Plan the job before you shop.

Choose a project to see what to measure, how the quantity is worked out, and what to check before you start.

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Showing 22 projects

Paint

Interior room paint

Add the wall areas, subtract doors and windows you will not paint, multiply by the number of coats, then divide by 400 and 350 square feet per gallon to show a planning range.

Paint

Ceiling paint

For each rectangular ceiling section, multiply length by width, add the sections, multiply by coats, and divide by the cited 400-to-350-square-foot coverage range.

Paint

Exterior siding paint

Measure each exterior face, subtract large unpainted openings, multiply by coats, and divide by the general exterior range of 400 to 250 square feet per gallon.

Paint

Kitchen cabinet paint

Measure each painted face, include both sides only when both will be coated, sum the areas, multiply by coats, and run that net area through the interior paint range.

Concrete

Bagged concrete slab

Multiply slab length, width, and thickness in compatible units, add any user-selected allowance, divide by the selected bag yield, and round up to whole bags.

Concrete

Bagged concrete footing

For equal rectangular footings, multiply length × width × depth × footing count, then divide the adjusted volume by the selected bag’s cited yield and round up.

Concrete

Concrete post-hole fill

Use the diameter and fill depth from the actual post detail. If holes vary or a post displaces concrete, calculate those groups separately instead of treating every hole as the same cylinder.

Concrete

Concrete step volume

Model each solid rectangular portion as length × width × height, add the portions without overlap, divide by the selected bag yield, and round up.

Insulation

Attic insulation top-up

Inspect for moisture, air leaks, wiring, fixtures, and suspect insulation before adding anything. Once those issues are clear, match the needed R-value to an exact AttiCat label row.

Insulation

Attic insulation inspection

Identify the insulation, measure depth at several representative points without compressing it, note uneven or wet areas, and use the official estimated R-per-inch value only as a screening estimate.

Insulation

Attic air sealing

Inspect and address accessible air leakage and moisture pathways before adding insulation, while preserving required clearances, ventilation, and combustion safety.

Insulation

Attic hatch insulation

Calculate hatch panel area as length × width and sealable perimeter as 2 × (length + width); use those separate quantities to select label-compatible insulation and weather-sealing materials.

Drywall

Drywall panel planning

Start with an area estimate, then draw the sheet layout before you buy. Seams, openings, and offcuts can require more panels than the area calculation alone suggests.

Drywall

Drywall joint compound

USG gives a reference of about two 4.5-gallon pails per 1,000 sq ft of board for the named product. Check the actual joints, bead, fasteners, and finish level before buying.

Deck

Deck board planning

Start with the deck dimensions from your plan, then use the actual board face width and required gap to lay out rows. Measure finish area only for the faces the chosen coating requires.

Deck

Deck finish planning

Inspect the structure and wood condition first. Then measure only the faces the finish instructions tell you to coat and use the spread rate on that product’s label.

Home safety

Lead-safe renovation check

Do not start dust-producing work on suspect older paint until you have followed the applicable lead testing, certification, containment, cleanup, and verification requirements.

Home safety

Asbestos renovation check

You cannot identify asbestos by appearance alone; if renovation may disturb suspect material, stop and arrange qualified assessment or testing under the rules that apply to the property.

Home safety

EPA says a moldy area smaller than about 10 square feet can often be handled by a homeowner. Get the relevant professional guidance for larger areas, sewage, HVAC contamination, major water damage, health concerns, or recurring moisture.

Home safety

Canadian mould cleanup scope

Health Canada treats up to three patches with a total area no more than 1 m² as small, more than three patches or a patch over 1 but under 3 m² as medium, and a single patch over 3 m² as large and requiring professional assessment and cleanup.

Home safety

Flood cleanup plan

Before cleanup, screen electrical, structural, sewage, chemical, and combustion hazards; then inventory affected materials and begin safe drying promptly under current EPA or Health Canada guidance.

Home safety

Radon test plan

Test rather than guessing: EPA says testing is the only way to know a home’s radon level, while Health Canada calls for a long-term measurement of at least 91 days to estimate an annual average.