Loft: Attic Insulation Calc — Support

Need help?

Email roman.kopaliani@gmail.com with your question. Please include:

• What you were trying to do
• What happened instead
• The app version (Loft → More → About)

Frequently asked

What's free and what's in Loft Pro?

Free forever: the R-Value Check (zone + measured depth → your Energy Star verdict) and Insulate Safe. Loft Pro ($6.99, one-time) unlocks Coverage, Cost & Payback, and Rent or Hire. No subscription.

How much insulation do I need in my attic?

Per Energy Star's cost-effective targets: R30 in climate Zone 1, R49 in Zones 2–3, and R60 in Zones 4–8 from bare joists — or R25/R38/R49 of added insulation when 3–4 inches already exist. Measure what's up there today with a ruler at several spots, estimate your current R from the material's per-inch value, and close the gap. Loft does this arithmetic for you.

Why does Loft keep telling me to read the bag?

Because the FTC R-value Rule (16 CFR Part 460) requires every package of home insulation to carry a coverage chart — R-value and area covered at each depth. That chart is the legal spec for the product you actually bought. Loft's counts are planning norms for shopping; the bag's chart wins.

What's the pebbly gray-gold stuff in my attic?

Possibly vermiculite, and per EPA it may contain asbestos. Do not disturb it, do not blow over it, do not vacuum it — have it tested first. Loft treats this as a hard stop, and so should you.

Can I just bury my recessed lights and old wiring?

No. Non-IC-rated recessed cans overheat under insulation — that's a fire path, and knob-and-tube wiring is prohibited from being buried in most jurisdictions. IC-rated fixtures are fine; anything else gets clearance, covers, or an electrician first.

Will insulation really pay for itself?

EPA and Energy Star put average savings from sealing plus insulating at about 15% of heating and cooling costs. Loft shows a band around that average scaled to your job — an estimate, not a promise. Bare or nearly-bare attics pay back fastest.