We’re converting a third floor attic to living space. House has a black roof, heat gain is high. Can anyone recommend a cost effective radiant barrier to attach to the rafters or anyother related tips?
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My opinion is that once the heat is "in" from the black roof, reflecting it back will only bake the sheathing and the shingles. You might be better off to re-do the roof with light shingles or metal.
Having an insulation contractor spray in foam to the rafters is the best choice and can provide twice as much R-value per inch and it doesn't require venting. You are intending to vent the rafter space? With an air baffle between the roof sheathing and insulation to allow air flow you've reduced the space for insulation even more. You do have air baffles? Otherwise you've probably squeezed in as much space as possible without leaving much for insulation, so you're stuck.
Good luck