Have you ever begun a DIY project and found your knowledge lacking? I imagine we all have when we start asking questions like how do I square up a frame or how many bags of cement and sand will I need to make a concrete base.

It would seem an impossible task to remember the formulas to answer these types of questions. You could of course go find an internet connection and start searching for the answers but there is a better solution.

Mobile phone apps can be downloaded onto a smartphone and this phone, and the information contained within the app, can then be with you no matter where you are and an internet connection is not needed.

A good (no-cost) DIY app will contain all of the formulas and conversions that you may need so let us take a look at a few of the very best, of which I have personally tested to ensure that they can be used and understood by the DIY enthusiast. I have tried many, ditched many and kept just a few!

The Best DIY Apps

HandyMate LITE

This is a superb DIY app that is simple to use yet smart enough to assist the professional builder.

• Estimating materials – This is absolutely fantastic! If you are about to start a tiling project then this feature will work out how many tiles are needed including a percentage of wastage for mishaps! This tab within the DIY app also includes estimators for working out how much paint, carpet, decking, roof tiles, plaster and timber may be needed to complete popular DIY projects.

• Unit Convertor – It’s amazing that even today imperial and metric measurements are still used in the same countries so this feature will convert inches to centimeters, kilos to pounds and much more. In the UK this is really handy as the young use metric whilst the middle aged and above use imperial. Perfect for father and son projects!

• Builders Tools – I love this! I mentioned earlier about making a concrete base and this feature, once a few dimensions are entered, will tell you how many bags of cement and sand are needed along with the amount of hard core (gravel) and even the number of liters of water required. There are many other tools to explore here covering all things from concrete ramps to the spacing of balusters on a staircase.

Handyman calculator

Another superb option for those considering DIY apps is the Handyman Calculator and this covers many other areas of DIY that HandyMate LITE doesn’t.

• Wallpaper Calculator – Simple yet so useful this tool takes into account the dimensions of four walls, pattern repeat, and the sizing of the wallpaper itself to let you know how many rolls to buy.

• Brick Calculator – Another great DIY tool for calculating the number of bricks needed in a wall. The best bit though is that you can enter the measurements of non-bricked areas such as doors and windows to get an accurate result.

• Laminate Flooring Calculator – Just enter the dimensions of the room in question as well as the number of square meters in a pack and this builder’s tool will calculate how many packs to buy as well as the cost for the project.

There are many other calculators in this app that are perfect for the DIY enthusiast on topics such as grass seed, decking, roof rafters, electrics and water flow.

Builders Apps

Any builder, homeowner or DIY enthusiast will enjoy these mobile phone apps that can be downloaded with no charge. Download them both and you will have a comprehensive toolbox at your side that will save time and reduce mistakes.