How to install Bubblefoil

Alucushion®/Bubblefoil® can be installed under steel roofing (Industrial Application) and under roof tiles (Domestic Application).

Foil insulation is recommended under a metal roof. The shiny side should be facing up, but there’s a catch. Foil insulation is a radiant barrier, and it works by reflecting heat from the metal, but for it to do its job, there has to be a layer of air between the roofing and the foil. Some types of metal roofing are shaped to create this air space, but if you’re installing a type that doesn’t, you should construct an attachment structure.

For proper installation of roof insulation, you need to do it before the roofing goes on. If you want to add foil insulation to an existing roof, you can still do it by stapling undersides to the roof rafters. If you do this, the shiny side of the insulation still goes up, and the rafters automatically create an air space between the insulation and the roofing.

Why would you need foil insulation?

When sunlight directly hits a metal roof, it dramatically increases the temperature to uncomfortable conditions.  If there is no foil insulation barrier, the underside of the roof radiates all the heat directly into the ceiling. The ceiling overheats, the building becomes warmer and air conditioning becomes far too expensive.

Alucushion. suppliers of Bubblefoil give detailed instructions on how to install this efficient foil into a building.

Industrial Application

Step 1

Fix PVC coated straining wire from the top apex purlin, over intermediate purlins to the bottom eave purlin at 383 mm centres – first straining wire to be fixed 50 mm away from the gable end. Evenly tension all wire ensuring that cut ends face downwards.

Step 2

Industrial Application 2

Lay Alucushion® / Bubblefoil® FR over the straining wires ensuring that it is squared off. Fix to apex purlin using double-sided tape. Evenly tension material and fix to eave purlin again using double-sided tape.

Step 3

Industrial Application 3

All subsequent layers of Alucushion® FR to be fixed as above with a 100 mm overlap over the previous sheet.
Straining wires must be positioned at the centre of the overlaps i.e. not more than 50 mm from the sheet edges. Lay roof sheeting as soon as possible after the fixing of Alucushion® FR.

Domestic Application

Steps

Domestic Application

1. Because of Alucushion® / Bubblefoil® FR’s tensile strength and ease of handling, there are various application options available depending on the particular roofing material and/or design, construction method and project requirements (i.e. thermal control, waterproofing, ceiling substitution etc.)
2. The most common method is that illustrated in the sketch i.e. stapled with industrial staples to top of rafters before fixing of brandering. Material is laid horizontally (between gable ends) commencing at the eaves and ensuring that subsequent sheets overlap the previous sheet. With this method, the Alucushion® acts as both insulation and a waterproofing membrane.
3. Where the roofing is in sheet form the industrial method of installation is normally used with or without straining wires.
4. An alternative method is to staple Alucushion® FR to the bottom of the roof trusses prior to the fixing of the ceiling brandering.