Our Concrete Barrier can serve three purposes underneath concrete: replacing 2" foam board as a radiant heat insulation, a vapor barrier and a radon barrier.

Most homes have 2 inch R-10 foam boards under the concrete. Concrete Barrier can take the place of foam board, but it's only 1/4" thick. It's easier to work with, it costs less per square foot, it's easier to ship, it replaces a vapor barrier, and best of all, it doesn't squeak when you cut it. As a result, Concrete Barrier is an excellent alternative to traditional 4x8 sheets of foam insulation. Concrete Barrier can also be used in radiant floor heating systems installed underneath concrete.

Most newer homes will also have clear plastic sheets under the concrete to prevent moisture from creeping up into the concrete. While this may not be a serious problem in most homes, Radon can be. Radon is a poison gas that results from the decay of uranium in the soil, which is found in nearly everywhere in the United States.

Radon can be blocked with clear plastic sheets, used in conjunction with foam insulation. However, a better method is to replace both the foam insulation and clear plastic sheets with a single application of Concrete Barrier. This will save money in material costs as well as labor costs.

You can find out more about radon gas by visiting the Environmental Protection Agency's site on radon at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/radon/.

A radiant floor heating system is designed to radiate heat from hot water run through heavy-duty plastic tubes installed underneath the floor. This is a low-cost, efficient way to heat your home. However, since the heat moves in all directions, not just up, a lot of this heat is wasted as it travels down into your basement or crawlspace.

Installing rFoil in the space between the floor joists, or across the joists, will insure that the previously-wasted heat will be reflected back up into your house, reducing the heating costs (see "In the floor/crawlspace". Depending on your application, Single Bubble Foil, Concrete Barrier, and No-Tear insulation can all be used. Because rFoil reflects 97% of radiant heat, it is a better alternative to traditional foam or fiberglass that might otherwise be used.