aking on a home project can be a challenging and
rewarding experience. If you have tackled this
type of task before, it can be downright daunting.
Fortunately, a variety of applications are available
to help alleviate anxiety and move your renova-
tion toward a fun and satisfying conclusion.
The tools and materials you’ll need will depend on the
scope of your endeavor. Finding the right app for the job is
equivalent to fi nding the right tool in the physical world; there
are so many that identifying the right one can be a challenge.
Fortunately, I’ve tested a diversity of apps and will share a
handful here that can help make your next home-
improvement effort a success.
Measure twice, cut once, and mount straight is the motto
for any successful home-improvement project. To that end, one
of the simplest yet most effective tools in any carpenter’s tool-
box is a ruler, followed closely by a level. Having these items
is a necessity, yet it’s easier to use a tool that’s always with
you—your iPhone. The developers at iHandy came to the same
conclusion, which is why their iHandy Carpenter app ($1.99) is
quite handy indeed. The program provides an on-screen level,
ruler, protractor, and plumb bob to ensure you can make perfect
measurements and alignments. If something doesn’t look quite
right, check it using the iHandy Carpenter app instead of hunt-
ing down that level you stashed in the garage.
Another helpful applica-
tion is Double Dog Studios’
Home Improvement Calcs
($1.99). This program offers a
collection of over 250 useful
and nicely formatted calcu-
lators for home building and
maintenance tasks. You don’t
need to be a math major or a
contractor to use these tools,
either. You’ll fi nd a number of
area, volume, and angle cal-
culators; exterior and interior
building materials; electrical
conversions; cost estimators;
framing and lumber; HVAC;
and yard areas. The app
has been updated regularly,
though the interface has yet
to take full advantage of the
screen real estate on the
iPhone X and later (fi gure 1).If you’re planning an expansion, you can use Sensopia’s
Magicplan (free) to draw out or scan in (via the app’s Aug-
mented Reality camera tool) fl oorplans of your existing struc-
ture and generate 3D models (fi gure 2). You can further edit
the plans on your phone or tablet or export them via a number
of popular fi le formats. The app comes with over a thousand
objects such as doors, windows, stairs, appliances, and
cabinets to more clearly visualize your future abode. While
Magicplan’s base app is free, consider the company’s $9.99/
month subscription plan for access to its more sophisticated
features.
If you’re interested in altering the interior of an existing
structure, such as updating your bathroom or kitchen, and
don’t want to go to the trouble of measuring the rooms by
hand, Locometric’s RoomScan Pro ($8.49/year) offers several
fl exible options. The easiest way is to use the application’s
augmented reality 3D plan generator (fi gure 3). Like most AR
apps, the camera can be fi nicky and require additional mea-
surements once the base is done. However, for quick scans
and a collection of general ideas, it’s a fast way to get started
on your project. Another option is to touch the walls with your
iPhone and have RoomScan Pro estimate measurements for
you. The third and most accurate approach is using an external
Bluetooth laser. While typical homeowners will rarely use this
Figure 1 option, professional contractors may fi nd it invaluable for fl oorFigure 2 Figure 3UPGRADE YOUR SPACE
HOME-IMPROVEMENT APPS TO TRY THIS WINTER
BY MIKE RILEY
T