Press kit

Resources for journalists, podcasters, and editorial writers covering home improvement, DIY, real estate, indie software, or sustainability. Everything below is free to use with credit. For a tailored quote on a specific story, contact hello@blueprintcalc.com.

One-paragraph site description

Blueprint Calc (blueprintcalc.com) is a free online suite of 12 home improvement calculators — paint, concrete (slab, footing, bag), mulch, drywall, deck, tile, gravel, asphalt, stone, BTU/AC sizing, roofing, and window replacement cost. Each calculator outputs not just a single number but a complete materials shopping list with quantities and direct retailer product links. Launched in April 2026, the site differentiates from larger general-purpose calculator sites (Calculator.net, OmniCalculator, Inch Calculator) by focusing exclusively on home improvement and serving the in-store / on-site moment with mobile-first design and signup-free access.

Founder bio (50-word version)

Shahzeb Khan is the founder of Blueprint Calc (blueprintcalc.com), a free online platform with 12 home improvement calculators. The site helps DIYers and homeowners avoid over-buying or under-buying materials by giving exact quantities with shopping lists. Based in Pakistan, serving a US audience.

Founder bio (100-word version)

Shahzeb Khan is the founder and developer behind Blueprint Calc (blueprintcalc.com), a free online toolkit of 12 home improvement calculators — paint, concrete, deck, mulch, drywall, tile, gravel, asphalt, stone, BTU/AC sizing, roofing, and window replacement cost. The site is built for DIYers and homeowners who want exact materials lists rather than vague estimates: every calculator outputs not just "how much" but the full shopping list (sheets of drywall, gallons of paint, bags of concrete) with the math shown. Khan is a software engineer by trade who built the site after over-buying paint himself one too many times.

Story angles we can speak to

• The hidden cost of materials over-buying for DIYers. Industry data + our usage data shows DIY homeowners over-buy by 15-25% on average — typically $50-300 wasted per project. Concrete and drywall are the worst offenders.
• Why Manual J BTU sizing matters and most homeowners get it wrong. Oversized AC short-cycles, removes heat without removing humidity, and leaves rooms feeling clammy.
• Bagged vs ready-mix concrete: when each makes sense. The 1-cubic-yard breakeven, common DIY mistakes, fence post math.
• Composite vs pressure-treated decking: total cost over the lifetime. PT cheaper upfront, composite breaks even by year 12-15.
• The math behind paint coverage that most calculators ignore. Surface absorption variance, sheen impact, primer assumptions.
• Building a DIY calculator suite as a software engineer. Domain research, formula validation, monetization model — fits "tech-meets-trades" stories.
• Indie software development across borders. Pakistan-based developer building for the US DIY market — tooling, monetization paths, and the cross-border indie experience.

Headline stats

• 12 free home improvement calculators
• Mobile-first design, signup-free, no email gate, no paywall
• ~95-98 Lighthouse scores on every calculator page
• Industry-standard formulas (ACI, ASHRAE Manual J, manufacturer coverage charts)
• Built with Astro + Tailwind on Cloudflare Pages — fully static, fast worldwide
• Launched April 2026

Quotables (use freely with attribution)

"Most paint calculators online overlook two critical inputs: the number of coats actually needed for the chosen sheen + paint type, and the surface absorption — a freshly skim-coated wall drinks 25-40% more paint than a previously painted one."

"The bagged-vs-ready-mix breakeven for most homeowners sits right around 1 cubic yard. Below that, bagged Quikrete makes sense — about 60 80-lb bags per yard, around $400. Above 1 yard, the convenience and cost of a ready-mix truck wins."

"Materials waste is the #1 hidden cost of DIY — a typical over-buying rate of 15-25% means $50-300 wasted per project, never returned, often dumped. Right-sizing materials at purchase is the single highest-leverage waste-reduction move a homeowner can make."

"The single biggest mistake homeowners make with AC sizing is oversizing — a too-large AC short-cycles, removes heat without removing humidity, and leaves the room feeling clammy. The Manual J standard is roughly 20-30 BTU per square foot in a moderate climate, not the 40-50 BTU per square foot most homeowners assume."

Calculator coverage

The 12 calculators currently live on the site:

• Paint — Gallons of paint and primer for any room.
• Drywall — Full material list for any room.
• Tile — Tile count, boxes, thinset, grout, spacers.
• Mulch — Yards, bags, and bulk delivery estimate.
• Gravel — Tons, cubic yards, and bags for any fill.
• Stone — Yards, tons, and bags for decorative stone.
• Asphalt — Tons of hot-mix asphalt for any paved area.
• Concrete — Yards, 60 lb and 80 lb bags, or ready-mix truck.
• Deck — Boards, linear feet, fasteners, and cost.
• Windows — Cost estimate to replace windows by count, type, and market.
• Roofing — Squares of shingles, bundles, underlayment, nails, and cost.
• BTU / AC — BTU capacity for cooling or heating any room or whole house.

Logos and imagery

For PNG / SVG logos, headshots, and screenshots suitable for print or web, email hello@blueprintcalc.com. Typical turnaround is 24 hours.

Suggested interview questions

• What inspired you to build this?
• How is this different from Calculator.net or OmniCalculator?
• What's the biggest mistake homeowners make with materials estimating?
• Do you have a favorite calculator on your site?
• What's the math people get wrong most often?
• How do you keep the calculators accurate as industry standards change?
• What's coming next?

Republishing and citation policy

You can quote up to 100 words from any page on the site with attribution and a link to blueprintcalc.com. For longer republication, email hello@blueprintcalc.com.

Contact

Editorial questions, interview requests, story tips, fact-checks: hello@blueprintcalc.com. We respond within 24 hours.