About BuildSums
BuildSums is an independent UK website of calculators for home improvement, DIY and small building jobs. It isn’t linked to any merchant, manufacturer or government body.
Who runs it
Jo Penhale, editor
Jo Penhale is the pen name of the independent editor who runs BuildSums. Jo builds the materials and energy calculators, checks coverage and quantity figures against merchant and manufacturer data, and updates energy prices when the Ofgem price cap changes.
Jo isn't a structural engineer, gas engineer or electrician. Get structural, gas and electrical work designed and done by qualified people.
Why it exists
Most materials calculators either sit on a merchant’s site and stop at their own products, or use US units and figures. BuildSums uses UK products, UK merchants’ units and UK sources, and shows the working so you can check it.
How the calculators are checked
Each calculator lists the merchant, manufacturer or official source behind its figures and shows its working, so you can check the sums yourself. We'd like a tradesperson to review the calculators too, and will name them here if one does.
How the site is paid for
The calculators are free. The site may show adverts in future, and if we ever link to a product or service that pays us, we’ll say so next to the link.
Contact us with questions or corrections.