Editorial Policy

BuilderCal publishes free estimating tools and practical planning guidance. Our standard is not “a number on screen”; it is a result whose formula, assumptions, limits, and source context a user can inspect.

Accuracy and clarity

Each calculator must identify the dimensions it expects, keep unit conversions consistent, avoid hidden product-specific claims, and round purchasable items upward. If a result depends heavily on density, package coverage, waste, or product configuration, that value should be editable or the limitation should be prominent.

Sources

We prefer first-party technical data from manufacturers, government measurement guidance, recognized industry associations, and model-code publishers. Sources support the assumption they are attached to; they do not imply that an organization endorses BuilderCal. A manufacturer source for one product is not generalized to all products in the category.

Review dates

Tool pages display a reviewed date. A review means the calculation logic, explanatory copy, links, and stated limitations were checked. It does not mean every external product specification will remain unchanged. Users should rely on the current package or data sheet for the product they are buying.

Independence and advertising

Advertising may support the operating cost of the site, but ads do not determine calculator results, source selection, or editorial conclusions. Advertising is visually separated from controls and results. BuilderCal does not accept payment to change a formula or present a supplier value as a universal standard. Any future sponsored content or affiliate relationship will be labeled where it appears.

Responsible scope

We do not present planning calculators as engineering, architectural, legal, or code advice. Content must distinguish material arithmetic from design decisions. Safety-critical topics include reminders to consult plans, manufacturer instructions, local building officials, or licensed professionals as appropriate.

Originality and usefulness

Guides are written to answer a planning problem, show a usable process, and connect the explanation to the calculator inputs. We avoid publishing many near-duplicate pages that merely replace a material name. New pages should add a distinct calculation, decision framework, worked example, or reference users cannot already obtain from an existing page.

Corrections

Reproducible calculation errors are prioritized over cosmetic requests. Material corrections are documented on the corrections page. Minor grammar, styling, and broken-link fixes may be made without a separate log entry. Reports can be sent to support@buildercal.com.