reflective sheet

[tricoma]

Hi, everyone I decided to upgrade my grow room to increase the lumen.
So, I bought a new electronic ballast, Lumatek 400W, and a new hood: adjust-a-wings.
My walls are painted with a flat white, but I want to increase the reflection of the walls, what's done? Mylar or Mylar Diamond Sheeting?
The second has many advantages respect to the mylar: more resistant, heat shielding, etc. but my problems is:
Is Mylar Diamond Sheeting more reflective respect to mylar?
thanks a lot

 

[Guest]

tricoma IMO you cant do better than a coat of flat white paint every 6 months or so,I've used mylar and like sooo many others,tore it down in disgust after some time.Its just not worth the tiny extra bit of reflectivity it gives you over flat white.Saying that,I dont which is better(or worse lol)Mylar or mylar diamond sheeting,it matters little as you'll be tearing it all down soon enough!

 

[tricoma]

thanks a lot for your replay!!
nothing else?

 

[chosen]

Elastomeric paint silly....

"A rubberized roofing paint with 90% reflection. Good for growboxes. Mildew resistant. Highly reflective.

Kool Seal White Elastomeric Roof Coating ~ $15.00 (1 Gallon)

Ultra high reflectivity
Forms a rubber-like blanket that expands and contracts
Adheres to almost any surface (very good on wood and metal) "
The price is more like $20 or so now though...

 

[Eight Star]

I have been using sheets of heavy white paper to cover my soil in my buckets or cups that I strat seedling in. The paper reflects most of the light that would be absorbed by the dirt to the undersides of the leaves. this one trick has been pretty amazing so far.

I know of some tomato growers that use Reflective mulch which is essentially white plastic. I prefer the soil breathe. so I use paper.

 

[jd2769]

thanks for that chosen. Id never heard of Elastomeric paint. I will look into that.

 

[hazy]

chosen you may have something there.
kool seal or any other brand of white roof coating should work great.
they're made to reflect light
i will try it in my cabinet.

 

[chosen]

I also love that it is kind of rubberized with a mold inhibitor. So, it's tough, easy to clean, and kind of acts as an insulator.

 

[Guest]

Just so everyone remembers massive refectivity is not what you're trying to accomplish,even refectivity is as important if not more so.Thats why your mylar should be totally flat without creasing or dimpling,what a pain.I dont know if elastomeric paint provides equal constant reflectivity,I know flat white does.If its more reflective than flat white and has the same even reflectivity characteristics,it would be da bomb more than likely

 

[chosen]

It does. It's just paint. It lasts much longer than flat white as well with cleanup.

 

[DankSwayzee]

So elastomeric paint? Better than mylar?

I'd like to know myself as I'm assembling the parts for my future cab and since I'll just be working with 250 watts, I'll want to get as much reflectivity going on as I can. Hell, I'll even do that white paper trick.

 

[randude]

As it turns out I am a photographer and an electrical engineer, but acting as a manager lately. Anyway.... Flat White is the 2nd most reflective surface. With that being said, my grow room consist of sheets of this diamond foil insulation that is stapled to the ceiling in the shape of a room with velcrow strips for the doors. My door is where two ends of the hanging material meets with velcro keeping it together. If I ever had to disassemble my room it could be done in minutes too.

 

[randude]

Oh yeah, I get that material at Home Depot, a rool cost me $45.

 

[chosen]

Elastomeric paint isn't better than mylar that's hung properly,but it's close. The advantage is in cleaning, constant reflection, and the ease of setup. Mylar is slightly more reflective. Yet, spray,moisture, and even plants touching mylar will diminish some of its reflectivity.

 

[Guest]

mylar film sucks yesterdays chili outa me fat irish ass. heh. flat white primer is like what?, 85-90 % reflective anyways. you can have the folks at HD add a fungicide to any paint(or primer). i've never use the the rubberized paint so i cant say nuttin about it but primer goes on easy and is real easy to put a second coat onto when you hafta repaint(cuz you will). i vote for white primer,lol.

 

[DickAnubis]

The only problem with elastometric paints like Silvercoat or others available is that they are usually solvent based. So the cab needs coating outside or with ventilation. Also being green I'm opposed to releasing solvents into the air around me or others.
Flat white with fungicide is best. Mylar is a pain and quite flammable. Someone called it gasoline in a sheet.
Coffee filters make great soil covers and you can water right through them if your top feeding. Ferts will stain them and lose their reflective quality.
Good luck Man.