Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am getting ready to move into a new house with an unfinished basement (stone walls/concrete floor) which is probably where my animals will live. I am planning on using an oil filled radiator to keep the ambient heat up in the winter. If I hang overlapping strips of reflectix from the ceiling to the floor (in about a 10' x 10' area) will it effectively contain the heat from the radiator or do I need to have walls at least framed out to attach it? At some point I would like to finish the basement but I am looking for a quick fix for the upcoming winter. I am very open to other suggestions as well. Thanks for the advice.

Rob

By the way: The animals are keep are Kenyan sand boas and ball pythons in a Vision rack with heat rope for basking.

For a temporary fix I think this will work well. When you do finish the basement just re-use the Reflectix as a moisture/radiant barrier.

I'm not sure what you mean by overlapping strips. If it were me and the ceiling was 8' or less tall I would just hang a continuous run from the back of the area to the front where you'll want access. At the access area I would then have a large area that overlaps that acts as a door of sorts.

I would also cover the ceiling if at all possible.

You might also wrap those Vision racks.
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Currently keeping a small collection of various Gonyosoma. Both G. janseni and G. oxycephala.

>>I'm not sure what you mean by overlapping strips. If it were me and the ceiling was 8' or less tall I would just hang a continuous run from the back of the area to the front where you'll want access. At the access area I would then have a large area that overlaps that acts as a door of sorts.

The ceilings are only about 7' but the Reflectix that I have seen was in rolls that were only about 2' wide. So I thought that I would hang the 2' wide strips from floor to ceiling and overlap each strip by about 3" or so. Are there other sizes available that I should be looking for?

>>I would also cover the ceiling if at all possible.

I had not thought of this but will definitely do it. Can I just staple the reflectix to the joists or is there some other method of hanging it.

Thanks for your help, I appreciate it, as always.

Okay, that makes sense. Now that I think about it 2' rolls are the most common size of Reflectix I see. When I did my temporary room I bought 8' rolls. 50' long, IIRC.

Just stable it to the joists.
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Currently keeping a small collection of various Gonyosoma. Both G. janseni and G. oxycephala.

Rob

Can I slide in here & ask a question since ya'll are already talkin' about reflectix?

Chris, in a monitor cage I'm working on (still) I have ripped 2 x 4s (1 1/2 x 1 3/4) for studs between inner/outer walls. I have planned on putting some kind of insulation between the walls because it will be in an enclosed garage with some type of portable heater (radiator, etc...).

I was thinking of using the blue foam insulation board but also have wondered about reflectix. Both? What do you think?

Average winter temp of room, with little to no heat is about 60 degrees (F). So it's not going to be in a frigid, outdoors-type environement.

Thanks!
Mike

Thanks Rob for letting me squeeze in! I owe ya one!
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

Mike,

If you can find it there is a polysterene sheet material that is foil faced that incombination with the regualar extruded would work great the foam would act as a traditional insulation and the foil facin would when placed towards the inside act as a reflective insulation to radient energy.

You can use reflectix and the foam but the foil faced is another option.

Best of luck
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Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

0.1 Sunglow "Khal" RTB
0.1 Snow "Khal" RTB
1.0 Double Het "Khal" Sunglow RTB
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.0.13 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
1.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.0.7 Normal Suriname Hybrid's
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
3.6.14 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Child

Seems like I've seen something like that not long ago at one of the big-name stores when I was pricing reflectix. Thanks, I'll look into it.

Air gap between the two insulations, air gap on inner wall, or, air gap on outer wall? I want to say outer but don't know for sure. Either outer or between the two insulations. You tell me.

Missed ya for awhile there, "daddy". Had me worried that you might be at work, in the corner somewhere, pushing the wrong buttons just for the heck of it. Hahahaha!!!

Thanks Jeremy!

Mike
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

I agree with Jeremy. The foil-faced insulation board is the best choice here since it will be enclosed.

When you install it you should try to have a slight air space between in and the wall that makes up the inside of the cage. 1/2" or so should be fine. The air space is not 100% necessary but is preferable if you can include it.
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Currently keeping a small collection of various Gonyosoma. Both G. janseni and G. oxycephala.

So I had it right backwards on where the gap should be. Imagine that. Ha!

Thanks Chris!
Mike
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

Well there are a ton of ways to go about this, and ideally a sealed vaccume would be the best but nearly impossible to create.

In any case I would keep the air gap to the inside as heat travels poorly through air. So when using the two materials the gap would be in between each which is probably the most nuetral. However if you use the refectix I would also keep the gap between those materials.

Remember its the heat you want to keep in not the cold to keep out. Hot moves to cold.The air gap would slow down the process but not as much as you might think. Really I don't think you see a huge difference either way.

It would be cool if you could find the buuble wrap filled with argon, as argon is a very large atom that is very slow moving so it doesn't transmit heat very well unlike other gases such as air which is mostly nitrogen.

Ideally Reflextix filled with argon would be ideal but very expensive, NASA uses a similar material.

Anyways back to earth topics I think either way you go it will work just fine.

What material are you lining the cage with and how is it being mounted?

By the way Baby #2 is on its way #1 is celebrating his 1st Birthday next week. Man they grow fast!

Thanks for the welcome glad to see I was missed.

Cheers
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Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

0.1 Sunglow "Khal" RTB
0.1 Snow "Khal" RTB
1.0 Double Het "Khal" Sunglow RTB
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.0.13 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
1.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.0.7 Normal Suriname Hybrid's
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
3.6.14 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Child

>>In any case I would keep the air gap to the inside as heat travels poorly through air. So when using the two materials the gap would be in between each which is probably the most nuetral. However if you use the refectix I would also keep the gap between those materials.

That reads bad.

Clarification;

Foil faced insulation airgap between it and inner wall

However with reflectix I would place it up against the inner wall as it really provides no material to slow heat transfer other than the bubble portion (which is an air gap). I would include the gap between it and the foam.

Hope that makes sense the second round!
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Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

0.1 Sunglow "Khal" RTB
0.1 Snow "Khal" RTB
1.0 Double Het "Khal" Sunglow RTB
1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.0.13 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
1.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.0.7 Normal Suriname Hybrid's
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
3.6.14 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.3 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Child

Ha! Ha! I knew what you meant.

Like I told Chris, "So I had it right backwards on the gap. Imagine that."

> > > Remember its the heat you want to keep in not the cold to keep out.

Aha! I was definitely thinking about keeping cold air out. I remember that now that you mention it. Didn't you or Chris post a link to a site that explained air movement from one room to another when the door is opened?

I was thinking that I posted pics already but I remember now that it was in the Monitor forum I did it in. I'll start a thread with the pics & a few details.

> > > By the way Baby #2 is on its way

Hey! Congratulations! Now you'd better go buy a big screen TV for your bedroom and put a stop to that hanky panky. Ha! Ha!

> > > #1 is celebrating his 1st Birthday next week. Man they grow fast!

Holy Mackerel! It seems like it's only been 6 - 9 months, max. Yeah, they sure do grow fast. And faster & faster each year.

Thanks Jeremy!
Mike
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

>>Thanks Rob for letting me squeeze in! I owe ya one!

No worries! I actually don't build a lot of stuff myself but I lurk here because I feel like I learn a lot and you all are so willing to share your knowledge. Good luck with your monitor cage.

Rob

Thanks!

Yeah, Chris & Jeremy (Bighurt) are the backbone of this forum. There are several other knowledgeable people but these two are the ones that are here day in/day out.

Heh, if I had to answer the same questions so many times like they do I'd probably be over in a corner somewhere where the glue fumes couldn't escape me. Ha! Ha!

I hope your cordoning works good for you.

Catch ya later!
HH
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American