We have a cottage with exposed rafters and the previous owners have some rigid foam insulation about 1 inch thickness between them (to insulate the roof (it is sort of ugly to look at). I read that if one filled the entire rafter cavity with rigid insultation one can then directly attach ceiling material(say pine boards to the rafters) and not worry about roof ventillation.
Answer:
I have found this to create a condensation problem in the long run so I would not do it. I'd far rather remove the rigid foam, insulate with bats and vapour barrier but making sure there was an inch or so of air gap above the insulation. Air has to migrate from under the eaves up to a baffled ridge vent going from gable to gable.
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