Project guides
Plain-English explanations of how to measure, estimate and budget, written to go hand in hand with our calculators.
Decks
How Much Deck Stain Do I Need? Coverage, Coats and Margin
A practical guide to estimating deck stain: measuring every surface, why coverage varies by wood, how many coats to plan, and gallons vs. 5-gallon pails.
Read guide 8 min readDeck Cleaners by Material: Wood, Composite and PVC
Which deck cleaner suits your decking? Oxygen cleaners, strippers, brighteners and composite cleaners explained, with a material compatibility table.
Read guideFlooring
How to Measure a Room for Flooring (and How Much Waste to Add)
Measure any room for flooring step by step: sketching rectangles, closets and thresholds, choosing a waste allowance by layout, and converting square feet to boxes.
Read guide 8 min readFlooring Cost Breakdown: Every Line in a Real Budget
What a new floor actually costs beyond the sticker price: underlayment, trim, removal, subfloor prep, labor, tax and contingency, plus questions to ask installers.
Read guidePainting
How Much Paint Do I Need? Walls, Openings, Coats and Coverage
Calculate how much paint a room needs: measuring walls, subtracting windows and doors, reading coverage on the can, one coat vs. two, primer and ceilings.
Read guide 7 min readInterior Painting Budget: Paint, Supplies, Prep and Labor
Build a complete interior painting budget: paint and primer, a full supplies checklist, prep and repairs, questions for painters, and the DIY vs. hire trade-off.
Read guide