Rafters visible above ceiling (cold attic)

Rafters visible above ceiling (cold attic). Thermal imagers do not see through walls/ceilings, rather they see the influence that materials behind the wall have on the surface temperature of the wall. In this case we can clearly see where the roof framing is in the image of a ceiling. This image is characteristic of an insulated ceiling with a cold attic. Notice that the roof framing has a lower thermal resistance (i.e., is colder) than the insulated spaces in between.