paul on this
one. The only "glowing" and "positive" results seem to come from the
manufacturers own claims.