Sheri: The Aluminet stretches in one direction only, so when you order it, make sure you have the fabric cut to stretch in the direction it will hang from top to bottom. When the sales rep from IGC (where I ordered mine) told me the vents would open under the fabric, I was a bit doubious, but she was right. The key is to mount the fabric without stretching it tightly. My husband was concerned that the corners of the vent windows might punch holes in the aluminet fabric and wrapped rags around them. So far, even with the vents opened full and pulling the fabric, no holes, but I'm looking for a more elegant solution. Fat, self adheseive foam bumpers come to mind. But I didn't suggest that you use the aluminet AS a screen, only that when it's draped over the ROOF vents, it serves as one, which I found ironic, because we made screens for the roof vents, that will soon serve as storm panels for winter, as we can use them to hold bubble wrap in place under the vents. For your intake vents, use standard screening material, in a frame. To screen the powered intake vents on my GH, we used white vinyl house trim materials to create a box frame, 5- 1/2" deep, to allow the vents to open out, then just made screens using the screen channels, corners & spline sold in any home center. The box is made of 1 x 6 vinyl trim board, (actually 3/4 X 5- 1/2) so the edge facing out is wide enough to accomodate the screen frame, that is mounted to the box face with screws. To give a surface to mount the box to the GH, we used vinyl brickmould. The box sits inside brickmould, attached with small screws. The brickmould was fitted tightly around and to the fan frame, sealed with silicone. Once we fiddled the design, they were pretty easy to make and give me the ability to both remove the screens for cleaning, and in late fall, when we seal up the GH for winter, we can seal the vents by placing insulation in the boxes, then use the screens to hold it in place. My inspiration was shadowboxes, which, when you look at them, are no more than a picture frame with a second frame inside of it that projects out, with another frame on it's face, to hold the glass. From the craft shop to the GH. LOL!

I'd use Reynolds Non-stick Foil the next time. That stuff is well worth the extra $$$ for the few jobs I use it for, but stuff truly doesn't stick to it (just be sure to use the correct side up, which is marked on the foil). I'd sit the pan on a heating pad and see if that warms it enough to un-stick it without melting the whole thing, or maybe placing it in a low oven - just guessing, no real experience. I haven't made caramels, but would it work on a Silpat? I dump the molten hot liquid for peanut brittle on a Silpat and it never sticks to that, and that's always been one of my favorite uses for a Silpat. -Grainlady

Concerning the use of radiant barrier vs foil faced insulation panels, you might want to contact Ed Sumpolec of energy conservation specialists @ 321.693.3562 His e-mail address is edrsum@aol.com The use of foil panels on the exterior is extra insulation, but has less effectiveness in combating heat gain because there is no air space involved.The use of radiant barrier on the inside wall cavaties w/ an air space is more effective at lessening heat gain,and helps in heat loss properties in the winter as well.The foil faced panels will aid in controlling heat loss in the winter as effectively as the radiant.It all depends on your application and climate zone.We installed radiant barrier on our build with more concern in holding in the heat which involved a different application not utilizing an air space. The foam application in your roof cavaties is covering the best of both worlds for you concerning heat gain/loss and i dont understand you not considering foaming your wall cavaties as well.

There is always the old use of wrapping the TV antenna for better reception!!! I use it to line pans in the over so that I don't have to clean up the overflow mess. I have also lined my oven racks with it when I am baking bread in case I have filled the pan too full and it spills over. When I had a electric stove, I would line under my burners to catch spills. You can also use it for kids school projects. I also used it the other day to keep my son's soup hot. I warmed the soup in the microwave in the morning and wrapped the container in foil and he said it was still really warm 4 hours later. I have also used the same theory to keep pop or juice cold. Couldn't live without foil!!!