Radiant barrier in West Palm Beach: is it worth it?

SFL Attic is a guide run by Terragroupe, LLC. We do not install anything and we are not booking jobs yet.

A radiant barrier is an add-on, not a fix, for a West Palm Beach attic. The airport records 4,165.5 CDD¹ a year, so cooling is the main job in your attic. FSEC puts the Southeast cooling-cost gain at 8 to 12 percent a year ², but very little is left at R-30 or better ².

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SFL Attic is a guide run by Terragroupe, LLC. We do not install anything and we are not booking jobs yet.

Last reviewed October 18, 2026 against the cited sources. A guide, not legal, tax or engineering advice.

Updated October 18, 2026. Sources

Radiant barrier in West Palm Beach: local facts

Verified facts only. Each one links to its source and shows the source's date.
Fact	Value	Source
Annual cooling degree days (base 65F), West Palm Beach Intl Airport (USW00012844), 1991-2020 normal; cooling load is what a radiant barrier acts on	4,165.5 CDD	[1] 1991-2020
Average days per year with a high of 90F or more, West Palm Beach Intl Airport (USW00012844), 1991-2020 normal	74.1 days/year	[1] 1991-2020
Cooling degree days June through September (sum of monthly normals), West Palm Beach Intl Airport (USW00012844), 1991-2020	2,130.2 CDD	[6] 1991-2020

Radiant barrier and the FPL rebate

FPL's ceiling insulation rebate is $220 per installation ³. Your attic must be below R-8 now to qualify ³. The program standards we read list only blown-in, batt or spray foam as the material.

If FPL serves your home and your attic is thin enough, the insulation job may qualify. A radiant barrier on its own does not appear on that list. So the rebate points toward insulation first and foil second.

The county moved zones

As of October 18, 2026

In the current energy code, Palm Beach County moved from Climate Zone 2 to Zone 1 ⁴. That cut the new-home ceiling minimum from R-38 to R-30 ⁵.

Today a new West Palm Beach home needs a ceiling of 30 R-value⁴. A web page that quotes the higher number is using an old table ⁵.

Why does this matter for foil? FSEC says very little heat flow is left to block once insulation reaches R-30 ². A home that already meets today's minimum is a weak foil candidate.

Heat at West Palm Beach International Airport

These are NOAA normals for the airport. Cooling degree days count how much hot weather a year brings.

Cooling degree days a year (1991-2020 normals): 4,165.5 CDD¹.
Days a year at 90F or higher: 74.1 days/year¹.
June through September: 2,130.2 CDD⁶ (the sum of four monthly normals, our arithmetic).

Winter heating is small next to that, at 201.8 HDD¹ a year.

Where the older attics are

Housing age varies a lot by ZIP area. In ZIP area 33405, 81.3 percent⁷ of units were built in 1979 or earlier, and the median build year is 1956⁷. Citywide, the share is 37.7 percent⁸.

ZIP area 33401, near downtown, is the opposite, with a median build year of 1992⁹. Only 18.8 percent⁹ of its units are detached houses. ZIP areas are Census approximations.

If your home sits in an older area and the attic is thin, insulation comes first. If it is deep already, FSEC says there is little left for foil to do ².

What it costs

Our search found no credible recent price for radiant barrier in South Florida, so we print none. Ask for a written price per square foot.

Next step

Curious about your own attic? Begin with the Attic Heat Score.

National price ranges for radiant barrier

These are national ranges from the cited sources, not local quotes. Ranges are labeled with their source, or marked our arithmetic. Your price depends on the job.
Job	Range	Source
Angi: contractors charge between $0.60 and $1 per square foot to install both foil and spray-on radiant barriers.National range from a price guide, not a local quote.	0.60-1.00 USD per sq ft installed	[10]National price guide range, How Much Does a Radiant Barrier Cost to Install? [2026 Data] (Angi), October 2026
Angi: professional radiant barrier installation costs between $710 and $2,840 for the project.National range from a price guide, not a local quote.	710-2840 USD	[10]National price guide range, How Much Does a Radiant Barrier Cost to Install? [2026 Data] (Angi), October 2026

What this site gives you now

This guide is built to remove guesswork, so you can decide from a straight answer with no pressure.

A way to size up your attic
The Attic Heat Score shows how likely new insulation is to help. Then find the type of insulation, how deep it is and what needs fixing first.
Prices you can compare
Price ranges come from named national guides, each with its source. Ask any installer for the scope, the product and the price in writing. Nothing should start until you say yes.
The right product for your house
Blown-in when it is enough. Spray foam only when it fits your roof and your budget.
A photo habit
Take photos of the attic before and after any work, with a ruler for depth, so you can see the result.
The rebate rules
FPL pays a rebate only when your existing attic insulation is thin. The cost guide explains the rules, so you can see whether you may qualify.
What to ask for in writing
Ask any installer to put the workmanship term in your written scope: what it covers and how long it lasts. We will publish an installer's term on this site if one signs.

This site is free to read. It sells no work and takes no payment. If your attic does not need work, the guides and the score will say so. Any work is agreed in writing between you and the installer who does it.

Attic Heat Score

Answer a few quick questions. The score shows how likely your attic is to benefit from more insulation. It is a starting point; a measured depth confirms it.

Start the Attic Heat Score

SFL Attic is a guide run by Terragroupe, LLC. We do not install anything and we are not booking jobs yet.

More attic work in West Palm Beach

Questions people ask

Will foil keep my attic cooler in summer?

The foil reflects part of the roof's heat, so the attic may run cooler. We found no verified peak attic temperature for Florida homes, so we print no number. FSEC also warns about condensation if foil lies directly on insulation ².

Can I get the FPL rebate for a radiant barrier alone?

The program standards we read do not list foil as an eligible material ³. Ask FPL before you sign anything, because its rules can change.

Why do older web pages say West Palm Beach needs a higher R-value?

They may use the old climate zone. The county moved zones in the current energy code, and the new-home minimum fell with it. Check the date on any table you find.