ST. LOUIS, March 11, 2008 - Mattingly Lumber & Millwork is now stocking and shipping Thermastrand radiant barrier roofing panels. Thermastrand panels are manufactured for homeowners who desire improved energy efficiency.
"Thermastrand panels add value to a commodity," said John Mattingly Jr., executive vice president and attorney for the corporation. "We can garner a premium price for them."
Thermastrand roofing panels are extremely energy efficient and money saving investments. These panels feature an aluminum facing that reflects up to 97% of the sun's radiant energy, saving homeowners 10-25% off their annual cooling costs. The price of Thermastrand panels is 30-50% more expensive than standard OSB roof sheathing panels - each Thermastrand panel costs approximately $10 per sheet, compared to $7 per sheet for standard OSB. However, the amount of money homeowners will save off their annual cooling costs will continue to increase as energy costs rise. Investing in Thermastrand panels can pay for itself in as little as three years.
Mattingly said the most significant feature of Thermastrand panels "is the radiant barrier in the attic." "It cuts down about 30% of heat infiltration," said Mattingly.
These panels will be especially popular in St. Louis, which is known to have very hot, humid summer months. According to Mattingly, St. Louis is the furthest city north that homeowners will see the added value of investing in Thermastrand panels, as the target market for these panels is the southwest.
Thermastrand panels, an ENERGY STAR qualified product, are going to continue to gain in popularity as a result of the ongoing movement to "go green." Even though these money saving, energy efficient panels are difficult to sell right now, as the housing market is down, they will become much more popular once the housing market recovers.
"We have seen some success, but right now, builders are doing anything they can to cut costs," said Mattingly.
Through ASTM c-236 scientific testing, Geoscience LTD, an independent testing facility, has determined the amount of energy savings of Thermastrand panels. These tests have indicated that roofs built with these panels, that are measured to have temperatures up to 123 degrees Fahrenheit, will save homeowners 21-22% off annual air conditioning costs. For roofs measured to have temperatures beyond 123 degrees Fahrenheit, homeowners can save 25-30% off air conditioning costs.
