5 Home Improvement Apps for Android

In April, we listed some good iPhone apps for construction and remodeling. The smaller app market for Android gadgets also has some helper tools for home improvement and landscaping work. Here are our five favorite Android apps for home improvement. Visit the Android Market on your Android device to buy the applications.

Drywall Calculators

This 99-cent application helps you determine the square footage of a space, then estimates the number of drywall panels you will need. The tool is simple enough for DIYers but adequately equipped for professionals.

The same company, Polyclef Software, makes similar concrete and asphalt calculators, and FeetCalc, which helps you with all those fractions and annoying base-12 calculations for feet and inches. Polyclef also has a Dunkin Donuts locator application if you need breakfast before starting the drywall job.

Electrical Wiring Pro

Before I get blamed for a house fire, let me stress that this application is only for professionals or DIY electric experts who understand the National Electric Code and are very comfortable with wiring projects. You can use to calculate ampacity, voltage drop, box fill, GEC and EGC size, and much more. A free version is available, but the full $3.99 version has four times as many functions, and the company promises free upgrades as it expands the application.

Landscaper's Companion

This $6.99 application is essentially a plant encyclopedia on your phone. It offers photos and information for more than 1,500 plant species, including water usage, gardening tips, size and sun needs. You can also just browse the pretty pictures when you are bored.

Checkmark

This personal organizer isn’t technically a home improvement app, but there’s no better way to procrastinate on a to-do list than reorganized the to-do list. Plus, as the name suggests, you get the satisfaction of putting checkmarks next to items. You can sort and categorize items in a number of ways, and email tasks.

A free version with plenty of features is available. The full version costs $1.99, and includes my favorite feature, a hierarchical checklist structure so you can list the individual tasks in a larger project.

Whiteboard Pro

This 99-cent application is another tool that isn’t specifically designed for home improvement, but would be handy at Home Depot. It turns your phone into a whiteboard so you can draw your project and dimensions, then take it with you to show a salesperson what you need. 

There are five home improvement helpers for your Android smartphone. Finally, if your remodel requires some gently used furniture or appliances, check out the free Garage Sale Rover. It gives you turn-by-turn directions to garage sales listed on Craigslist.