Terms of use
Last updated
The short version: PencilSum is free to use. The results are careful estimates, not quotes or professional advice: check them, get quotes, and follow your local building code. Ads and partner links are always labeled.
Who we are
PencilSum (pencilsum.com) is run by Junayd, an individual based in the UK. Contact: [email protected]. By using the site you agree to these terms.
What the calculators are
The calculators give estimates from published formulas, manufacturers' figures, building codes and dated national price surveys. Every page shows its working and its sources. They are a planning aid, not a quote, a design, or professional, legal or financial advice.
Disclaimer
- Estimates, not guarantees. Real quantities depend on your site, your measurements and how the job is done. We round quantities up and add extra where the source advises it, but check before you order.
- Prices change. Cost figures are national ranges with the date we checked them. Your area, your house and the contractor all move the price. Always get written quotes.
- Building codes vary. We cite the model code (for example, the International Residential Code), but your local code and building department decide what's allowed where you live. Check with them before you build.
- Safety and structure. For anything structural, load-bearing or safety-related, follow the manufacturer's instructions and have a licensed contractor or engineer check it.
- We're not contractors or engineers. We work hard to keep every figure correct and dated, but we can't promise the site is free of errors or always available. If you find an error, please tell us.
Our responsibility to you
We provide PencilSum free of charge and "as is". As far as the law allows, we're not responsible for losses that come from relying on an estimate, such as ordering too much or too little material, or a job costing more than a range. Nothing in these terms limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, for fraud, or for anything else the law doesn't allow us to limit. These terms don't affect your legal rights as a consumer.
Ads, affiliate links and partner offers
PencilSum earns from affiliate links and partner offers, which are always labeled. Partners are separate businesses with their own terms. We don't control their products, prices or service. Money never changes our numbers.
Using our content
You're welcome to:
- use the calculators;
- print your results;
- share links to any page.
Please don't:
- copy the site's text, data or design to publish elsewhere;
- use automated tools in a way that slows the site down for others.
Changes and law
We may update these terms; the date at the top shows when. These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales. If you live elsewhere in the UK, you can also use your local courts.