anyone familiar with solar board?

[sunket77]

We build our coop out of solar board if has a foil on the out side to help beat the heat. Does anyone know if I paint it if it will defeat the purpose? they use this on houses for exterior walls, ceilings, and floors. I am trying to find info on the net but no luck so far.

 

[plv777]

I would say if you painted on the foil side it would affect the reflective ability of the foil but I think the other side would be ok

 

[cobrien]

Hello, good question, as an engineer I can tell you that painting will negate the benefit on the outside, unless your paint is reflective. If there is an air gap on the back side of the foil - and only if there is an air gap - then this surface will block heat / cold from radiating to the inside. Think of attic insulation with the foil side facing the inside of the attic, so that the foil is in contact with air - this is good. Foil facing and in contact with the roof, not good. If the back of the foil is in contact with something, you will not block heat transfer.

Good luck!
Colleen

 

[sunket77]

Thanks Colleen! we built the exterior walls out of it. It said on the board to put them facing out for exterior walls. I guess we are stuck with a silver coop! I am hoping the foil on the outside will make good for weatherproofing. Or maybe I should just clear coat the whole thing? Just to keep it from warping or rotting, it's not touching the ground and we have the edges covered with 1x4's.

 

[patandchickens]

If you get tired of the 'space aliens landed in my backyard' silver look, perhaps you could put some sort of siding over top of it (which I suspect is how it's really intended to be installed). As long as there is some slight air gap between the siding and the reflective board, at least in most places (it is ok for them to touch in some places) it should work well and be less, uh, shiny

Good luck, have fun,

Pat