29 January 2009

Sleeping under newspapers

Hose carrying insulation into atticNow that the alumin(i)um wiring has all gone, we could finally get round to putting a decent layer of insulation in the attic. I'd say 'loft', but I recently discovered that attic≠loft in Canadian English. Though I'm not entirely clear on the distinction - so any clarification welcome!

We now have a snug 15-inch layer of recycled newsprint above our heads (it has been converted into fluff and treated to make it fire- and pest-resistant, I feel I should point out). This brings the R-value of the attic's insulation up to 50 from its previous level of around 10. Should make it a bit warmer upstairs on these cold winter nights...

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

An amateur's explanation of attic vs loft, from a Canadian perspective:

An attic is usually un-finished, and in particular - does not have a proper finished floor. The only place to walk is along the beams so one does not go crashing down into the room below. Most commonly, the only way to reach an attic is via a retractable ladder or by standing on a chair to heist oneself through an opening in the ceiling.

A loft, on the other hand, can be an open space with a balcony, above the room. It usually has a staircase to reach it.
Or, a loft is sometimes a converted attic. "Converted" meaning that it has finished flooring and walls, etc. and is decorated as a living space, commonly for sleeping.

Best of luck,
Janey
janeyknitting AT yahoo DOT ca

Amanda said...

Thanks Janey, for that very clear explanation of the difference between loft and attic over here! I thought it must be something like that.