There are lots of factors to keep in mind when you’re making any upgrade to your living space. Most importantly: How much material do you need for your project?
Thankfully, you don’t have to be a professional or a mathematician to figure that out.
Home improvement calculators are designed to take the guesswork out of supply shopping so you can easily figure out how much you’ll need for nearly any project in and around your home. These tools are meant to help you estimate, so always allow room for error. You can find these free calculators on home improvement store websites like Home Depot and Lowe’s, but there are plenty of other options across the internet.
How Much Paint Calculator
Whether you’re moving in, moving out or just looking for a refresh of your space, painting the walls is a simple way to make a change. Paint calculators make it easier to know how much you should buy and can give you an idea of how long it might take to paint the space.
According to Lowes, paint is usually applied at 350-400 square feet per gallon. The amount you need can also depend on the brand of paint you use and whether you are using a primer. Another factor is the application method and surface condition, according to Sherwin–Williams.
To get an idea of what your room needs, find a paint calculator on home improvement store websites or on the websites of specific paint brands.
Home improvement store calculators may only offer the option to calculate paint for an interior space, while Sherwin-Williams offers options for a quick calculation, a custom calculation, and one for your deck. Behr offers options for interior and exterior paint, wood stains and floor coatings.
Mulch Yard Calculator
Home Depot and Lowes offer free mulch and soil calculators on their site that can help you get your order right.
The calculators use the square footage of the area and type of mulch to help you calculate how much you’ll need. If you don’t know the square footage of your area, they can calculate it for you.
The sites also provide you with additional resources, like tips on the best mulch for your yard, what kind of mulch you should buy, how to mulch your yard and other garden ideas.
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- Watering can: 2-Gallon Watering Can with Removable Spout and Stainless Steel Sprinkler Head
Flooring Calculator
There are also calculators to help you determine what you’ll need for an array of different flooring projects.
A simple web search or visit to your go-to home improvement store’s site can help you find:
- Carpet measurement calculators.
- Concrete calculators.
- Decking calculators.
- Laminate flooring calculators.
- Paver calculators.
- Tile flooring calculators.
- Vinyl flooring calculators.
- Wood flooring calculators.
Home Improvement Calculators
The calculators don’t stop there. You can find them for so many projects, whether you’re renovating, repairing or building from scratch.
Before you begin your next project, look for calculators for:
- Countertops.
- Cabinets.
- Drywall.
- Fencing.
- Grass seed.
- Insulation.
- Rafters.
- Retaining walls.
- Siding.
- Wallpaper.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Online calculators for your next DIY home project
Reporting by Cody Godwin, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Read the full article here
