TradesThe other guys give you a number
Most trade calculators do one thing. You type in a few figures, they hand back a single answer, and you are left to work out whether it is the right call, what the alternatives were, and what you gave up to get it. On a real job that is only half the work. The number is easy. The decision is the hard part.
TradesWorkbench is built around the decision. You put in your conditions and constraints, the load, the run, the space, the climate, the code that applies, and you get back a recommendation with the reasoning, the options you did not pick, the tradeoffs between them, and what would change the answer. You can stand behind the call and explain it to whoever asks.
What a decision engine does
Each tool here is a decision engine, not a calculator. It takes your inputs, weighs the real options against each other, and returns four things a bare number leaves out.
- A clear recommendation, the size or the option that fits your conditions.
- The alternatives, laid side by side so you can see what else was on the table.
- The tradeoffs, what each option costs you in money, labor, performance, or space.
- A Decision Record you can copy, print, or share, so the reasoning travels with the answer.
How it is built
The reference figures behind every engine are researched against an authoritative source, cross-checked, and locked into an automated test before the tool ships. The math is a tested function, not a number typed into a page. Sources are cited on each engine so you can check the work. When the inputs are not enough to give a real answer, the engine says so instead of guessing.
Everything runs in your browser. There is no account, no sign-up, and nothing to install. It works on the phone in your pocket on the jobsite as well as it does at a desk.
What it is not
These are planning tools. They do not replace a licensed professional, a permit, or an inspection, and they do not certify code compliance. For anything structural, life-safety, or permit-bound, the engine is a starting point that shows you the shape of the decision, and the final call belongs to a qualified pro and your local code.
Browse the tools on the engines page, or read the full disclaimer.