Cast Iron Baseboard - Radiant Barrier?

Jerry Fountain_2

We're putting in a new floor that has two heating types. Most rooms have cast iron baseboard (Burnham) with the bathrooms getting thin slab radiant (see other post for question on that).

When I was looking through some of the literature, some Weil-Mclain cast iron baseboards called out a radiant barrier to be applied to the wall just behind the baseboards (looked like an adhesive "membrane" the same height as the baseboard. The burnham install instructions didn't mention any radiant barrier, but in the local suppliers (Able H&C) catalog, it does show "aluminum foil" for about $90 list under the Burnham cast iron baseboards.

So, do I need a radiant barrier behind the rads? These are against 5/8 drywall on 2x6 R19 walls. If I do, and you're familiar with the Burnham Baseray baseboards, what barrier do they recommend?

Joe_30

Air seal

My vintage Weil-Mclain installation guide shows an "air seal" that looks like a roll of paper with a tar core. It is held in with tacks and goes from floor to the top of the baseboard. They suggest a small 1/2" cove molding under the baseboard where the seal meets the floor. And another, perhaps 3/4" cove on top of the baseboard.

I have used aluminum for this, and regret not painting the bottom inch of it that shows when it was a little more accesible.

Jerry Fountain

I picked up some of the Burnham "Aluminum Foil" for use behind the baseboards. How did you attach this stuff to the wall? It just seems to be aluminum paper (i.e., a paper backing stuck to aluminum). It isn't self-adhesive so I'm guessing tape or more likely some form of wallpaper adhesive?