On 24-Oct-2004, "Walter Cohen" wrote:

The previous owner (can't imagine the original builder doing this) has
placed foil-faced insulation, with the foil facing inside, between all
rafters in th eattic on the underside of the roof. [If I take the insulation
away there is the wood tongue-in-groove roof material and on top of that
just a layer of asphalt roofing shingle]

Are you saying the insulation is on the underside of the roof and not resting
on the floor of the attic? If so, then no, the insulation is doing nothing.
Since you're keeping the air space well ventilated, the insulation is not
between your heated space and the air. The insulation will keep the heat
on the roof from making the attic hot, but it won't help in the winter.

You want the insulation on the floor of the attic. If you finish the attic
and make sure that the underside of the roof can breathe, then the insulation
goes on the inside of the roof. That makes the attic an insulated, heated,
usable space.

Mike