About

Yardstick is a small set of calculators for home and garden projects, built by Jan Noguer Reixach for people who would rather measure once and buy the right amount the first time.

Why these calculators exist

Most project calculators stop at a single number. A trip to the lumber yard needs more than that: the board lengths that waste the least, how many bags fit the budget, and whether the plan meets the code before you cut anything. Each of the 8 calculators here aims to give you that buying list and a drawing to check it against.

How the calculators are checked

• Every page shows its formulas and a worked example, so you can verify the result with a pencil.
• The calculations live in one shared code library with automated tests. Each test compares the code against an answer worked out by hand, including edge cases such as boards that need ripping and posts shared at corners.
• Code limits and product figures come from primary sources, such as the code text or the manufacturer's product data, and each page lists them.
• Each page shows the date it was last reviewed. When a source changes, the calculator and the page are updated together.

What the results are and are not

The results are estimates for planning and ordering materials. They do not replace a building permit, an engineer or the installation instructions for the product you buy. Coverage per bag or bundle varies by brand, so check the label and change the inputs to match. Structural parts of a project, such as joist and beam sizes, footings and stair geometry, must meet the code your local building department enforces.

Corrections

If a result looks wrong, please get in touch with the inputs you used. Confirmed errors are fixed on the page and in the test suite, so they stay fixed.