Disclaimer
Effective Date: October 21, 2026
Last Updated: October 21, 2026
ARTICLE 1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Operator. The website known as Home & Yard Calcs and located at homeandyardcalcs.com (the “Site”) is owned and operated by Home & Yard Calcs (the “Operator,” “we,” “us,” or “our”).
1.2 Incorporation. This Disclaimer applies to all calculators, estimators, span and spacing references, converters, and other tools (collectively, “Tools”) and to all articles, explanations, tables, data, and other materials (together with the Tools, the “Content”) made available on the Site. This Disclaimer is incorporated into and forms part of the Home & Yard Calcs Terms of Use, available at /terms/ (the “Terms”). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Disclaimer have the meanings given to them in the Terms.
ARTICLE 2. ESTIMATES ONLY
2.1 General Informational and Planning Purposes. All Tools and Content are provided for general informational and planning purposes only. They are intended to help you prepare a preliminary estimate of the materials a home project may require, and they are not a substitute for project-specific design, professional advice, or the requirements of your local building authority.
2.2 Results Depend on Inputs and Stated Assumptions. Results produced by the Tools are estimates only. They are based solely on the measurements and other information you enter and on the assumptions, formulas, default values, and rounding conventions stated on the relevant page. Inaccurate or incomplete inputs, or assumptions that do not match your project, will produce inaccurate results.
2.3 Actual Material Needs Vary. Actual material requirements may differ materially from any estimate because of, among other things, waste, cutting and breakage, overlap, spillage, compaction and settlement, uneven or sloped surfaces, excavation variances, surface texture and porosity, the number of coats applied, the actual dimensions and coverage of the specific products you purchase (which may differ from nominal dimensions), and other site conditions. Please review the assumptions, sources, and “last updated” date shown on each page.
2.4 Buy Extra and Verify. You should purchase a reasonable allowance for waste and verify quantities, product dimensions, coverage rates, and suitability with your supplier or the product manufacturer before ordering.
2.5 No Guarantee of Accuracy. Although the Operator endeavors to keep the Content accurate and current, the Operator makes no representation or warranty that any Tool, result, or Content is accurate, complete, reliable, current, or suitable for your project. Any action you take, or decline to take, on the basis of the Tools or Content is strictly at your own risk.
ARTICLE 3. NOT PROFESSIONAL ADVICE; NO PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP; AUTHORSHIP
3.1 Not Professional Advice. Nothing on the Site constitutes professional engineering, structural, architectural, contractor, construction, code-compliance, or legal advice, and nothing on the Site constitutes a design, plan, specification, or certification for any project.
3.2 No Professional Relationship. The Operator is not acting as, and does not hold itself out as, a licensed professional engineer, architect, contractor, building inspector, or attorney in connection with the Site. No professional-client, fiduciary, or other confidential or special relationship is created by your use of the Site or by any communication with the Operator.
3.3 Author Byline. Content on the Site is published under the author byline “Drew Kessler,” a pen name used by the Site’s team. The author does not claim, and the Site does not represent that the author holds, any trade, contractor, engineering, architectural, or other professional license or credential. The Content is based on stated methods, standard calculation approaches, and cited sources, which are identified on the relevant pages wherever practicable.
3.4 Consult a Professional. You should consult a qualified, licensed professional regarding your specific project before relying on any Tool or Content.
ARTICLE 4. BUILDING CODES AND PERMITS
4.1 Requirements Vary by Jurisdiction. Building codes, zoning rules, permit requirements, and inspection requirements vary by state, county, and municipality, and may be amended at any time. Homeowners association rules and deed restrictions may impose additional requirements.
4.2 Your Obligation to Check. Before starting any work, you should check the building codes that apply at your project location and obtain all required permits and inspections.
4.3 Authority Having Jurisdiction. Your local building official or other authority having jurisdiction is the final word on what is required for your project. In the event of any conflict between the Content and the requirements of the authority having jurisdiction, the requirements of the authority having jurisdiction control.
ARTICLE 5. INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE REFERENCES
5.1 IRC References. Certain Tools, including those relating to deck joist spacing and span and to retaining wall height thresholds, reference or summarize tables and provisions of the International Residential Code (the “IRC”).
5.2 Edition Referenced. Unless a Tool states otherwise, the IRC edition referenced on the Site is the 2024 International Residential Code. Local jurisdictions adopt different editions of the IRC, adopt local amendments, or do not adopt the IRC at all, and the edition and amendments in force at your project location may differ from those referenced on the Site. You must therefore check with your local building department to determine the code requirements that apply to your project.
5.3 Simplified Summaries. Any summary of IRC tables or provisions on the Site is simplified for general reference, may omit footnotes, exceptions, and conditions, and is not a substitute for the text of the code adopted in your jurisdiction.
5.4 Span and Spacing Assumptions. Span, spacing, and similar figures assume specific lumber species, grades, sizes, and moisture conditions; specific live, dead, and snow loads; specific support and connection conditions; and the absence of concentrated loads (such as hot tubs, planters, or roof structures), each as stated or referenced on the relevant page. If your project does not match those assumptions, the figures do not apply.
5.5 No Affiliation. The Site is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by the International Code Council, Inc. (the “ICC”). “International Residential Code” and “IRC” are trademarks of the ICC.
ARTICLE 6. STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS AND ENGINEERING
6.1 Structural Elements. Decks, retaining walls, and other structural or load-bearing elements can fail and cause serious injury, death, or property damage if improperly designed or built. Such elements should be designed or reviewed by a licensed professional engineer, and should be built in accordance with the code and permit requirements of the authority having jurisdiction.
6.2 Retaining Walls. Any retaining wall that exceeds the height at which the applicable code requires engineering design, or that supports a surcharge (such as a driveway, structure, or sloped backfill) or is located near a property line, structure, or slope, should be designed by a licensed professional engineer. The Tools do not perform structural design.
ARTICLE 7. CALL 811 BEFORE YOU DIG
Before any excavation, including digging for footings, posts, or retaining wall bases, you should contact 811 (https://call811.com) to have underground utility lines marked. Contact 811 at least a few business days before you dig, as required by the law of your state. Striking an underground utility line can cause serious injury, death, service outages, and liability for repair costs.
ARTICLE 8. SAFETY
Home projects involve inherent risks, including risks arising from power tools, heavy materials, chemicals, excavation, heights, and electrical and other utilities. You should follow all manufacturer instructions and labels, use appropriate personal protective equipment, and follow recognized safety practices. If you are not confident that you can perform any work safely and correctly, you should consult a qualified, licensed professional or engineer.
ARTICLE 9. ADVERTISING DISCLOSURE
The Site is, or may be, supported by advertising. When advertising is enabled, advertisements may appear on the Site, served by third parties including Google, and the Operator may receive compensation when advertisements are displayed or clicked. Advertisers do not determine or influence the results of any Tool. The appearance of any advertisement on the Site does not constitute an endorsement, recommendation, or guarantee by the Operator of any advertiser, product, or service, and the Operator is not responsible for the content of advertisements or for the products or services offered by advertisers. For information about how advertising on the Site uses, or may use, cookies, please see our Privacy Policy.
ARTICLE 10. USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TOOLS
Portions of the Content may be drafted with the assistance of artificial-intelligence tools. All such Content is reviewed by the Operator before publication. The use of such tools does not alter the estimates-only nature of the Tools described in Article 2, and every limitation set forth in this Disclaimer and in the Terms applies in full to such Content. If you believe you have found an error, please notify us at cosmodromedigital@gmail.com.
ARTICLE 11. EXTERNAL LINKS
The Site may contain links to third-party websites, including cited sources, code and safety resources, manufacturers, suppliers, and advertisers. Such links are provided for convenience only. The Operator does not control, endorse, or assume responsibility for the content, accuracy, or practices of any third-party website, and your use of any third-party website is at your own risk.
ARTICLE 12. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
THE TOOLS AND CONTENT ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE,” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE OPERATOR SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE OF ANY KIND ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF, OR RELIANCE ON, THE SITE, THE TOOLS, OR THE CONTENT, INCLUDING ANY COST OF EXCESS OR INSUFFICIENT MATERIALS, PROPERTY DAMAGE, OR PERSONAL INJURY. THE DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES, LIMITATION OF LIABILITY, AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE TERMS APPLY TO YOUR USE OF THE SITE AND ARE INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE.
ARTICLE 13. CHANGES TO THIS DISCLAIMER
The Operator may amend this Disclaimer at any time by posting the amended Disclaimer on the Site and updating the “Last Updated” date above. Your continued use of the Site after such posting constitutes your acceptance of the amended Disclaimer.
ARTICLE 14. CONTACT
Questions concerning this Disclaimer, or reports of a possible error in any Tool or Content, may be directed to the Operator by electronic mail at cosmodromedigital@gmail.com.
Effective Date: October 21, 2026
Last Updated: October 21, 2026