USEFUL APPS

Fraction Calculator Plus

There are many calculator apps, but few try to make all the clicking and “fraction stuff” efficient and easy. See how they have three different key pads? It’s quite slick and it can be used for more than just construction and workshop

EWP 2014 (Electrical Wiring Pro)

EWP has packaged over 40 Electrician Calculator and Tool apps into one. For a jack-of-all-trades remodeler, or of course any electrician or DIY’er, this app proves extremely handy. Calculations are per National Electrical Code 2014, 2011, 2008 or 2005. Residential/load calculations include single and multi family and range calculations. It can do a lot more, although it appears an older version suffered from a lot of bugs.

Joist

This estimator app helps you save time and win more jobs – add in some of your commonly used materials and labor rates and you can quickly build estimates and invoices. Complete your work at the jobsite or in your truck, no more backlog of paperwork haunting you at the office!

HOVER

(not to be confused with the drone app)

The almighty cell phone camera strikes again. What would we do without it? Design and measure any home in minutes- Take a few photos from the HOVER App and via the cloud, HOVER’s patented algorithms create an interactive 3D model within 24 hours. 24 hours

zlien

Let’s face it, it doesn’t matter how many customers your have, if they aren’t able to pay up when invoice time comes around, well… zlien is leading the pack across various industries for protection again every business-owners’ personal nemesis, non-payment. zlien is lien rights made easy. Subcontractors, material and equipment suppliers, GC’s and more use the service. Fuel your AR by managing notices and lien waivers across your entire project portfolio. You have enough to manage, let zlien save you time, stress, and money. This one’s a no-brainer for sure!

The Family Handyman DIY Tip Genius

For decades, Readers Digest’s Family Handyman Magazine has been a source of advice for conscientious homeowners. This app, curated from the magazine’s troves of back issues, is full of tips, tricks, and ideas for people looking to make their dwelling a tidier place. From building and remodeling to lawn and garden, there’s a wide range of content to draw from. Or, you could pull tips at random to gradually become the master of your domain. But be advised, this free app is just a small taste of the full maintenance tips here. So don’t hesitate to invest $5 in the “pro” version of the app, which has more home improvement ideas than you’ll know what to do with.

Home Styler Interior Design

For a lot of people, seeing is believing. That means when it comes time to make a radical change to their place, they’re going to have doubts until they get a visual. This app, made possible by one of the most powerful 3D-rendering engines on the market, puts professional-level graphics right on your smartphone. It works by starting with a snapshot of your space. Then, you can browse from thousands of design products to see how they’d look in your space. You can also use it to find an interior designer in your area to help guide your tastes, or you can flip through other users’ concepts to get more inspiration for your own home.

Thumbtack

Sometimes projects can get out of control, or you simply need a helping hand to add the finishing touches. Thumbtack connects users to a network of professionals who submit bids for work. Reviewed by other Thumbtack users, this network of professionals is available across all 50 U.S. states, making Thumbtack an excellent resource for DIYers ready to throw in the towel. And with a wide array of contractors available on the service — including music teachers, yoga instructors, and event planners — there’s even the possibility for some personal improvement when your home job is done.

Sun Seeker App

Are you remodeling a house, perhaps installing new windows, and wonder where the sun will be mid-summer? Look no further because here is the app for you! I’m sure there are a lot of designers and photographers out there who appreciate this one as well.

iHandy Carpenter

Five professional must-have tools in one handy app: plumb bob level, surface level, bubble level, ruler and protractor. They say it’s the lightest, prettiest and handiest, and they are right. The graphics look great on this one. And, why download five apps when you can have a multi-tool such as iHandy Carpenter?

Home Design 3D

Here’s a fun one, Architecture software for planning your remodeling project. Expensive, more complicated options exist, but this is a great app for communicating floor plan and room layout. Easy sharing, easy to learn.

Market Sharp

Do you feel like your management processes are a bit dated? Time to leave the land of the dinosaurs perhaps? Market Sharp, like BuilderTREND, gives you the tools to get organized, grow sales, and work less. Market Sharp includes Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and operations management functionality for remodelers, contractors or home service professionals. Take your business to the next level, from lead generation to final invoice, with this web-based software.

Renoworks Pro

This software falls into the “disruptive tech” category and every single general contractor and remodeler should sign up for a quick demo immediately. If you can color between the lines, you can figure out how to use this app. The basic gist is that you upload a photo of the home, trace around different parts of the home with easy to use tools (roofing, siding, windows, etc), and insert real building products on the photo from over 250 manufacturer catalogues. Homeowners get to see the before and after photos before committing to the job. It makes decision making far easier than sifting through swatches and trying to visualize it yourself.

How Your House Works

Many homeowners — especially younger ones — have little idea how the various systems in their houses actually function. That’s a curious thing, especially since most of that technology has been around for decades. This informative app is overflowing with everything from air conditioning to plumbing know-how. It’s w2ritten by home improvement experts, backed with easy-to-follow illustrations, fully searchable by keywords, and loaded with tips on keeping your appliances running smoothly. Pair the $2.99 cost with a little bit of elbow grease, and this app has the potential to save you thousands of dollars on contractor costs.