I’m looking for any advice I can get on cooling down my ridiculously hot Texas attic. In West Texas we saw several days last year get above 110 and my attic was above 150. I can air seal and blow cellulose to help the house, but I want to cool the attic down just a bit to store a few things, and that can only help the conditioned area as well. Right now I’ve literally had it melt some things my wife was storing in there. I don’t have a specific budget. I’m willing to spend money to do it right, but I’d prefer to keep the cost down as much as possible obviously.  

Does anyone feel like it’s worth retrofitting an existing attic with radiant barrier?  I know LP makes a sheathing with it already installed, but I’m not looking to replace roof-decking. I am having the roof replaced from a huge hailstorm, but right now it will just be underlayment and shingles. If anyone feels a roof replacement is a great time to do something different then I’m all ears, but right now I’m between a few different options.  

1. I’m not crazy about the idea of spray foam between the rafters. I think I’d like to maintain air flow. Plus spray foam can make it hard to spot leaks, and with the hail we get hidden leaks are always a real possibility. Also, I’m looking to do this work myself because competent help is hard to find in this area and spray foam has a lot that can go wrong.

2. I could install fiberglass or Rockwool between the rafters with an air gap behind to maintain air flow to the roof vents, but I didn’t know how much of a difference this would make.

2. I could install radiant  barrier between the rafters to try and turn some of that heat back around as it beats on the roof. 

3. Foam board with air gap behind to maintain airflow to roof vents. 

4. Combination of radiant barrier with either fiberglass, rockwool, or foam board with air gap behind.

Any input is wildly appreciated!  This is going to be a big job and big investment so I want to make sure I make a good decision. 

Thanks again,
-A Walker