FAQ
The most common ConstructionPal questions — price, trial, unlock, accuracy, devices, privacy, and what version 1 does and doesn't do.
Frequently asked questions
The most common questions about ConstructionPal — answered.
Price, trial, and the unlock
How much does ConstructionPal cost?
Nothing to download. ConstructionPal is free on the App Store and comes with a 14-day trial where everything works. After the trial, a one-time $2.99 purchase unlocks starting new calculations, forever. No subscription, no monthly or yearly fee.
What happens when the 14-day trial ends?
Your projects, history, and subtotals stay exactly where they are — visible, exportable, and deletable. A notice on the calculator says the trial ended and names the unlock price. Only starting a new calculation asks for the unlock.
I reinstalled the app — do I pay again?
No. ConstructionPal is a free download tied to your Apple ID. If you bought the unlock, Restore Purchase in Settings brings it back. Your old measurements depend on your iCloud device backup, but the purchase itself is always restorable.
Does my family have to buy it too?
No — Family Sharing is enabled. One $2.99 purchase covers the family group.
Are there ads? A subscription? An account?
No, no, and no. One payment, no repeat charge, no ads, nothing to sign up for.
Accuracy and math
How exact is "exact"?
Dimensions are computed as exact fractions (rational arithmetic), not decimal approximations. Rounding happens once, at display, to your smallest-fraction setting. The stored value is never the rounded value.
Why does the answer show a fraction AND a decimal?
So you never have to convert. 7/16″ and 0.4375″ describe the same exact value; showing both means the tape, the plans, and the calculator always agree.
What's the smallest fraction I can use?
1/32″. Steps are 1/2″, 1/4″, 1/8″, 1/16″ (the default), and 1/32″. Decimal inches go to four places.
Can I mix feet/inches with metric?
Yes — 2 m + 6′ 3″ computes directly. Pick imperial or metric for the result.
Devices and offline
iPhone or iPad?
Both. iOS 17 or later. iPhone is portrait-first; iPad layout adapts, including standard popovers for purchase and share sheets.
Does it work without signal?
Entirely. Every calculation, project, and setting works offline — basements, new builds, rural sites. The only things needing internet are the App Store purchase flow and feedback you choose to send.
Data and privacy
Where do my measurements go?
Nowhere. They stay on your device. No account, no analytics, no ads, no TLC Designs server. See Data & privacy.
Can I delete everything?
Yes — delete projects individually, clear history, or use delete-all-data in Settings for a full wipe. There is no server copy.
Scope
Does it do takeoffs and estimates?
It accumulates project subtotals and keeps history you can export into your estimate — but it is not a bidding suite. It does math, not pricing.
Does it draw plans or do CAD?
No. It answers dimension questions: arithmetic, area, volume, triangles, board feet, circles. The drawing stays in your other apps.
Which units are supported?
Imperial feet/inches (fractional to 1/32″, decimal to four places) and metric metres/centimetres/millimetres — including mixed expressions.
Help
Something's wrong — what do I do?
Check Troubleshooting first, then reach us through Support or Feedback. The diagnostics report in Settings speeds things up and never includes your measurements.
Can I request a feature?
Please do — Feedback, category "Feature request". We read everything.