Thermal wallpaper: can it work?

[Garald]

Well, it has finally got cold, and now I have a thermal camera (as you can tell from my other threads). The renovation is all but wrapped up by now - I haven't been given the end-of-work documents yet, and I suppose I can still take matters up with the contractor, but good luck to me if I insist on major changes.

I've found some spots where performance seems lower than expected (in particular, the low sidewalls in the attic; blown-in cellulose insulation may have slumped, or perhaps the space behind the sidewalls was never filled to the brim).  A quick search tells me there is such a thing a "thermal wallpaper".

 

Reading the technical documents, it would seem to have an R of less than 0.1 - i.e., it is next to useless. No surprises there.

 

The only thing I can think of that can take next to no space and have a real effect is reflective insulators. I've found this: https://coveryourwall.co.uk/collections/thermal-room-insulation-liners/products/graphite-plus-insulating-lining-paper - but it says "20% better" (than their products with an R of less than 0.1).

 

Not sure what the solution is. Hide space blankets behind conventional wallpaper? (If I were a better DIYer, I would do it.)

[Redbeard]

To me thermal wallpapers are an illustration of the fact that a thin thing has all the insulation value of a thin thing. They have their place where other measures are not going to be done (perhaps in some rented properties) insofar as the slight increase in surface temp may hinder mould growth. Don't expect huge comfort increases or fuel cost reductions, though.

[JohnMo]

Think these products have a small place, but the property has to heat heat like an open window. Then anything is better than nothing. But anything else don't waste your money.

[Temp]

Reflective insulation actually has to be reflective. See Apollo lunar lander. 

[Garald]

5 hours ago, Temp said:

Reflective insulation actually has to be reflective. See Apollo lunar lander. 

 

... and have an air gap, so that heat is not transmitted directly, presumably?

 

Say we are talking about an area that is covered with bookcases. Does it make sense to cover the wall behind the bookcases with space blankets, making use of the small air gap between the back of the bookcases and the wall?

[SteamyTea]

5 hours ago, Garald said:

Say we are talking about an area that is covered with bookcases. Does it make sense to cover the wall behind the bookcases with space blankets, making use of the small air gap between the back of the bookcases and the wall?

You could try a bit with some kitchen aluminum foil, then point your IR thermometer on it.

 

[Blooda]

14 hours ago, Redbeard said:

To me thermal wallpapers are an illustration of the fact that a thin thing has all the insulation value of a thin thing. They have their place where other measures are not going to be done (perhaps in some rented properties) insofar as the slight increase in surface temp may hinder mould growth. Don't expect huge comfort increases or fuel cost reductions, though.

And for an even thinner thin thing :-

 

InsOpaint – ULTRA Insulating Paint (paintoutlet.co.uk)

 

Lots of words saying...... nothing.

 

 

[Tom]

1 hour ago, Blooda said:

Lots of words saying...... nothing.

 

"it helps prevent heat gain by reflecting hot air away from your walls and back into the environment" - Who writes this cr@p??!

[ToughButterCup]

Snake Oil .....

[Garald]

Let me understand under which circumstances a reflecting insulator may work. I just put some reflective lining inside a set of curtains. Their thermal performance does seem to improve perceptively (I took a couple of pictures with an IR camera). Yet the reflecting element is not directly exposed - it's inside the lining. Is it that, since the lining pocket is inherently baggy, and the curtain isn't very thick, a significant fraction of the heat that would get through the curtain is transmitted by radiation (and hence is stopped by the reflective lining)?

 

Attached you'll find a picture taken after I put the reflective lining inside the curtain on the right and before I put it inside the curtain on the left. I shunted the curtains aside a bit so you can see the metal door behind.