How it works

MyBuildPlanner turns a handful of dimensions into a complete build package. Behind every planner is a single, shared project engine: each builder is just a configuration that declares its inputs, its calculation rules, and the products and answers that go with it. That’s why the Deck Builder, Fence Builder and Raised Garden Bed Builder all feel consistent and all produce the same kind of thorough, printable output.

When you change an input, the engine recomputes the entire package in your browser — materials, hardware, the grouped shopping list, tools, a cost range and a realistic build time. There’s no spinner and no server round-trip, so refining a plan feels like using desktop software rather than filling out a form.

Quantities follow standard construction practice and real stock sizes: members are spaced on center, coverage is rounded up to whole lengths, and a waste allowance you control is added on top. Span-sensitive choices, like joist size for a given spacing, come from conservative residential span guidance, and the tool flags when a span pushes past a sensible limit.

Costs are built line by line from national-average prices, then shown as a range rather than a single false-precision figure. The breakdown is itemised by category so you can see exactly what’s driving the total and adjust. It’s a materials estimate for a DIY build — it doesn’t include labor, delivery, tax or permit fees.

These planners are decision tools, not stamped engineering. They’re excellent for scoping a project, budgeting, comparing materials and writing a shopping list. They are not a substitute for your local building code, a permit, or a professional’s review on anything structural. Always confirm footings, spans, setbacks and attachment details before you buy or build.

On the roadmap: saved projects and accounts, full PDF export, more builders across decks, fencing, concrete and masonry, and locale-aware pricing. The architecture is already built to support them.