With the new Materials Calculators, homeowners can estimate the quantity of drywall, paint, roofing, wallpaper, ceramic tile or concrete they will need. Detailed instructions show how to properly measure each dimension, educating homeowners about the nuts and bolts of remodeling and making it easy for even home improvement novices to get an accurate estimate. For example, the Roofing Materials Calculator makes it easy to estimate the surface area of any roof, regardless of slope or shape. ImproveNet shows homeowners three different ways to determine the roof pitch, which the calculator converts to a percentage for determining the total area.
Homeowners simply supply the pitch and nominal square footage to get the result.
The calculators also make allowances for waste, adding appropriate percentages to prevent homeowners from under-estimating their total needs. ImproveNet's calculators differ from the materials estimators found on other home-related sites in that they are designed to educate homeowners about their anticipated projects, in addition to providing cost estimates. The Materials Calculators follow ImproveNet's introduction of its Kitchen and Bath Estimators, which help homeowners experiment with design and product choices to find creative ideas that fit their budgets. ImproveNet's visualizers expand on the estimators with floor plan wizards that provide modifiable 2D and 3D views of their projects. Its online services are complemented by personal assistance from a professional staff of Personal Project Advisors and Regional and Area Managers who offer support throughout each phase of the home improvement process.