Decks, Fences & Roofing

How Much Concrete Do You Need Per Fence Post?

Plan for 1–2 bags of 50 lb fast-setting concrete per fence post, depending on hole size.

How Much Does a Fence Cost? (Per Foot, by Material)

A fence costs about $15–$60 per linear foot installed, depending on material. Wood runs $15–$45/ft, vinyl $25–$60, chain link $10–$25. Full price breakdown.

Vinyl Fence Cost (Per Foot & Installed, 2026)

Vinyl fencing costs about $25–$60 per linear foot installed — roughly $15–$30/ft in materials plus labor. Cost by style, height, and DIY vs. pro.

Standard Fence Height (and Local Height Limits)

Backyard fences are typically 6 ft and front-yard fences 3–4 ft. Most cities cap front fences at 4 ft and back/side at 6–8 ft. Check setback and code rules first.

How Many Fence Pickets Do I Need?

Pickets = fence length in inches ÷ (picket width + gap). A 100 ft solid fence of 5.5 in pickets needs ~218 boards. Board-on-board needs roughly double.

Fence Post Spacing (How Far Apart, Depth & Size)

Space fence posts 6–8 ft apart on center. Set them at least one-third of their length deep and below the frost line. Posts = sections + 1, plus gate and corner posts.

Types of Fences: Styles, Materials & Costs Compared

Compare wood, vinyl, chain link, aluminum and composite fences — plus privacy, picket, board-on-board and split-rail styles — by cost, privacy and maintenance.

Fence Estimate Template (Free, with a Sample Quote)

What a fence estimate should include, a sample line-item quote by the foot, and a free tool to build and download a fence estimate or quote as a PDF.

How to Measure Roof Pitch (3 Easy Methods)

Measure roof pitch with a level and tape, from inside the attic on a rafter, or from a photo. Here's how to find the rise-over-12 and convert it to degrees.

Roof Pitch Chart: Angle, Degrees & Slope Multiplier

A roof pitch chart converting common pitches (1-in-12 to 12-in-12) to degrees, grade percentage and the slope/rafter multiplier for figuring roof area.

How Long Does a Roof Last?

An asphalt-shingle roof lasts 15–30 years; metal 40–70; tile and slate 50+. A lifespan chart by roofing material, plus what shortens it.

How Many Shingles Do I Need? (Bundles & Squares)

Roofers buy shingles by the square (100 ft²) and the bundle (1/3 square). Divide roof area by 100 for squares, then ×3 for bundles, + 10–15% waste. Chart by roof size.

How Much Does a New Roof Cost?

A new asphalt-shingle roof costs about $5,500–$16,000 installed, or $450–$750 per roofing square. A cost breakdown by material and roof size.

How Much Does a Metal Roof Cost?

A metal roof costs about $8–$16 per square foot installed — roughly $12,000–$24,000 for a typical 1,500 ft² roof. A cost breakdown by panel type.

Roofing Estimate Template (Free, with a Sample Quote)

What a roofing estimate should include, a sample line-item quote by the square, and a free tool to build and download a roofing estimate or quote as a PDF.

Standard Stair Dimensions (Rise, Run & Code)

Standard stairs use a 7–7.75 in riser and a 10–11 in tread. Here are the IRC rise and run limits, headroom, width and the 2R+T comfort rule.

How to Calculate & Cut Stair Stringers

Lay out a stair stringer with a framing square: mark the rise and run for each step, account for the first-riser drop, and cut from a 2x12. Step-by-step.

How Many Deck Boards Do I Need?

Count deck boards: rows = width ÷ (board + gap), then × length for linear feet, + 10% waste, ÷ board length. Includes a boards-per-deck chart.

Deck Joist Spacing (12, 16 or 24 Inches?)

Deck joist spacing explained: 16 in on center is standard, 12 in for diagonal or stiffer decks, 24 in only with rated composite. Span and o.c. basics.

Cost to Build a Deck (Per Square Foot, 2026)

A deck costs about $25–$70 per square foot installed — pressure-treated $25–$45, composite $40–$70. Material vs labor and project examples.

Deck Estimate Template (Free, with a Sample Quote)

What a deck estimate should include, a sample line-item quote, and a free tool to build and download a deck estimate or quote as a PDF.

How Much Does a Chain Link Fence Cost? (Per Foot)

Chain link fence costs about $10–$25 per linear foot installed — roughly $1,000–$2,500 for 100 ft of 4-ft fence. DIY materials run $5–$12 per foot. Cost breakdown by height and gauge.

How Many Studs Do I Need? (Wall Framing Formula + Chart)

Work out studs for a wall: divide the length in inches by the spacing, round up and add one for the end stud. Plus plate lumber, openings and a quick-reference chart.

Lumber Dimensions Chart (Nominal vs. Actual Sizes)

A 2×4 is really 1½ × 3½ inches. The full nominal-vs-actual size chart for dimensional lumber and boards, why they differ, and the actual sizes of every common size.

How Much Siding Do I Need? (Squares Formula + Chart)

Siding is sold in squares (100 ft² each). Measure your wall perimeter × height, add gables, subtract openings, add 10% waste, divide by 100. Includes a chart and a free calculator.

How Much Does Siding Cost? (2026 Price per Square Foot)

Siding runs about $4–$13 per square foot installed, depending on material. Cost breakdown by type (vinyl, fiber cement, wood, metal), example house costs, and a free calculator.

How to Calculate Rafter Length (Formula, Slope Factor & Cuts)

Rafter length is √(run² + rise²). Find the run, rise and slope factor from your span and pitch, add the overhang, and lay out the plumb and birdsmouth cuts — with a slope-factor chart and a free calculator.

Metal Roof vs Shingles: Cost, Lifespan & Which to Pick

Compare metal roofing and asphalt shingles on cost per square, lifespan, energy, noise and resale — with typical installed prices and a roofing calculator to size your own roof.

3-Tab vs Architectural Shingles: Cost, Lifespan & Looks

Compare 3-tab and architectural (dimensional) asphalt shingles on price, lifespan, wind rating and appearance — with typical costs and a roofing calculator.

Vinyl vs Wood Fence: Cost, Maintenance & Lifespan

Compare vinyl and wood fencing on installed cost per foot, upkeep, lifespan and looks — with typical prices and a fence calculator to estimate posts, rails and pickets.

Composite vs Wood Decking: Cost, Maintenance & Lifespan

Compare composite and wood decking on installed cost per square foot, upkeep, lifespan and looks — with typical prices and a deck calculator to size boards and joists.

Nail & Screw Size Chart (Penny Sizes, Gauges & Uses)

Nail and screw size chart: penny (d) sizes to length, screw gauge to diameter, and which fastener size to use for framing, decking, drywall, subfloor and trim.