Board Feet vs. Linear Feet: Lumber Pricing Explained and How Not to Overpay
Understand the difference between board feet and linear feet in lumber pricing. Learn how to calculate board feet, avoid pricing mistakes, and protect your margins.
Latest from FieldLab
News, tips, and insights for tradespeople.
Conduit Fill Mistakes Electricians Make and How to Avoid NEC Violations
Learn the most common conduit fill calculation errors and how proper sizing prevents code violations, overheating, and expensive call-backs.
EV Charger Installation: Circuit Sizing, NEMA Standards, and NEC 625
Complete guide to residential EV charger installation. Learn circuit sizing, NEMA 14-50 vs hardwired, load management, and NEC Article 625 requirements.
Gas Line Sizing for Residential Homes: BTU Method and Longest Run Approach
Complete guide to sizing residential gas lines using BTU ratings, the longest run method, and common appliance load tables. Avoid undersized lines and pressure drop.
IRC Stair Code Requirements Simplified: Rise, Run, Handrails, and Headroom
Complete breakdown of IRC stair code: riser height, tread depth, handrail requirements, headroom, and guardrails. Avoid costly framing mistakes.
Pipe Offset Angles: Cheat Sheet for Common Standard Angles
Quick reference guide for pipe offset multipliers, shrink calculations, and travel distances at standard 22.5°, 30°, 45°, and 60° angles.
How to Read and Use Span Tables: Species Groups, Load Conditions, and When to Upsize
Comprehensive guide to understanding span tables for lumber and beams. Learn how to read deflection limits, species groups, load conditions, and design conservatively.
Why Construction Apps Charge Subscriptions: The Economics Behind the Shift
Understand why construction app developers moved to subscription models, what it costs them, and why FieldLab chose one-time purchase instead.
Framing Math: The Calculations Every Carpenter Should Know
The essential math calculations for framing carpenters — stair layout, board feet, stud spacing, roof pitch, and rafter length. Formulas, worked examples, and when to use a calculator.
How to Calculate Voltage Drop: The Complete Guide for Electricians
Step-by-step guide to calculating voltage drop in electrical circuits. Covers the VD = (2 × K × I × D) / CM formula, NEC requirements, wire gauge selection, and worked examples.
NEC 2026: What Changed for Electricians
A practical overview of the key changes in the 2026 National Electrical Code and what they mean for working electricians. No legalese — just what you need to know on the job.
Pipe Offset Math Explained: Standard and Rolling Offsets
How to calculate pipe offsets for 45°, 22.5°, and other angles. Covers the travel and run formulas, rolling offsets, and visual diagrams for pipefitters and steamfitters.
The Real Cost of Construction Master Pro's Subscription
Construction Master Pro now costs $19.99/month — $240/year for the same calculator that used to cost $24.99. Here's what that means for your wallet and what your alternatives are.
Why Your Trade Calculator Shouldn't Need WiFi
Trade calculators should work in basements, crawl spaces, and rural job sites with no cell service. Here's why offline-first design matters for construction apps.
Why FieldLab Will Never Charge a Subscription
Trade calculators compute the same formulas they computed 30 years ago. We believe you should buy a tool once and own it. Here's why FieldLab apps will always be one-time purchases.