Read latest news, blog and feature articles in the residential construction industry. HousingZone.com serves the business information needs of residential construction professionals, specifically home builders, remodelers, architects, exterior-replacement contractors, kitchen and bath specialists and many more. It is the parent portal for Professional Builder, Professional Remodeler, Custom Builder and Housing Giants magazines.
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Calculates the volume of sand, gravel, topsoil, and crushed stone in cubic yards, U.S. tons, and metric tons. Just enter the length, width, and thickness of the project area and the tool quickly calculates the amount of material required for the job.
Sherwin-Williams adds another digital tool for design professionals with the launch of the STIR magazine iPad app. The free tablet app was created to help designers and architects easily access color and design content, including color-trend stories, innovative project features, product and technology news, and interviews with creative professionals.
This color-matching app allows users to quickly and easily match hues with more than 1,500 Sherwin-Williams colors. Browse existing images or snap a new photo, scroll to locate the matching color, and ColorSnap will display the closest Sherwin-Williams color and coordinating palette.
Translate any sentence or phrase into any destination language with this iPad app. Features include history tracking, search, and integrated Twitter/Facebook/SMS/e-mail support. The ad-free Pro version includes text-to-speech function.
Research and purchase over 100,000 products directly from The Home Depot — from your iPad or Android device. Features include an inventory check at local stores, aisle location, in-store maps, how-to videos, and store locator.
This app allows users to quickly calculate the amount of sod (by the roll or skid) required for a job. Simply enter the length and width of the project area and the tool kicks out an estimate in seconds.
This app calculates quantities of concrete and rebar required for any concrete-pad project. It also calculates material cost and waste, and allows users to instantly email estimates to team members and clients.
The BLANCO mobile color app allows users to coordinate BLANCO’s SILGRANIT® II sinks with various countertop stones. Users can evaluate the appearance of the sinks paired with different countertops, and add their own countertop selections to the app (on the device only) by capturing images using the device’s camera. Favorite combinations can be added to a list and emailed to others. The user can also locate their nearest BLANCO dealer with the app’s Store Locator function.
There are five tools in this carpenter tool kit: plumb bob, surface level, bubble level bar, steel protractor, and steel ruler. Once calibrated, the plumb bob and levels can also be used as an inclinometer by reading the angles on the screen.
Similar to Intuit's GoPayment, this app allows users to quickly process and confirm credit-card payments with their tablet or smart-hone device. Square provides a free credit card reader that connects with the mobile device. Users are charged 2.75 percent per swipe.
Based on the dimensions of the project, this app will calculate the number of roofing shingles, squares, and bundles for a given job. Users can also customize calculations with material costs, waste overage percentage, labor costs, and other miscellaneous costs.
Punch in the dimensions of any room and the price per gallon and this app will instantly calculate the cost for the painting project. Users can add the cost for a second coat or painted ceiling with a tap of the screen. The app also allows users to quickly adjust the price per gallon and paint coverage.
With the tap of the screen, users can quickly locate a certified green contractor in their area. This app also includes a carbon-footprint calculator and a green-building guide supported by the NAHB Research Center with information on green-building products and technology.
For users of Procore construction project management software, this app allows on-the-go access to their Procore account. Users can create and manage punch-list items, access contact data, share and store project photos, log timecard entries, and manage construction schedules, RFI's, submittals, change orders, and more.
The Viega Radiant Estimator App is the must-have tool for every heating and cooling professional. Easy to navigate and simple to use, the Viega Radiant Estimator App provides the material quantities you need to correspond with general installation data such as square footage and tubing size.
This tool includes a host of reference materials, including product catalogs, brochures, presentations, case studies, and videos on Integrity’s Ultrex fiberglass windows and doors.
Quickly and easily calculate material quantities, costs, and allowances. Work in and convert between feet, inches, fractions, yards, and metric — includes a full user’s guide built in. Created by Calculated Industries, originator of the award-winning Construction Master calculators.
iOS, Android, Windows Mobile
The Sterling Plumbing Catalogs app provides you access to Sterling Plumbing’s interactive digital publications. The application’s bookshelf allows you to see all of the current pieces of literature neatly organized in one area.
You can instantly stream a piece a catalog to start interacting right away or decide to download publications for use offline where ever to you go. You can flip through the pages, pinch to zoom and search directly on your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch.
This construction calculator can perform normal and unit calculations, as well as advanced calculations like pitch, rise, run, and diagonal. Also available in a “professional” version that contains a memory bank.
Unlike typical calculators, QuickCalcs displays both the numbers being entered and the answer, instantly and at all times. This reduces the chance of errors due to mistakes while entering the numbers.
