How to use Construction tools

Get started

1. 1

   Find a calculator and choose its layout

   Pick a calculator on the start page, or search for it. The groups run from concrete and framing to walls, floors, roofs, earthwork and layout. Change the layout with ⋮ › Screen layout: Drawn, List and forms, or the Job calculator.

Measure

2. 2

   Enter dimensions and material sizes

   Tap a value and type it on the keypad. In feet and inches use ′ and ″ and the fraction keys, as in 20′ 6 1/2″; holding Delete clears it. Choices such as the bag or sheet size sit above the drawing.

3. 3

   Build a shopping list

   What to buy draws each thing as it looks in the shop, with the code to look for on its label; tap one with a card to see what its label says. Add to shopping list collects them by shop area, to tick off as you buy, share or send to To-do.

4. 4

   Estimate the room’s materials

   Rooms work out a room’s flooring, paint, drywall and baseboard at once, and keep the paints used there with a photo of the tint sticker.

5. 5

   Follow a job guide

   Guides walk through a job step by step with drawings of the work, open the tool or calculator a step needs, and tick off each step as you go. Jobs that need a licensed pro, such as mains wiring or gas, have no steps.

6. 6

   Set units and default sizes

   ⋮ › Units switches every calculator and room between metric and feet and inches, and ⋮ › Sizes and units sets the sizes new calculators start with.

Calibrate

7. 7

   Consult material and size references

   The book in the top bar opens reference pages: lumber, bricks, nails and screws drawn to scale (tap one to see it at its true size), drill bits, wall plugs, standard heights, doors, paint labels and colour codes, the codes on materials, stair rules and more.

Guided tour

Try these steps in the app. All tour instructions stay readable here.

1. 1

   Find a calculator and choose its layout

   Pick a calculator on the start page, or search for it. The groups run from concrete and framing to walls, floors, roofs, earthwork and layout. Change the layout with ⋮ › Screen layout: Drawn, List and forms, or the Job calculator.

2. 2

   Enter dimensions and material sizes

   Tap a value and type it on the keypad. In feet and inches use ′ and ″ and the fraction keys, as in 20′ 6 1/2″; holding Delete clears it. Choices such as the bag or sheet size sit above the drawing.

3. 3

   Build a shopping list

   What to buy draws each thing as it looks in the shop, with the code to look for on its label; tap one with a card to see what its label says. Add to shopping list collects them by shop area, to tick off as you buy, share or send to To-do.

4. 4

   Estimate a room and consult references

   Rooms work out a room’s flooring, paint, drywall and baseboard at once, and keep the paints used there with a photo of the tint sticker. The book in the top bar opens reference pages: lumber, bricks, nails and screws drawn to scale (tap one to see it at its true size), drill bits, wall plugs, standard heights, doors, paint labels and colour codes, the codes on materials, stair rules and more.