Real Projects, Real Results
Anonymized case studies showing how homeowners and contractors used Rough Estimator to get accurate material quantities and save money.
How a Phoenix Homeowner Saved $200 on a Concrete Patio by Running the Numbers First
A first-time DIYer in Phoenix used the concrete and gravel calculators before heading to the hardware store — and caught a critical base-layer requirement that saved a second trip and $200 in over-ordered materials.
Saved ~$200 on materials and avoided a second hardware store trip by calculating both the gravel base and the concrete slab in one session.
Read storyCedar vs. Pressure-Treated: How a Seattle Homeowner Made the 10-Year Call
A Seattle homeowner pricing a 16×12 deck used the deck and lumber calculators to compare PT and cedar side by side. The numbers confirmed cedar cost 30% more upfront — but would likely outlast PT by a decade in the Pacific Northwest.
Chose western red cedar over PT after a clear cost-per-year comparison. Confident purchase with no contractor markup.
Read storyFrom Quarts to Five-Gallon Buckets: A Chicago Condo Repaint That Saved One Trip
A Chicago condo owner repainting 1,400 sq ft of interior walls used the paint calculator to discover five-gallon buckets cost 25% less per gallon than quarts, and the drywall calculator to size a small patch repair accurately.
Switched to 5-gallon buckets, saving ~$60 on paint. Accurate drywall patch quantity meant one hardware store run instead of two.
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