Smart DecoratorAdvice helps homeowners, renters and DIYers plan decorating and renovation projects. We focus on the questions that come up before work starts: how much material to buy, roughly what it will cost, and what to check so the job goes right the first time.
What you will find here
The site currently has 43 free calculators in 7 categories: Construction and Measurement, Concrete and Masonry, Flooring and Interior, Deck, Fence and Outdoor, Roofing, HVAC and Home Systems, and Planning and Budget.
Alongside the calculators, we publish practical guides that explain decorating and renovation decisions in plain language.
How we build the calculators
- The method is on the page. Each calculator page shows the formula it uses and a worked example you can check by hand.
- Assumptions are stated. Waste allowances, coverage rates and product yields are listed next to the result, and most can be changed to match your product.
- Sources are linked. Where a figure comes from a manufacturer’s data sheet, a building code or a government source, the page names and links that source. Where we could not find a published figure, the page says so and asks for your supplier’s number instead of guessing.
- Results are checked. Calculators are tested against hand-worked examples before they are published and whenever they change.
- US and metric units. Every calculator works in both, and remembers your choice on your device.
What our calculators are for
They give planning estimates for buying materials and comparing options. They do not replace measuring on site, a manufacturer’s installation instructions, an engineer, or approval from your local building department. Our Disclaimer explains the limits in more detail.
Corrections and suggestions
Calculator pages show when they were last updated. If you find a mistake, a figure that has changed, or a calculator you would like us to add, please send us a message. We correct errors on the page itself.