Workshop-Tested
Tool & Appliance Reviews
Real tools, tested results. Honest home improvement and power tool reviews by a licensed contractor with 14 years of hands-on experience. No sponsored picks. No filler.
14+
Years Experience
100%
Independent
7+
Products per Guide
0
Sponsored Picks
Expert Reviews
Browse by Category
Hands-on buying guides across 9 home improvement categories.
Laundry & Appliances
Washers, dryers, dishwashers, and stackable units
Vacuums & Floor Care
Cordless vacuums, robot vacuums, shop vacs, and steam mops
Outdoor Power Equipment
Pressure washers, leaf blowers, lawn mowers, and chainsaws
Kitchen Tools & Fixtures
Knife sets, electric kettles, faucets, and kitchen essentials
Power Tools & Workshop
Drills, saws, oscillating tools, and workshop essentials
Home Air & Filtration
Air purifiers, dehumidifiers, humidifiers, and space heaters
Grooming & Personal Care
Electric toothbrushes, razors, clippers, and trimmers
Lighting & Electrical
LED shop lights, work lights, garage lighting, and electrical fixtures
Painting Supplies
Paint sprayers, rollers, brushes, drop cloths, and prep equipment
Free for DIYers
Free Tools by Jake
Interactive calculators and estimators built by a licensed contractor. No signup, no ads.
Stair Calculator
Riser height, tread count, total run, stringer length and the framing-square cut layout from one measurement — plus a pass/fail check against every IRC stair rule, the stringer throat, and how many stringers your width needs. Printable cut card, embeddable widget.
Open tool Materials & estimatingDrywall Mud Calculator
How much joint compound, tape, and screws you need — sized by GA-214 finish level (1–5), the lever every other calculator ignores. Room size, square footage, or sheet count; buckets to buy, printable shopping list, embeddable widget.
Open tool Materials & estimating2x4 Actual Size — Lumber Dimension Chart
The real, dressed size of any 2x4, 2x6, 4x4, 1x board, or 5/4 decking — in inches, fractions, and millimeters — with a to-scale cross-section, board feet, estimated weight, and a printable nominal-vs-actual reference PDF.
Open toolLatest Guides
Recently Published
Our newest product reviews and buying guides.
7 Best Washer Dryer Combos of 2026
Jake Morrison, a licensed general contractor, reviews the 7 best washer dryer combos — compact, ventless all-in-one units that wash and dry in a single drum on a standard 120V outlet.
7 Best Cordless Vacuums for Pet Hair of 2026
Jake Morrison, a licensed general contractor, reviews the 7 best cordless vacuums for pet hair — from Dyson's anti-tangle V15 to budget-friendly options that handle shedding without breaking the bank.
7 Best Electric Toothbrushes of 2026
Jake Morrison reviews the 7 best electric toothbrushes — from budget sonic picks under thirty dollars to premium smart models with AI tracking and app connectivity.
7 Best Cordless Drills of 2026
Jake Morrison, a licensed general contractor, reviews the 7 best cordless drills for every budget and skill level — from compact 20V kits to professional brushless powerhouses.
10 Best Garbage Disposals of 2026: A Contractor's Picks by HP, Brand, and Sink
Jake Morrison, Licensed General Contractor, ranks the 10 best garbage disposals of 2026 — with picks by horsepower, brand, and septic compatibility, plus a real install-vs-plumber reality check no other roundup covers.
11 Best Sump Pumps of 2026: A Licensed GC's Picks by HP, Basement, and Backup
Jake Morrison, Licensed General Contractor, ranks the 11 best sump pumps of 2026 — with picks for basements, heavy rain, battery and water-powered backup, pedestals, and crawl spaces, plus the sizing and check-valve advice other roundups skip.
Your Reviewer
Jake Morrison, Licensed General Contractor
Jake Morrison has spent 14 years in residential construction and home renovation before founding DIYRated in 2026. After helping hundreds of homeowners choose the right tools and materials for their projects, he started writing the product guides he wished existed when he was starting out. Jake tests every major product recommendation in his workshop in Indianapolis and focuses on real-world performance over spec-sheet marketing.
Full bio & methodology