WA2ISE,
Foil insulation has been installed in New Zealand here for ages, the only difference being, it was always installed underneath the particle-board flooring, on top of flooring joists.
The foil was installed during the construction of the house, in that it was allowed to have an air-gap between joists.
This idiotic idea of "lets throw some aluminium foil up in the roof" has to stop.
Fibre-glass batts are made for this purpose and no amount of "green lobbying" to the contrary is ever going to make this a reality.
Let's add into the equation, a few years later when Harry Homeowner, decides he might like some new down-lights in his lounge or kitchen, what he will do is either chop bits out of the foil or will simply ignore the foil and install the lights anyway (under the foil).
Either way, this is going to end in tears.
Government departments and the green movement need to be held accountable for rash statements about the effectiveness of foil as an insulating medium.
If it was my house, there'd be no way I'd even consider foil as insulation in a roof void.
Mainly because, if there is a fire in your roof, the first thing that would be removed by any fire brigade, would be the foil, in an attempt to get nearer the seat of the fire.
