BuildBatch

Plan one room with BuildBatch (every option)

plan_room

Read-onlyIdempotent

Works out the whole shopping list for one room, with every option the planner has: exact door and window sizes, a product's own coverage and pack sizes, an L-shaped room, tiling part-way up a wall. Arguments are the named parameters of /plan.json. A job is required. A height left out, where the job needs one, is taken as 2.4 m and the answer states it. Repeated door, window and opening values are arrays. No price is used; price arguments are ignored and named in the answer. Returns a short shopping list: each item with its quantity and reason, and a link to the whole list.

Input Schema

Name	Required	Description
`p`	No	Written by the planner in a sent list link: the day of the shop prices the sender's screen used (YYYY-MM-DD), so that the screen that opens it can say when the prices have moved since. Leave it out of a call.
`t`	No	Written by the planner in a sent list link: the Room Refresh template version the sender's screen used, so that the screen that opens it can say when the figures have moved since. Leave it out of a call.
`bay`	No	A bay on a wall of the rectangle, going out: width x depth @ wall. One a wall.
`job`	Yes	The job. Required. wallpaper is the paint job with papered walls and no ceiling; tiles is the paint job with tiled walls and no ceiling; both is paint and a new floor; paint-carpet is paint and carpet from a roll; skirting is skirting and architrave; groundwork is MOT Type 1 sub-base, gravel, or gravel over Type 1 (groundwork.material).
`area`	No	Loft insulation, concrete, a patio, sub-base and gravel, and a floor (laminate, wood, vinyl planks or floor tiles) only: the floor's area in square metres, up to 900, instead of length and width. How far it is round is then not known: the formwork, the edging or the scotia beading is a check without a length, and new skirting needs the length and width.
`bath`	No	A bath or shower tray: a name (bath-1700, tray-900) or its length along the wall x its rim height x how far it comes into the room, in the units. The wall behind it comes off up to the rim, and its footprint off a floor being laid. The key may be repeated.
`door`	No	One per door, the value repeated for more. A typical size by name (int-762 is a standard internal door) or width x height in the units. *2 after it means two the same.
`have`	No	Line ids, comma separated, to mark Already have before the list is made. The ids are in the answer's lines. Rarely needed.
`loft`	No	Whether the loft insulation uses labelled example figures (quick) or figures measured in the loft and read from the chosen roll (custom). Needed for the keys below to take effect.
`name`	No	What the room is called. Optional. It is carried into the links the answer gives, where the person can also add it themselves.
`need`	No	Line ids, comma separated, to mark Need before the list is made. The ids are in the answer's lines. Rarely needed.
`plan`	No	A room that is not a rectangle: its corners in turn, in metres whatever units says, as x,y pairs separated by ";". Replaces length and width. Up to 24 corners.
`trim`	No	New skirting, architrave or both (skirting,architrave), with any job in a room; a loft floor, a slab and a patio take none. Default skirting for the skirting job, else none.
`board`	No	Whether the plasterboard uses labelled example figures (quick) or figures from the board and system specification (custom). Needed for the keys below to take effect.
`check`	No	Line ids, comma separated, to mark Check first before the list is made. The ids are in the answer's lines. Rarely needed.
`floor`	No	Whether the flooring uses the labelled example figures (quick) or figures read off the pack (custom). Needed for the keys below to take effect.
`paper`	No	Whether the wallpaper is the labelled example roll (quick) or read off the label (custom). Needed for the keys below to take effect.
`patio`	No	Whether the patio uses labelled example figures (quick: a 600 × 600 mm slab, the makers' 10 mm joint, 10% for cuts, a 30 mm bed at 1 : 4) or figures entered from the slab and the guides (custom). Needed for the keys below to take effect. The room is the patio: its length and width, no height.
`units`	No	What length, width, height and the doors are measured in. Default m. In ft write 13ft9in, or 13 for whole feet.
`walls`	No	What the walls get. The job sets it, so it is rarely needed: paint, wallpaper, tiles, board or none.
`width`	No	The other side of the floor, in the units. Not needed when plan is given.
`alcove`	No	An alcove on a wall of the rectangle, going out: width x depth @ wall. One a wall.
`breast`	No	A chimney breast on a wall of the rectangle: width x depth @ wall, in the room's units; the wall is L1, W1, L2 or W2. One a wall.
`carpet`	No	Whether the carpet uses the labelled example roll figures (quick) or figures from the carpet and shop (custom). Needed for the keys below to take effect.
`detail`	No	How much to return. summary, the default: each item with its quantity and reason, what to check first and the list link. full: every line's working, pack breakdown and each shop's search link as well (20 KB or more).
`ground`	No	Whether the floor is on the ground floor. Default unsure. Used by flooring jobs.
`height`	No	Floor to ceiling, in the units. Used when walls are painted, papered, tiled or boarded (paint-carpet too); if it is left out then, a 2.4 m ceiling, a typical UK height, is taken and the answer states it. Not used for flooring, carpet, loft insulation, concrete or skirting alone.
`length`	No	One side of the floor, in the units. A length may carry its own unit (360cm, 4200mm). Not needed when plan is given.
`window`	No	One per window, the value repeated for more. A typical size by name (win-standard) or width x height in the units. *2 after it means two the same.
`ceiling`	No	What the ceiling gets: paint, or board on the plasterboard job, or none. Another word is named in ignored[] and the job's own choice used.
`fitting`	No	How the floor is fitted. Default unsure. Used by flooring jobs.
`lengths`	No	Whether the skirting and architrave lengths are the labelled examples (quick) or the lengths the shop sells (custom). Needed for the keys below to take effect.
`opening`	No	Any other opening to take off the walls (a garage door, an archway), as width x height or a name. The key may be repeated.
`surface`	No	What the painted surfaces are like now. Default sound, the planner's own default. Used by painting jobs.
`concrete`	No	Whether the concrete slab uses labelled example figures (quick) or the thickness decided for the job and figures read off the bag (custom). Needed for the keys below to take effect. The room is the slab: its length and width, no height.
`laystart`	No	Floor tiles, and a patio, given as length and width or a plan (not an area), straight or brick laid: where the laying starts. centre (the middle of the room), corner (whole tiles along two walls) or house (a patio only: whole slabs along the house wall). Left out, the start needing the fewest cuts and tiles is used, or the house wall for a patio against the house; the answer says which and counts that layout.
`subfloor`	No	What is under a new floor. Default unsure. Used by flooring jobs.
`woodwork`	No	Paint jobs only: paint when the woodwork is painted too (this room's doors, their architraves, the windows' frames and the skirting, counted from the doors and windows given and the room's perimeter, in satinwood at a typical coverage). With walls=none and ceiling=none, the woodwork on its own. Left out: not painted.
`loft.over`	No	Thickness in millimetres of a second roll laid across the joists over one layer of the first; optional. With it, the first roll is one layer between the joists and the rest is this roll.
`loft.pack`	No	Square metres covered by one chosen roll or pack; optional for a 100, 150, 170 or 200 mm roll, whose typical coverage (the maker's, as the shops' own listings name it) is used and said so.
`patio.bag`	No	What one bag of cement fills in litres, from the bag; optional. Without it the bags are counted from a typical 17 L a 25 kg bag, said to be typical.
`patio.bed`	No	Depth of the full mortar bed in millimetres, before tamping. The makers' guides give 30 to 40 mm.
`wallpaint`	No	Whether the wall paint uses the labelled example figures (quick) or figures read off the tin (custom). Needed for the keys below to take effect.
`walltiles`	No	Whether the wall tiles are the labelled example box (quick) or read off the box (custom). Needed for the keys below to take effect.
`woodpaint`	No	Whether the woodwork paint (with woodwork=paint) uses the labelled example figures (quick) or figures read off the tin (custom). Needed for the keys below to take effect.
`board.skim`	No	Metres squared one bag of finish plaster covers, from the bag.
`groundwork`	No	Sub-base and gravel: quick, the one value (each layer at the typical depth for its use unless a depth is given, in bags counted from typical figures that name their sources). Needed for the keys below to take effect. The room is the area: its length and width, or area, no height.
`loft.depth`	No	Thickness of one new mineral-wool layer in millimetres, from the chosen roll.
`loft.extra`	No	Percent to add for cuts and fitting.
`newplaster`	No	Painting jobs: is any of it new or bare plaster? yes adds a mist coat of white contract matt on its own line and leaves the sugar soap out; no is a sound painted surface. Left out, the list is a sound room's and its primer line carries the question to ask.
`not-needed`	No	Line ids, comma separated, to mark Not needed before the list is made. The ids are in the answer's lines. Rarely needed.
`patio.bags`	No	How the sand and the sub-base are bought: bulk (bulk bags of about 800 kg) or bags (25 kg bags). Unless given, each comes in 25 kg bags where 20 of them or fewer cover it, and in bulk bags above that; each is counted in whole bags from a typical figure that names its source.
`patio.pack`	No	How many slabs a pack holds, a whole number; optional. With it, whole packs are counted.
`patio.sand`	No	Parts of sharp sand in the bed, by volume. The guides give 3 or 4 to 1 of cement.
`board.extra`	No	Percent to add for cuts. Custom only: with quick the example is used, and a figure sent here is named in ignored[] as not used.
`board.width`	No	Board width in metres. Custom only: with quick the example is used, and a figure sent here is named in ignored[] as not used.
`carpet.step`	No	The step in metres in which the shop sells the cut length.
`floor.depth`	No	Floor tiles: the tile's thickness in millimetres, for the grout. Left out, a typical 10 mm is used and said so.
`floor.extra`	No	Percent to add for cuts. With quick, a figure sent here is used and labelled as the person's; the ones not sent stay the labelled examples.
`floor.grout`	No	Floor tiles: metres squared one bag of grout covers.
`floor.joint`	No	Floor tiles: the joint width in millimetres. With the tile size, the grout is counted by the makers' rule; left out, a typical 3 mm joint is used and said so.
`floor.packs`	No	Metres squared in one pack or box, comma separated for several sizes. A size may carry a price after "@": the price is accepted and ignored. With quick, a figure sent here is used and labelled as the person's; the ones not sent stay the labelled examples.
`floor.tileh`	No	Floor tiles: the other side of a tile, in millimetres (with floor.tilew).
`floor.tilew`	No	Floor tiles: one side of a tile, in millimetres, for a count of tiles (with floor.tileh). Optional; the boxes are still counted by area.
`loft.target`	No	Chosen target insulation depth in millimetres.
`paper.match`	No	How the pattern lines up. straight and half-drop need paper.repeat. unsure, or left out with no repeat, is counted as a straight match with a 64 cm repeat (three drops a roll at an ordinary ceiling), which keeps the rolls from running short; the line names it.
`paper.paste`	No	Rolls one packet of paste does.
`paper.width`	No	Roll width in centimetres. Custom only: with quick the example is used, and a figure sent here is named in ignored[] as not used.
`patio.extra`	No	Percent to add for cuts.
`patio.house`	No	Whether the patio is against the house along one side: yes or no. It decides how many edges the sub-base runs 150 mm past and how much edge restraint is counted. Left out, it is counted as against the house along its longest side, and the sub-base line carries the question.
`patio.joint`	No	Joint width in millimetres. The makers' guides give 10 mm as the minimum.
`patio.width`	No	One side of a slab in millimetres.
`skirtingoff`	No	Flooring jobs: is the skirting coming off, to go back over the new floor's edge? yes leaves the scotia beading out; no counts it in 2.4 m lengths. Left out, the beading is counted and its line carries the question to ask.
`woodsurface`	No	With woodwork=paint: what the woodwork is like now. Default sound (painted before and sound). bare adds a check line for knotting, primer and undercoat; flaking adds the note about old paint.
`board.finish`	No	How the boards will be finished.
`board.fixing`	No	How the boards will be fixed.
`board.layers`	No	Whole layers from the complete system specification. Custom only: with quick the example is used, and a figure sent here is named in ignored[] as not used.
`board.length`	No	Board length in metres. Custom only: with quick the example is used, and a figure sent here is named in ignored[] as not used.
`carpet.width`	No	The fixed width of the carpet roll in metres. Left out with carpet=quick: the standard width (4 or 5 m; 2, 3 or 4 m for sheet vinyl) that needs least roll for the room, said so on the list.
`ceilingpaint`	No	Whether the ceiling paint uses the labelled example figures (quick) or figures read off the tin (custom). Needed for the keys below to take effect.
`colourchange`	No	Painting jobs: is the colour going much lighter or darker? yes adds one coat to the walls. Left out, two coats are counted and the wall paint's line carries the question to ask.
`concrete.mix`	No	Which of the maker's published mixes the cement, sand and aggregate follow: general purpose, paving or foundation. Mixed on site only.
`floor.trowel`	No	Floor tiles: the notched trowel, 6 or 12 (mm). The adhesive is counted from it; left out, the one the adhesive maker's sheet gives for the tile's size (6 up to 300 mm on its long side, 12 above).
`paper.length`	No	Roll length in metres. Custom only: with quick the example is used, and a figure sent here is named in ignored[] as not used.
`paper.repeat`	No	Pattern repeat in centimetres. 0 or left out for none.
`patio.cement`	No	Parts of cement in the bed, by volume.
`patio.covers`	No	Square metres one pack covers, from the pack, for a project pack of mixed sizes; optional, and it beats patio.pack. With it, whole packs are counted by area.
`patio.length`	No	The other side of a slab in millimetres.
`patio.primer`	No	Square metres one tub of slurry primer covers, from the tub; optional. Without it the tubs are counted from a typical 12 m² a tub, said to be typical.
`trim.breasts`	No	How many chimney breasts the new skirting goes round: each adds its two returns. Left out: none.
`walls.length`	No	Paint, tiles or wallpaper on some walls only (a splashback, a shower's walls, a feature wall): the total length of the walls covered, in the units. It replaces the room's perimeter for the paint, the tiles' area and the paper's drops; doors and windows are then not taken off. Left out: all the walls. Sent with a height and with no length, width, plan or area, it is a wall on its own: the room is not needed (walls only: no ceiling, woodwork, floor or skirting).
`concrete.bags`	No	How the sand, aggregate or ballast of a mix on site, and the sub-base, are bought: bulk (bulk bags of about 800 kg) or bags (25 kg bags). Unless given, each comes in 25 kg bags where 20 of them or fewer cover it, and in bulk bags above that; each is counted in whole bags from a typical figure that names its source.
`concrete.step`	No	The step in cubic metres the supplier sells ready-mixed concrete in. Ready-mixed only; optional.
`floor.pattern`	No	How the floor is laid: straight, brick, diagonal or herringbone. A diagonal or herringbone lay takes 15% for cuts where a straight lay takes 10%, unless floor.extra gives another figure. Left out: straight.
`floor.typical`	No	Since template 1.37.0: packs, when floor.packs is one of the typical laminate sizes the planner offers beside its number, so the pack stays a typical figure that names its maker. Leave it out unless the planner wrote it.
`loft.existing`	No	Existing insulation depth in millimetres.
`loft.overpack`	No	Square metres one roll of the second insulation covers; optional for a 100, 150, 170 or 200 mm roll.
`walltiles.box`	No	Metres squared in one box. Custom only: with quick the example is used, and a figure sent here is named in ignored[] as not used.
`board.adhesive`	No	Wall boards one bag of plasterboard adhesive fixes, from its instructions.
`concrete.extra`	No	Percent to add for an uneven base and spillage. With quick, a figure sent here is used and labelled as the person's; the ones not sent stay the labelled examples.
`concrete.yield`	No	Cubic metres one bag makes, as printed on the bag. Bags only. With quick, a figure sent here is used and labelled as the person's; the ones not sent stay the labelled examples.
`floor.adhesive`	No	Floor tiles: metres squared one bag of adhesive covers.
`floor.covering`	No	What the floor is. Default laminate.
`floor.groutbag`	No	Floor tiles: the weight of one bag of grout in kilograms; 5 when left out.
`floor.underlay`	No	Whether underlay is needed.
`groundwork.use`	No	What it is for, which sets each layer's typical depth: path (Type 1 100 mm, gravel 50 mm), driveway (Type 1 150 mm, gravel 50 mm), shed (Type 1 100 mm, gravel 50 mm), border (Type 1 100 mm, gravel 50 mm). Default driveway. Typical figures from makers' and merchants' pages, not a design.
`patio.jointing`	No	Square metres one pail of jointing compound covers at your joint, from the pail; optional. Without it the pails are counted from a typical 7 m² a pail, said to be typical.
`patio.subdepth`	No	Depth of the sub-base under the patio in millimetres, decided for the job; optional. Without it the makers' usual minimum of 100 mm is used, said to be typical.
`wallpaint.name`	No	The name of a coloured wall paint (up to 60 characters), which the shops are searched for. Read with wallpaint.colour=colour only.
`wallpaint.tins`	No	Tin sizes in litres, comma separated, for the wall paint. A size may carry a price after "@": the price is accepted and ignored.
`woodpaint.tins`	No	Tin sizes in litres, comma separated, for the woodwork paint (with woodwork=paint). A size may carry a price after "@": the price is accepted and ignored.
`carpet.covering`	No	What is laid from the roll: carpet (with underlay and gripper) or sheet vinyl (loose laid, taped or glued; no underlay). Sheet vinyl is sold in 2, 3 and 4 m widths; its quick example is a 3 m roll.
`carpet.underlay`	No	Metres squared covered by one chosen underlay roll or pack.
`concrete.supply`	No	bags: bags of dry mix; mix: cement with sand and aggregate, mixed on site; mixed: ready-mixed concrete, delivered by the cubic metre. Mind the two: "mix" is mixed on site, "mixed" arrives mixed. Left out, the planner follows the slab's volume (bags up to 0.25 m³, mixed on site up to 1 m³, ready-mixed above) and the answer says what each of the three ways takes.
`concrete.weight`	No	The weight of one bag in kilograms. Bags only. With quick, a figure sent here is used and labelled as the person's; the ones not sent stay the labelled examples.
`groundwork.bags`	No	How the Type 1 and the gravel are bought: bulk (bulk bags of about 800 kg) or bags (25 kg bags, 20 kg for decorative chippings). Unless given, each comes in bags where 20 of them or fewer cover it, and in bulk bags above that.
`wallpaint.coats`	No	Coats on the tin, for the wall paint. With quick, a figure sent here is used and labelled as the person's; the ones not sent stay the labelled examples.
`wallpaint.extra`	No	Percent to add for waste and touch-ups, for the wall paint. With quick, a figure sent here is used and labelled as the person's; the ones not sent stay the labelled examples.
`walltiles.above`	No	yes when the wall above tiles that stop below the ceiling is painted on the same list; no, or left out, leaves it off.
`walltiles.depth`	No	The wall tile's thickness in millimetres, for the grout. Left out, a typical 8 mm is used and said so.
`walltiles.extra`	No	Percent to add for cuts. Custom only: with quick the example is used, and a figure sent here is named in ignored[] as not used.
`walltiles.grout`	No	Metres squared one bag of grout covers.
`walltiles.joint`	No	The joint width in millimetres. With the tile size, the grout is counted by the makers' rule; left out, a typical 2 mm joint is used and said so.
`walltiles.tileh`	No	The other side of a wall tile, in millimetres (with walltiles.tilew).
`walltiles.tilew`	No	One side of a wall tile, in millimetres, for a count of tiles (with walltiles.tileh). Optional; the boxes are still counted by area.
`woodpaint.coats`	No	Coats on the tin, for the woodwork paint (with woodwork=paint). With quick, a figure sent here is used and labelled as the person's; the ones not sent stay the labelled examples.
`woodpaint.extra`	No	Percent to add for waste and touch-ups, for the woodwork paint (with woodwork=paint). With quick, a figure sent here is used and labelled as the person's; the ones not sent stay the labelled examples.
`carpet.allowance`	No	The trimming allowance in metres, added once to each room measurement.
`carpet.direction`	No	Which way the pile or pattern must run. Not decided lets the planner show the smaller one-piece cut that fits.
`groundwork.depth`	No	Depth of the gravel in millimetres, loose; optional. Without it the use's typical depth is used, said to be typical.
`lengths.skirting`	No	Length the skirting is sold in, in metres. Custom only: with quick the example is used, and a figure sent here is named in ignored[] as not used.
`trim.breastdepth`	No	How deep a chimney breast is, in millimetres. Left out: 350, an example depth, said to be one.
`wallpaint.colour`	No	The wall paint's colour: magnolia, or colour for a colour no partner shop sells (counted in 2.5 L tins and priced only once its price is typed). Left out: white.
`wallpaint.finish`	No	The wall paint's finish. Left out: matt.
`walltiles.height`	No	Metres up the wall the tiles go. Left out: to the ceiling.
`walltiles.reveal`	No	How deep the window reveals are, in millimetres, on walls tiled to the ceiling: the reveals are tiled too. Left out: 150, an example depth, said to be one. 0 leaves them out.
`walltiles.trowel`	No	The notched trowel, 6 or 12 (mm). The adhesive is counted from it; left out, by the tile's size: 6 for a tile up to 600 mm on its long side, 12 for a larger one.
`ceilingpaint.tins`	No	Tin sizes in litres, comma separated, for the ceiling paint. A size may carry a price after "@": the price is accepted and ignored.
`concrete.subdepth`	No	Depth of the sub-base under the slab in millimetres, decided for the job; optional. With it, the sub-base is counted in bulk bags or 25 kg bags from a typical figure that names its source.
`floor.adhesivebag`	No	Floor tiles: the weight of one bag of adhesive in kilograms; 20 when left out.
`groundwork.gravel`	No	Which gravel: shingle (20 mm gravel or shingle, in 25 kg bags or bulk bags) or decorative (decorative chippings, in 20 kg bags or bulk bags). Default shingle.
`walltiles.fullrun`	No	Metres of wall tiled to the ceiling round a bath or shower, with walltiles.height for the rest (a bathroom's two heights). Left out: none.
`walltiles.pattern`	No	How the wall tiles are laid: straight, brick, diagonal or herringbone. A diagonal or herringbone lay takes 15% for cuts where a straight lay takes 10%, unless walltiles.extra gives another figure. Left out: straight.
`ceilingpaint.coats`	No	Coats on the tin, for the ceiling paint. With quick, a figure sent here is used and labelled as the person's; the ones not sent stay the labelled examples.
`ceilingpaint.extra`	No	Percent to add for waste and touch-ups, for the ceiling paint. With quick, a figure sent here is used and labelled as the person's; the ones not sent stay the labelled examples.
`concrete.aggregate`	No	Whether the aggregate is bought as all-in ballast or as sharp sand and coarse aggregate. Mixed on site only.
`concrete.thickness`	No	Slab thickness in millimetres, decided for the job. BuildBatch suggests none. With quick, a figure sent here is used and labelled as the person's; the ones not sent stay the labelled examples.
`lengths.architrave`	No	Length the architrave is sold in, in metres. Custom only: with quick the example is used, and a figure sent here is named in ignored[] as not used.
`wallpaint.coverage`	No	Metres squared covered by one litre in one coat, from the tin, for the wall paint. With quick, a figure sent here is used and labelled as the person's; the ones not sent stay the labelled examples.
`walltiles.adhesive`	No	Metres squared one bag of adhesive covers.
`walltiles.groutbag`	No	The weight of one bag of grout in kilograms; 5 when left out.
`woodpaint.coverage`	No	Metres squared covered by one litre in one coat, from the tin, for the woodwork paint (with woodwork=paint). With quick, a figure sent here is used and labelled as the person's; the ones not sent stay the labelled examples.
`floor.underlay.roll`	No	Metres squared in one roll of underlay.
`groundwork.material`	No	What is laid: type1 (MOT Type 1 sub-base alone), gravel (gravel alone) or both (gravel over Type 1). Default both.
`groundwork.subdepth`	No	Depth of the Type 1 in millimetres once compacted, decided for the job; optional. Without it the use's typical depth is used, said to be typical.
`ceilingpaint.coverage`	No	Metres squared covered by one litre in one coat, from the tin, for the ceiling paint. With quick, a figure sent here is used and labelled as the person's; the ones not sent stay the labelled examples.
`walltiles.adhesivebag`	No	The weight of one bag of adhesive in kilograms; 20 when left out.

Output Schema

Name	Required	Description
`v`	No	The version number of the planner's link and answer format.
`ok`	Yes	true: a list was made. false: the call was refused, and error says why.
`api`	No	Always "buildbatch-assistant".
`ask`	No	When ok is false: the ids of the questions in ask_questions to ask the person, in order.
`more`	No	What plan_room with detail "full" adds.
`next`	No	When ok is false: what to do next.
`room`	No	The room as the planner understood it: a sentence (metres, as worked out), or with detail "full" its areas and lengths.
`error`	No	When ok is false: why the call was refused, as words or as { code, message }.
`first`	No	What has to be in place before the job starts, as toBuy's items: not a thing to buy.
`lines`	No	detail "full": every line with its working, packs, figures and each shop's search link.
`links`	No	What listUrl and startUrl open, in words.
`shops`	No	detail "full": the shops each line's search link goes to.
`toBuy`	No	Each thing to buy, in the order of the list.
`prices`	No	That no price is shown or used in this answer.
`review`	No	How far the figures have been checked: not yet by a tradesperson.
`assumed`	No	What was taken as not given, with the value taken (a missing height is a 2.4 m ceiling).
`figures`	No	What generic, typical and user mean.
`honesty`	No	detail "full": the formulas' versions, how far the figures have been checked, and what the shop links are.
`ignored`	No	Arguments that were not used, with why.
`listUrl`	No	The whole list on buildbatch.co.uk, as a link a person can open.
`notUsed`	No	Arguments that were sent and not used, with why.
`summary`	No	detail "full": the counts and the short list.
`toCheck`	No	Each thing that depends on the person's own job, as toBuy's items, with its question.
`document`	No	"plan-summary" for the short answer; the planner's own name for detail "full" or a refusal.
`problems`	No	When ok is false: each argument that is missing or not understood, with the id of its question in ask_questions.
`startUrl`	No	The planner opened on this room, to change it.
`statuses`	No	detail "full": what each line's status means.
`toAnswer`	No	Questions whose answers would change the list.
`warnings`	No	Warnings that come with the list.
`leftovers`	No	What will be left over once the whole packs are bought.
`understood`	No	detail "full": every argument as the planner read it.
`assumptions`	No	detail "full": what the whole list assumes.
`typicalRoom`	No	When a typical room was used: its id, label and a note that these are not the person's own measurements.
`startUrlNote`	No	What the startUrl link opens.

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

Changed10 schema fields changedNov 2, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / area / description

Previous value: -"Loft insulation, concrete, a patio and a floor (laminate, wood, vinyl planks or floor tiles) only: the floor's area in square metres, up to 900, instead of length and width. How far it is round is then not known: the formwork, the edging or the scotia beading is a check without a length, and new skirting needs the length and width."New value: +"Loft insulation, concrete, a patio, sub-base and gravel, and a floor (laminate, wood, vinyl planks or floor tiles) only: the floor's area in square metres, up to 900, instead of length and width. How far it is round is then not known: the formwork, the edging or the scotia beading is a check without a length, and new skirting needs the length and width."

addedInput schema / properties / groundwork

Added value: +{
+  "description": "Sub-base and gravel: quick, the one value (each layer at the typical depth for its use unless a depth is given, in bags counted from typical figures that name their sources). Needed for the keys below to take effect. The room is the area: its length and width, or area, no height.",
+  "enum": [
+    "quick"
+  ],
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / groundwork.bags

Added value: +{
+  "description": "How the Type 1 and the gravel are bought: bulk (bulk bags of about 800 kg) or bags (25 kg bags, 20 kg for decorative chippings). Unless given, each comes in bags where 20 of them or fewer cover it, and in bulk bags above that.",
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / groundwork.depth

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "Depth of the gravel in millimetres, loose; optional. Without it the use's typical depth is used, said to be typical."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / groundwork.gravel

Added value: +{
+  "description": "Which gravel: shingle (20 mm gravel or shingle, in 25 kg bags or bulk bags) or decorative (decorative chippings, in 20 kg bags or bulk bags). Default shingle.",
+  "enum": [
+    "shingle",
+    "decorative"
+  ],
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / groundwork.material

Added value: +{
+  "description": "What is laid: type1 (MOT Type 1 sub-base alone), gravel (gravel alone) or both (gravel over Type 1). Default both.",
+  "enum": [
+    "type1",
+    "gravel",
+    "both"
+  ],
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / groundwork.subdepth

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "Depth of the Type 1 in millimetres once compacted, decided for the job; optional. Without it the use's typical depth is used, said to be typical."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / groundwork.use

Added value: +{
+  "description": "What it is for, which sets each layer's typical depth: path (Type 1 100 mm, gravel 50 mm), driveway (Type 1 150 mm, gravel 50 mm), shed (Type 1 100 mm, gravel 50 mm), border (Type 1 100 mm, gravel 50 mm). Default driveway. Typical figures from makers' and merchants' pages, not a design.",
+  "enum": [
+    "path",
+    "driveway",
+    "shed",
+    "border"
+  ],
+  "type": "string"
+}

changedInput schema / properties / job / description

Previous value: -"The job. Required. wallpaper is the paint job with papered walls and no ceiling; tiles is the paint job with tiled walls and no ceiling; both is paint and a new floor; paint-carpet is paint and carpet from a roll; skirting is skirting and architrave."New value: +"The job. Required. wallpaper is the paint job with papered walls and no ceiling; tiles is the paint job with tiled walls and no ceiling; both is paint and a new floor; paint-carpet is paint and carpet from a roll; skirting is skirting and architrave; groundwork is MOT Type 1 sub-base, gravel, or gravel over Type 1 (groundwork.material)."

changedInput schema / properties / job / enum

Previous value: -[
-  "paint",
-  "wallpaper",
-  "tiles",
-  "flooring",
-  "carpet",
-  "loft",
-  "both",
-  "paint-carpet",
-  "skirting",
-  "plasterboard",
-  "concrete",
-  "patio"
-]New value: +[
+  "paint",
+  "wallpaper",
+  "tiles",
+  "flooring",
+  "carpet",
+  "loft",
+  "both",
+  "paint-carpet",
+  "skirting",
+  "plasterboard",
+  "concrete",
+  "patio",
+  "groundwork"
+]

Changed2 schema fields changedOct 30, 2026

addedInput schema / examples

Added value: +[
+  {
+    "door": [
+      "0.762x1.981"
+    ],
+    "height": "2.4",
+    "job": "paint",
+    "length": "4.2",
+    "units": "m",
+    "wallpaint": "custom",
+    "wallpaint.coats": "2",
+    "wallpaint.coverage": "14",
+    "wallpaint.extra": "10",
+    "wallpaint.tins": "2.5,5",
+    "width": "3.6",
+    "window": [
+      "1.2x1.0"
+    ]
+  }
+]

changedOutput schema / (root)

Previous value: -nullNew value: +{
+  "properties": {
+    "api": {
+      "description": "Always \"buildbatch-assistant\".",
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "ask": {
+      "description": "When ok is false: the ids of the questions in ask_questions to ask the person, in order.",
+      "items": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "type": "array"
+    },
+    "assumed": {
+      "description": "What was taken as not given, with the value taken (a missing height is a 2.4 m ceiling).",
+      "items": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "type": "array"
+    },
+    "assumptions": {
+      "description": "detail \"full\": what the whole list assumes.",
+      "items": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "type": "array"
+    },
+    "document": {
+      "description": "\"plan-summary\" for the short answer; the planner's own name for detail \"full\" or a refusal.",
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "error": {
+      "anyOf": [
+        {
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        {
+          "properties": {
+            "code": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "message": {
+              "type": "string"
+            }
+          },
+          "type": "object"
+        }
+      ],
+      "description": "When ok is false: why the call was refused, as words or as { code, message }."
+    },
+    "figures": {
+      "description": "What generic, typical and user mean.",
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "first": {
+      "description": "What has to be in place before the job starts, as toBuy's items: not a thing to buy.",
+      "items": {
+        "type": "object"
+      },
+      "type": "array"
+    },
+    "honesty": {
+      "description": "detail \"full\": the formulas' versions, how far the figures have been checked, and what the shop links are.",
+      "type": "object"
+    },
+    "ignored": {
+      "description": "Arguments that were not used, with why.",
+      "type": "array"
+    },
+    "leftovers": {
+      "description": "What will be left over once the whole packs are bought.",
+      "type": "array"
+    },
+    "lines": {
+      "description": "detail \"full\": every line with its working, packs, figures and each shop's search link.",
+      "type": "array"
+    },
+    "links": {
+      "description": "What listUrl and startUrl open, in words.",
+      "type": "object"
+    },
+    "listUrl": {
+      "description": "The whole list on buildbatch.co.uk, as a link a person can open.",
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "more": {
+      "description": "What plan_room with detail \"full\" adds.",
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "next": {
+      "description": "When ok is false: what to do next.",
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "notUsed": {
+      "description": "Arguments that were sent and not used, with why.",
+      "items": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "type": "array"
+    },
+    "ok": {
+      "description": "true: a list was made. false: the call was refused, and error says why.",
+      "type": "boolean"
+    },
+    "prices": {
+      "description": "That no price is shown or used in this answer.",
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "problems": {
+      "description": "When ok is false: each argument that is missing or not understood, with the id of its question in ask_questions.",
+      "items": {
+        "type": "object"
+      },
+      "type": "array"
+    },
+    "review": {
+      "description": "How far the figures have been checked: not yet by a tradesperson.",
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "room": {
+      "anyOf": [
+        {
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        {
+          "type": "object"
+        }
+      ],
+      "description": "The room as the planner understood it: a sentence (metres, as worked out), or with detail \"full\" its areas and lengths."
+    },
+    "shops": {
+      "description": "detail \"full\": the shops each line's search link goes to.",
+      "type": "array"
+    },
+    "startUrl": {
+      "description": "The planner opened on this room, to change it.",
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "startUrlNote": {
+      "description": "What the startUrl link opens.",
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    "statuses": {
+      "description": "detail \"full\": what each line's status means.",
+      "type": "object"
+    },
+    "summary": {
+      "description": "detail \"full\": the counts and the short list.",
+      "type": "object"
+    },
+    "toAnswer": {
+      "description": "Questions whose answers would change the list.",
+      "items": {
+        "type": "string"
+      },
+      "type": "array"
+    },
+    "toBuy": {
+      "description": "Each thing to buy, in the order of the list.",
+      "items": {
+        "properties": {
+          "checkFirst": {
+            "description": "What to check before buying.",
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "examplePack": {
+            "description": "The example pack kept beside a figure sent.",
+            "type": "boolean"
+          },
+          "figures": {
+            "description": "generic, typical or user: see figures.",
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "figuresFrom": {
+            "description": "A typical figure's sources and the day read.",
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "figuresNote": {
+            "description": "Which figures are whose.",
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "item": {
+            "description": "What to buy.",
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "needed": {
+            "description": "Paint: the litres needed before rounding up to tins.",
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "quantity": {
+            "description": "How much to buy, in the planner's words: whole packs as sold, a part pack rounded up (\"1 × 5 L + 1 × 2.5 L\"), or an amount to order or to cover where it is not sold in packs (\"1.32 m³ to order\").",
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          "question": {
+            "description": "A line to check: its question and answers.",
+            "type": "object"
+          },
+          "why": {
+            "description": "How it was worked out.",
+            "type": "string"
+          }
+        },
+        "required": [
+          "item"
+        ],
+        "type": "object"
+      },
+      "type": "array"
+    },
+    "toCheck": {
+      "description": "Each thing that depends on the person's own job, as toBuy's items, with its question.",
+      "items": {
+        "type": "object"
+      },
+      "type": "array"
+    },
+    "typicalRoom": {
+      "description": "When a typical room was used: its id, label and a note that these are not the person's own measurements.",
+      "type": "object"
+    },
+    "understood": {
+      "description": "detail \"full\": every argument as the planner read it.",
+      "type": "object"
+    },
+    "v": {
+      "description": "The version number of the planner's link and answer format.",
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    "warnings": {
+      "description": "Warnings that come with the list.",
+      "type": "array"
+    }
+  },
+  "required": [
+    "ok"
+  ],
+  "type": "object"
+}

Changed2 schema fields changedOct 30, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / concrete.bags / description

Previous value: -"How the sand, aggregate or ballast of a mix on site, and the sub-base, are bought: bulk (bulk bags of about 800 kg) or bags (25 kg bags). Bulk unless given; each is counted in whole bags from a typical figure that names its source."New value: +"How the sand, aggregate or ballast of a mix on site, and the sub-base, are bought: bulk (bulk bags of about 800 kg) or bags (25 kg bags). Unless given, each comes in 25 kg bags where 20 of them or fewer cover it, and in bulk bags above that; each is counted in whole bags from a typical figure that names its source."

changedInput schema / properties / patio.bags / description

Previous value: -"How the sand and the sub-base are bought: bulk (bulk bags of about 800 kg) or bags (25 kg bags). Bulk unless given; each is counted in whole bags from a typical figure that names its source."New value: +"How the sand and the sub-base are bought: bulk (bulk bags of about 800 kg) or bags (25 kg bags). Unless given, each comes in 25 kg bags where 20 of them or fewer cover it, and in bulk bags above that; each is counted in whole bags from a typical figure that names its source."

Changed1 schema field changedOct 29, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / height / description

Previous value: -"Floor to ceiling, in the units. Needed when walls are painted, papered, tiled or boarded (paint-carpet too); not for flooring, carpet, loft insulation, concrete or skirting alone."New value: +"Floor to ceiling, in the units. Used when walls are painted, papered, tiled or boarded (paint-carpet too); if it is left out then, a 2.4 m ceiling, a typical UK height, is taken and the answer states it. Not used for flooring, carpet, loft insulation, concrete or skirting alone."

Changed1 schema field changedOct 28, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / loft.pack / description

Previous value: -"Square metres covered by one chosen roll or pack; optional for a 100, 150, 170 or 200 mm roll, whose typical coverage (the maker's, as the shops' feeds name it) is used and said so."New value: +"Square metres covered by one chosen roll or pack; optional for a 100, 150, 170 or 200 mm roll, whose typical coverage (the maker's, as the shops' own listings name it) is used and said so."

Changed1 schema field changedOct 19, 2026

addedInput schema / properties / floor.typical

Added value: +{
+  "description": "Since template 1.37.0: packs, when floor.packs is one of the typical laminate sizes the planner offers beside its number, so the pack stays a typical figure that names its maker. Leave it out unless the planner wrote it.",
+  "enum": [
+    "packs"
+  ],
+  "type": "string"
+}

Changed1 schema field changedOct 19, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / walltiles.trowel / description

Previous value: -"The notched trowel, 6 or 12 (mm). The adhesive is counted from it; 6 when left out."New value: +"The notched trowel, 6 or 12 (mm). The adhesive is counted from it; left out, by the tile's size: 6 for a tile up to 600 mm on its long side, 12 for a larger one."

Changed1 schema field changedOct 18, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / area / description

Previous value: -"Loft insulation, concrete and a patio only: the floor's area in square metres, up to 900, instead of length and width. How far it is round is then not known: the formwork or the edging is a check without a length."New value: +"Loft insulation, concrete, a patio and a floor (laminate, wood, vinyl planks or floor tiles) only: the floor's area in square metres, up to 900, instead of length and width. How far it is round is then not known: the formwork, the edging or the scotia beading is a check without a length, and new skirting needs the length and width."

Changed11 schema fields changedOct 17, 2026

addedInput schema / properties / alcove

Added value: +{
+  "description": "An alcove on a wall of the rectangle, going out: width x depth @ wall. One a wall.",
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / bay

Added value: +{
+  "description": "A bay on a wall of the rectangle, going out: width x depth @ wall. One a wall.",
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / breast

Added value: +{
+  "description": "A chimney breast on a wall of the rectangle: width x depth @ wall, in the room's units; the wall is L1, W1, L2 or W2. One a wall.",
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / laystart

Added value: +{
+  "description": "Floor tiles, and a patio, given as length and width or a plan (not an area), straight or brick laid: where the laying starts. centre (the middle of the room), corner (whole tiles along two walls) or house (a patio only: whole slabs along the house wall). Left out, the start needing the fewest cuts and tiles is used, or the house wall for a patio against the house; the answer says which and counts that layout.",
+  "enum": [
+    "centre",
+    "corner",
+    "house"
+  ],
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / p

Added value: +{
+  "description": "Written by the planner in a sent list link: the day of the shop prices the sender's screen used (YYYY-MM-DD), so that the screen that opens it can say when the prices have moved since. Leave it out of a call.",
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / t

Added value: +{
+  "description": "Written by the planner in a sent list link: the Room Refresh template version the sender's screen used, so that the screen that opens it can say when the figures have moved since. Leave it out of a call.",
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / wallpaint.colour

Added value: +{
+  "description": "The wall paint's colour: magnolia, or colour for a colour no partner shop sells (counted in 2.5 L tins and priced only once its price is typed). Left out: white.",
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / wallpaint.finish

Added value: +{
+  "description": "The wall paint's finish. Left out: matt.",
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / wallpaint.name

Added value: +{
+  "description": "The name of a coloured wall paint (up to 60 characters), which the shops are searched for. Read with wallpaint.colour=colour only.",
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / walltiles.above

Added value: +{
+  "description": "yes when the wall above tiles that stop below the ceiling is painted on the same list; no, or left out, leaves it off.",
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / walltiles.fullrun

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "Metres of wall tiled to the ceiling round a bath or shower, with walltiles.height for the rest (a bathroom's two heights). Left out: none."
+}

Changed13 schema fields changedOct 14, 2026

addedInput schema / properties / colourchange

Added value: +{
+  "description": "Painting jobs: is the colour going much lighter or darker? yes adds one coat to the walls. Left out, two coats are counted and the wall paint's line carries the question to ask.",
+  "enum": [
+    "yes",
+    "no"
+  ],
+  "type": "string"
+}

changedInput schema / properties / concrete.supply / description

Previous value: -"bags: bags of dry mix; mix: cement with sand and aggregate, mixed on site; mixed: ready-mixed concrete, delivered by the cubic metre. Mind the two: \"mix\" is mixed on site, \"mixed\" arrives mixed."New value: +"bags: bags of dry mix; mix: cement with sand and aggregate, mixed on site; mixed: ready-mixed concrete, delivered by the cubic metre. Mind the two: \"mix\" is mixed on site, \"mixed\" arrives mixed. Left out, the planner follows the slab's volume (bags up to 0.25 m³, mixed on site up to 1 m³, ready-mixed above) and the answer says what each of the three ways takes."

addedInput schema / properties / floor.pattern

Added value: +{
+  "description": "How the floor is laid: straight, brick, diagonal or herringbone. A diagonal or herringbone lay takes 15% for cuts where a straight lay takes 10%, unless floor.extra gives another figure. Left out: straight.",
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / newplaster

Added value: +{
+  "description": "Painting jobs: is any of it new or bare plaster? yes adds a mist coat of white contract matt on its own line and leaves the sugar soap out; no is a sound painted surface. Left out, the list is a sound room's and its primer line carries the question to ask.",
+  "enum": [
+    "yes",
+    "no"
+  ],
+  "type": "string"
+}

changedInput schema / properties / paper.match / description

Previous value: -"How the pattern lines up."New value: +"How the pattern lines up. straight and half-drop need paper.repeat. unsure, or left out with no repeat, is counted as a straight match with a 64 cm repeat (three drops a roll at an ordinary ceiling), which keeps the rolls from running short; the line names it."

changedInput schema / properties / paper.match / enum

Previous value: -[
-  "free",
-  "straight",
-  "half-drop"
-]New value: +[
+  "free",
+  "straight",
+  "half-drop",
+  "unsure"
+]

addedInput schema / properties / patio.house

Added value: +{
+  "description": "Whether the patio is against the house along one side: yes or no. It decides how many edges the sub-base runs 150 mm past and how much edge restraint is counted. Left out, it is counted as against the house along its longest side, and the sub-base line carries the question.",
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / skirtingoff

Added value: +{
+  "description": "Flooring jobs: is the skirting coming off, to go back over the new floor's edge? yes leaves the scotia beading out; no counts it in 2.4 m lengths. Left out, the beading is counted and its line carries the question to ask.",
+  "enum": [
+    "yes",
+    "no"
+  ],
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / trim.breastdepth

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "How deep a chimney breast is, in millimetres. Left out: 350, an example depth, said to be one."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / trim.breasts

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "How many chimney breasts the new skirting goes round: each adds its two returns. Left out: none."
+}

changedInput schema / properties / walls.length / description

Previous value: -"Tiles or wallpaper on some walls only (a splashback, a shower's walls, a feature wall): the total length of the walls covered, in the units. It replaces the room's perimeter for the tiles' area and the paper's drops; doors and windows are then not taken off. Left out: all the walls."New value: +"Paint, tiles or wallpaper on some walls only (a splashback, a shower's walls, a feature wall): the total length of the walls covered, in the units. It replaces the room's perimeter for the paint, the tiles' area and the paper's drops; doors and windows are then not taken off. Left out: all the walls. Sent with a height and with no length, width, plan or area, it is a wall on its own: the room is not needed (walls only: no ceiling, woodwork, floor or skirting)."

addedInput schema / properties / walltiles.pattern

Added value: +{
+  "description": "How the wall tiles are laid: straight, brick, diagonal or herringbone. A diagonal or herringbone lay takes 15% for cuts where a straight lay takes 10%, unless walltiles.extra gives another figure. Left out: straight.",
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / walltiles.reveal

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "How deep the window reveals are, in millimetres, on walls tiled to the ceiling: the reveals are tiled too. Left out: 150, an example depth, said to be one. 0 leaves them out."
+}

Changed28 schema fields changedOct 12, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / board.extra / description

Previous value: -"Percent to add for cuts."New value: +"Percent to add for cuts. Custom only: with quick the example is used, and a figure sent here is named in ignored[] as not used."

changedInput schema / properties / board.layers / description

Previous value: -"Whole layers from the complete system specification."New value: +"Whole layers from the complete system specification. Custom only: with quick the example is used, and a figure sent here is named in ignored[] as not used."

changedInput schema / properties / board.length / description

Previous value: -"Board length in metres."New value: +"Board length in metres. Custom only: with quick the example is used, and a figure sent here is named in ignored[] as not used."

changedInput schema / properties / board.width / description

Previous value: -"Board width in metres."New value: +"Board width in metres. Custom only: with quick the example is used, and a figure sent here is named in ignored[] as not used."

changedInput schema / properties / ceiling / description

Previous value: -"What the ceiling gets: paint, board or none."New value: +"What the ceiling gets: paint, or board on the plasterboard job, or none. Another word is named in ignored[] and the job's own choice used."

changedInput schema / properties / ceilingpaint.coats / description

Previous value: -"Coats on the tin, for the ceiling paint. Custom only."New value: +"Coats on the tin, for the ceiling paint. With quick, a figure sent here is used and labelled as the person's; the ones not sent stay the labelled examples."

changedInput schema / properties / ceilingpaint.coverage / description

Previous value: -"Metres squared covered by one litre in one coat, from the tin, for the ceiling paint. Custom only."New value: +"Metres squared covered by one litre in one coat, from the tin, for the ceiling paint. With quick, a figure sent here is used and labelled as the person's; the ones not sent stay the labelled examples."

changedInput schema / properties / ceilingpaint.extra / description

Previous value: -"Percent to add for waste and touch-ups, for the ceiling paint. Custom only."New value: +"Percent to add for waste and touch-ups, for the ceiling paint. With quick, a figure sent here is used and labelled as the person's; the ones not sent stay the labelled examples."

changedInput schema / properties / concrete.extra / description

Previous value: -"Percent to add for an uneven base and spillage."New value: +"Percent to add for an uneven base and spillage. With quick, a figure sent here is used and labelled as the person's; the ones not sent stay the labelled examples."

changedInput schema / properties / concrete.supply / description

Previous value: -"Bags of dry mix, cement with sand and aggregate mixed on site (mix), or ready-mixed concrete delivered by the cubic metre."New value: +"bags: bags of dry mix; mix: cement with sand and aggregate, mixed on site; mixed: ready-mixed concrete, delivered by the cubic metre. Mind the two: \"mix\" is mixed on site, \"mixed\" arrives mixed."

changedInput schema / properties / concrete.thickness / description

Previous value: -"Slab thickness in millimetres, decided for the job. BuildBatch suggests none."New value: +"Slab thickness in millimetres, decided for the job. BuildBatch suggests none. With quick, a figure sent here is used and labelled as the person's; the ones not sent stay the labelled examples."

changedInput schema / properties / concrete.weight / description

Previous value: -"The weight of one bag in kilograms. Bags only."New value: +"The weight of one bag in kilograms. Bags only. With quick, a figure sent here is used and labelled as the person's; the ones not sent stay the labelled examples."

changedInput schema / properties / concrete.yield / description

Previous value: -"Cubic metres one bag makes, as printed on the bag. Bags only."New value: +"Cubic metres one bag makes, as printed on the bag. Bags only. With quick, a figure sent here is used and labelled as the person's; the ones not sent stay the labelled examples."

changedInput schema / properties / floor.extra / description

Previous value: -"Percent to add for cuts. Custom only."New value: +"Percent to add for cuts. With quick, a figure sent here is used and labelled as the person's; the ones not sent stay the labelled examples."

changedInput schema / properties / floor.packs / description

Previous value: -"Metres squared in one pack or box, comma separated for several sizes. A size may carry a price after \"@\": the price is accepted and ignored."New value: +"Metres squared in one pack or box, comma separated for several sizes. A size may carry a price after \"@\": the price is accepted and ignored. With quick, a figure sent here is used and labelled as the person's; the ones not sent stay the labelled examples."

changedInput schema / properties / lengths.architrave / description

Previous value: -"Length the architrave is sold in, in metres."New value: +"Length the architrave is sold in, in metres. Custom only: with quick the example is used, and a figure sent here is named in ignored[] as not used."

changedInput schema / properties / lengths.skirting / description

Previous value: -"Length the skirting is sold in, in metres."New value: +"Length the skirting is sold in, in metres. Custom only: with quick the example is used, and a figure sent here is named in ignored[] as not used."

changedInput schema / properties / paper.length / description

Previous value: -"Roll length in metres."New value: +"Roll length in metres. Custom only: with quick the example is used, and a figure sent here is named in ignored[] as not used."

changedInput schema / properties / paper.width / description

Previous value: -"Roll width in centimetres."New value: +"Roll width in centimetres. Custom only: with quick the example is used, and a figure sent here is named in ignored[] as not used."

changedInput schema / properties / trim / description

Previous value: -"New skirting, architrave or both, with any job. Default skirting for the skirting job, else none."New value: +"New skirting, architrave or both (skirting,architrave), with any job in a room; a loft floor, a slab and a patio take none. Default skirting for the skirting job, else none."

changedInput schema / properties / wallpaint.coats / description

Previous value: -"Coats on the tin, for the wall paint. Custom only."New value: +"Coats on the tin, for the wall paint. With quick, a figure sent here is used and labelled as the person's; the ones not sent stay the labelled examples."

changedInput schema / properties / wallpaint.coverage / description

Previous value: -"Metres squared covered by one litre in one coat, from the tin, for the wall paint. Custom only."New value: +"Metres squared covered by one litre in one coat, from the tin, for the wall paint. With quick, a figure sent here is used and labelled as the person's; the ones not sent stay the labelled examples."

changedInput schema / properties / wallpaint.extra / description

Previous value: -"Percent to add for waste and touch-ups, for the wall paint. Custom only."New value: +"Percent to add for waste and touch-ups, for the wall paint. With quick, a figure sent here is used and labelled as the person's; the ones not sent stay the labelled examples."

changedInput schema / properties / walltiles.box / description

Previous value: -"Metres squared in one box. Custom only."New value: +"Metres squared in one box. Custom only: with quick the example is used, and a figure sent here is named in ignored[] as not used."

changedInput schema / properties / walltiles.extra / description

Previous value: -"Percent to add for cuts."New value: +"Percent to add for cuts. Custom only: with quick the example is used, and a figure sent here is named in ignored[] as not used."

changedInput schema / properties / woodpaint.coats / description

Previous value: -"Coats on the tin, for the woodwork paint (with woodwork=paint). Custom only."New value: +"Coats on the tin, for the woodwork paint (with woodwork=paint). With quick, a figure sent here is used and labelled as the person's; the ones not sent stay the labelled examples."

changedInput schema / properties / woodpaint.coverage / description

Previous value: -"Metres squared covered by one litre in one coat, from the tin, for the woodwork paint (with woodwork=paint). Custom only."New value: +"Metres squared covered by one litre in one coat, from the tin, for the woodwork paint (with woodwork=paint). With quick, a figure sent here is used and labelled as the person's; the ones not sent stay the labelled examples."

changedInput schema / properties / woodpaint.extra / description

Previous value: -"Percent to add for waste and touch-ups, for the woodwork paint (with woodwork=paint). Custom only."New value: +"Percent to add for waste and touch-ups, for the woodwork paint (with woodwork=paint). With quick, a figure sent here is used and labelled as the person's; the ones not sent stay the labelled examples."

Changed1 schema field changedOct 11, 2026

addedInput schema / properties / woodsurface

Added value: +{
+  "description": "With woodwork=paint: what the woodwork is like now. Default sound (painted before and sound). bare adds a check line for knotting, primer and undercoat; flaking adds the note about old paint.",
+  "enum": [
+    "sound",
+    "bare",
+    "flaking"
+  ],
+  "type": "string"
+}

Changed6 schema fields changedOct 11, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / area / description

Previous value: -"Loft insulation, concrete and a patio only: the floor's area in square metres, instead of length and width. How far it is round is then not known: the formwork or the edging is a check without a length."New value: +"Loft insulation, concrete and a patio only: the floor's area in square metres, up to 900, instead of length and width. How far it is round is then not known: the formwork or the edging is a check without a length."

changedInput schema / properties / carpet.width / description

Previous value: -"The fixed width of the carpet roll in metres."New value: +"The fixed width of the carpet roll in metres. Left out with carpet=quick: the standard width (4 or 5 m; 2, 3 or 4 m for sheet vinyl) that needs least roll for the room, said so on the list."

changedInput schema / properties / floor.trowel / description

Previous value: -"Floor tiles: the notched trowel, 6 or 12 (mm). The adhesive is counted from it; 12 when left out."New value: +"Floor tiles: the notched trowel, 6 or 12 (mm). The adhesive is counted from it; left out, the one the adhesive maker's sheet gives for the tile's size (6 up to 300 mm on its long side, 12 above)."

changedInput schema / properties / job / description

Previous value: -"The job. Required. wallpaper is the paint job with papered walls and no ceiling; tiles is the paint job with tiled walls and no ceiling; both is paint and a new floor; paint-carpet is paint and one unjoined piece of carpet; skirting is skirting and architrave."New value: +"The job. Required. wallpaper is the paint job with papered walls and no ceiling; tiles is the paint job with tiled walls and no ceiling; both is paint and a new floor; paint-carpet is paint and carpet from a roll; skirting is skirting and architrave."

addedInput schema / properties / walls.length

Added value: +{
+  "description": "Tiles or wallpaper on some walls only (a splashback, a shower's walls, a feature wall): the total length of the walls covered, in the units. It replaces the room's perimeter for the tiles' area and the paper's drops; doors and windows are then not taken off. Left out: all the walls.",
+  "type": "string"
+}

changedInput schema / properties / woodwork / description

Previous value: -"Paint jobs only: paint when the woodwork is painted too (this room's doors, their architraves, the windows' frames and the skirting, counted from the doors and windows given and the room's perimeter, in satinwood at a typical coverage). Left out: not painted."New value: +"Paint jobs only: paint when the woodwork is painted too (this room's doors, their architraves, the windows' frames and the skirting, counted from the doors and windows given and the room's perimeter, in satinwood at a typical coverage). With walls=none and ceiling=none, the woodwork on its own. Left out: not painted."

Changed17 schema fields changedOct 10, 2026

addedInput schema / properties / area

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "Loft insulation, concrete and a patio only: the floor's area in square metres, instead of length and width. How far it is round is then not known: the formwork or the edging is a check without a length."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / floor.adhesivebag

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "Floor tiles: the weight of one bag of adhesive in kilograms; 20 when left out."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / floor.depth

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "Floor tiles: the tile's thickness in millimetres, for the grout. Left out, a typical 10 mm is used and said so."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / floor.groutbag

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "Floor tiles: the weight of one bag of grout in kilograms; 5 when left out."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / floor.joint

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "Floor tiles: the joint width in millimetres. With the tile size, the grout is counted by the makers' rule; left out, a typical 3 mm joint is used and said so."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / floor.trowel

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "Floor tiles: the notched trowel, 6 or 12 (mm). The adhesive is counted from it; 12 when left out."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / walltiles.adhesivebag

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "The weight of one bag of adhesive in kilograms; 20 when left out."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / walltiles.depth

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "The wall tile's thickness in millimetres, for the grout. Left out, a typical 8 mm is used and said so."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / walltiles.groutbag

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "The weight of one bag of grout in kilograms; 5 when left out."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / walltiles.joint

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "The joint width in millimetres. With the tile size, the grout is counted by the makers' rule; left out, a typical 2 mm joint is used and said so."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / walltiles.trowel

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "The notched trowel, 6 or 12 (mm). The adhesive is counted from it; 6 when left out."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / woodpaint

Added value: +{
+  "description": "Whether the woodwork paint (with woodwork=paint) uses the labelled example figures (quick) or figures read off the tin (custom). Needed for the keys below to take effect.",
+  "enum": [
+    "quick",
+    "custom"
+  ],
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / woodpaint.coats

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "Coats on the tin, for the woodwork paint (with woodwork=paint). Custom only."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / woodpaint.coverage

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "Metres squared covered by one litre in one coat, from the tin, for the woodwork paint (with woodwork=paint). Custom only."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / woodpaint.extra

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "Percent to add for waste and touch-ups, for the woodwork paint (with woodwork=paint). Custom only."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / woodpaint.tins

Added value: +{
+  "description": "Tin sizes in litres, comma separated, for the woodwork paint (with woodwork=paint). A size may carry a price after \"@\": the price is accepted and ignored.",
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / woodwork

Added value: +{
+  "description": "Paint jobs only: paint when the woodwork is painted too (this room's doors, their architraves, the windows' frames and the skirting, counted from the doors and windows given and the room's perimeter, in satinwood at a typical coverage). Left out: not painted.",
+  "enum": [
+    "paint",
+    "none"
+  ],
+  "type": "string"
+}

Changed7 schema fields changedOct 10, 2026

addedInput schema / properties / concrete.bags

Added value: +{
+  "description": "How the sand, aggregate or ballast of a mix on site, and the sub-base, are bought: bulk (bulk bags of about 800 kg) or bags (25 kg bags). Bulk unless given; each is counted in whole bags from a typical figure that names its source.",
+  "type": "string"
+}

removedInput schema / properties / concrete.subdensity

Removed value: -{
-  "anyOf": [
-    {
-      "type": "number"
-    },
-    {
-      "type": "string"
-    }
-  ],
-  "description": "The sub-base material's density in tonnes a cubic metre, as the supplier gives it. With concrete.subdepth; optional. BuildBatch assumes none."
-}

changedInput schema / properties / concrete.subdepth / description

Previous value: -"Depth of the sub-base under the slab in millimetres, decided for the job. With concrete.subdensity, the sub-base is counted in tonnes; optional."New value: +"Depth of the sub-base under the slab in millimetres, decided for the job; optional. With it, the sub-base is counted in bulk bags or 25 kg bags from a typical figure that names its source."

addedInput schema / properties / loft.over

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "Thickness in millimetres of a second roll laid across the joists over one layer of the first; optional. With it, the first roll is one layer between the joists and the rest is this roll."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / loft.overpack

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "Square metres one roll of the second insulation covers; optional for a 100, 150, 170 or 200 mm roll."
+}

changedInput schema / properties / loft.pack / description

Previous value: -"Square metres covered by one chosen roll or pack."New value: +"Square metres covered by one chosen roll or pack; optional for a 100, 150, 170 or 200 mm roll, whose typical coverage (the maker's, as the shops' feeds name it) is used and said so."

addedInput schema / properties / patio.covers

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "Square metres one pack covers, from the pack, for a project pack of mixed sizes; optional, and it beats patio.pack. With it, whole packs are counted by area."
+}

Changed6 schema fields changedOct 10, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / patio.bag / description

Previous value: -"What one bag of cement fills in litres, from the bag or the shop; optional. With it, the cement is counted in bags."New value: +"What one bag of cement fills in litres, from the bag; optional. Without it the bags are counted from a typical 17 L a 25 kg bag, said to be typical."

addedInput schema / properties / patio.bags

Added value: +{
+  "description": "How the sand and the sub-base are bought: bulk (bulk bags of about 800 kg) or bags (25 kg bags). Bulk unless given; each is counted in whole bags from a typical figure that names its source.",
+  "type": "string"
+}

changedInput schema / properties / patio.jointing / description

Previous value: -"Square metres one pail of jointing compound covers at your joint, from the pail; optional. With it, pails are counted."New value: +"Square metres one pail of jointing compound covers at your joint, from the pail; optional. Without it the pails are counted from a typical 7 m² a pail, said to be typical."

changedInput schema / properties / patio.primer / description

Previous value: -"Square metres one tub of slurry primer covers, from the tub; optional. With it, tubs are counted."New value: +"Square metres one tub of slurry primer covers, from the tub; optional. Without it the tubs are counted from a typical 12 m² a tub, said to be typical."

removedInput schema / properties / patio.subdensity

Removed value: -{
-  "anyOf": [
-    {
-      "type": "number"
-    },
-    {
-      "type": "string"
-    }
-  ],
-  "description": "The sub-base material's density in tonnes a cubic metre, as the supplier gives it. With patio.subdepth; optional. BuildBatch assumes none."
-}

changedInput schema / properties / patio.subdepth / description

Previous value: -"Depth of the sub-base under the patio in millimetres, decided for the job. With patio.subdensity, the sub-base is counted in tonnes; optional."New value: +"Depth of the sub-base under the patio in millimetres, decided for the job; optional. Without it the makers' usual minimum of 100 mm is used, said to be typical."

Changed15 schema fields changedOct 10, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / job / enum

Previous value: -[
-  "paint",
-  "wallpaper",
-  "tiles",
-  "flooring",
-  "carpet",
-  "loft",
-  "both",
-  "paint-carpet",
-  "skirting",
-  "plasterboard",
-  "concrete"
-]New value: +[
+  "paint",
+  "wallpaper",
+  "tiles",
+  "flooring",
+  "carpet",
+  "loft",
+  "both",
+  "paint-carpet",
+  "skirting",
+  "plasterboard",
+  "concrete",
+  "patio"
+]

addedInput schema / properties / patio

Added value: +{
+  "description": "Whether the patio uses labelled example figures (quick: a 600 × 600 mm slab, the makers' 10 mm joint, 10% for cuts, a 30 mm bed at 1 : 4) or figures entered from the slab and the guides (custom). Needed for the keys below to take effect. The room is the patio: its length and width, no height.",
+  "enum": [
+    "quick",
+    "custom"
+  ],
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / patio.bag

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "What one bag of cement fills in litres, from the bag or the shop; optional. With it, the cement is counted in bags."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / patio.bed

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "Depth of the full mortar bed in millimetres, before tamping. The makers' guides give 30 to 40 mm."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / patio.cement

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "Parts of cement in the bed, by volume."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / patio.extra

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "Percent to add for cuts."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / patio.joint

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "Joint width in millimetres. The makers' guides give 10 mm as the minimum."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / patio.jointing

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "Square metres one pail of jointing compound covers at your joint, from the pail; optional. With it, pails are counted."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / patio.length

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "The other side of a slab in millimetres."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / patio.pack

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "How many slabs a pack holds, a whole number; optional. With it, whole packs are counted."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / patio.primer

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "Square metres one tub of slurry primer covers, from the tub; optional. With it, tubs are counted."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / patio.sand

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "Parts of sharp sand in the bed, by volume. The guides give 3 or 4 to 1 of cement."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / patio.subdensity

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "The sub-base material's density in tonnes a cubic metre, as the supplier gives it. With patio.subdepth; optional. BuildBatch assumes none."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / patio.subdepth

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "Depth of the sub-base under the patio in millimetres, decided for the job. With patio.subdensity, the sub-base is counted in tonnes; optional."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / patio.width

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "One side of a slab in millimetres."
+}

Changed2 schema fields changedOct 9, 2026

addedInput schema / properties / concrete.subdensity

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "The sub-base material's density in tonnes a cubic metre, as the supplier gives it. With concrete.subdepth; optional. BuildBatch assumes none."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / concrete.subdepth

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "Depth of the sub-base under the slab in millimetres, decided for the job. With concrete.subdensity, the sub-base is counted in tonnes; optional."
+}

Changed4 schema fields changedOct 9, 2026

addedInput schema / properties / concrete.aggregate

Added value: +{
+  "description": "Whether the aggregate is bought as all-in ballast or as sharp sand and coarse aggregate. Mixed on site only.",
+  "enum": [
+    "ballast",
+    "separate"
+  ],
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / concrete.mix

Added value: +{
+  "description": "Which of the maker's published mixes the cement, sand and aggregate follow: general purpose, paving or foundation. Mixed on site only.",
+  "enum": [
+    "general",
+    "paving",
+    "foundation"
+  ],
+  "type": "string"
+}

changedInput schema / properties / concrete.supply / description

Previous value: -"Bags of dry mix, or ready-mixed concrete delivered by the cubic metre."New value: +"Bags of dry mix, cement with sand and aggregate mixed on site (mix), or ready-mixed concrete delivered by the cubic metre."

changedInput schema / properties / concrete.supply / enum

Previous value: -[
-  "bags",
-  "mixed"
-]New value: +[
+  "bags",
+  "mix",
+  "mixed"
+]

Changed16 schema fields changedOct 9, 2026

removedInput schema / properties / bath / items / description

Removed value: -"A bath or shower tray: a name (bath-1700, tray-900) or its length along the wall x its rim height x how far it comes into the room, in the units. The wall behind it comes off up to the rim, and its footprint off a floor being laid. The key may be repeated."

removedInput schema / properties / ceilingpaint.examples

Removed value: -{
-  "description": "Which of coats, coverage, extra and tins are still the labelled example figures. Leave it out unless the planner wrote it.",
-  "type": "string"
-}

addedInput schema / properties / detail

Added value: +{
+  "description": "How much to return. summary, the default: each item with its quantity and reason, what to check first and the list link. full: every line's working, pack breakdown and each shop's search link as well (20 KB or more).",
+  "enum": [
+    "summary",
+    "full"
+  ],
+  "type": "string"
+}

removedInput schema / properties / door / items / description

Removed value: -"One per door, the value repeated for more. A typical size by name (int-762 is a standard internal door) or width x height in the units. *2 after it means two the same."

removedInput schema / properties / end

Removed value: -{
-  "anyOf": [
-    {
-      "type": "integer"
-    },
-    {
-      "type": "string"
-    }
-  ],
-  "description": "Written by the planner as the last pair of a list link: the number of pairs before it. Leave it out of a call."
-}

removedInput schema / properties / floor.examples

Removed value: -{
-  "description": "Which of extra and packs are still the labelled example figures. Leave it out unless the planner wrote it.",
-  "type": "string"
-}

removedInput schema / properties / floor.underlay.price

Removed value: -{
-  "anyOf": [
-    {
-      "type": "number"
-    },
-    {
-      "type": "string"
-    }
-  ],
-  "description": "Accepted and ignored: this interface uses no prices."
-}

removedInput schema / properties / lengths.architrave.price

Removed value: -{
-  "anyOf": [
-    {
-      "type": "number"
-    },
-    {
-      "type": "string"
-    }
-  ],
-  "description": "Accepted and ignored: this interface uses no prices."
-}

removedInput schema / properties / lengths.skirting.price

Removed value: -{
-  "anyOf": [
-    {
-      "type": "number"
-    },
-    {
-      "type": "string"
-    }
-  ],
-  "description": "Accepted and ignored: this interface uses no prices."
-}

removedInput schema / properties / opening / items / description

Removed value: -"Any other opening to take off the walls (a garage door, an archway), as width x height or a name. The key may be repeated."

removedInput schema / properties / paper.price

Removed value: -{
-  "anyOf": [
-    {
-      "type": "number"
-    },
-    {
-      "type": "string"
-    }
-  ],
-  "description": "Accepted and ignored: this interface uses no prices."
-}

removedInput schema / properties / v

Removed value: -{
-  "anyOf": [
-    {
-      "type": "integer"
-    },
-    {
-      "type": "string"
-    }
-  ],
-  "description": "The version of the format. 1. Left out, 1 is assumed and the answer says so.",
-  "enum": [
-    "1"
-  ]
-}

removedInput schema / properties / wallpaint.examples

Removed value: -{
-  "description": "Which of coats, coverage, extra and tins are still the labelled example figures. Leave it out unless the planner wrote it.",
-  "type": "string"
-}

removedInput schema / properties / walltiles.price

Removed value: -{
-  "anyOf": [
-    {
-      "type": "number"
-    },
-    {
-      "type": "string"
-    }
-  ],
-  "description": "Accepted and ignored: this interface uses no prices."
-}

changedInput schema / properties / window / description

Previous value: -"One per window, the key repeated for more. A typical size by name or width x height in the units. Add *2 for two the same."New value: +"One per window, the value repeated for more. A typical size by name (win-standard) or width x height in the units. *2 after it means two the same."

removedInput schema / properties / window / items / description

Removed value: -"One per window, the key repeated for more. A typical size by name or width x height in the units. Add *2 for two the same."

Changed3 schema fields changedOct 7, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / door / description

Previous value: -"One per door, the key repeated for more. A typical size by name (the names are in /ask.json) or width x height in the units. Add *2 for two the same."New value: +"One per door, the value repeated for more. A typical size by name (int-762 is a standard internal door) or width x height in the units. *2 after it means two the same."

changedInput schema / properties / door / items / description

Previous value: -"One per door, the key repeated for more. A typical size by name (the names are in /ask.json) or width x height in the units. Add *2 for two the same."New value: +"One per door, the value repeated for more. A typical size by name (int-762 is a standard internal door) or width x height in the units. *2 after it means two the same."

changedInput schema / properties / name / description

Previous value: -"What the room is called. Do not send one: it is carried into the links the answer gives, and the person can add it there."New value: +"What the room is called. Optional. It is carried into the links the answer gives, where the person can also add it themselves."

Changed1 schema field changedOct 6, 2026

addedInput schema / properties / carpet.covering

Added value: +{
+  "description": "What is laid from the roll: carpet (with underlay and gripper) or sheet vinyl (loose laid, taped or glued; no underlay). Sheet vinyl is sold in 2, 3 and 4 m widths; its quick example is a 3 m roll.",
+  "enum": [
+    "carpet",
+    "vinyl"
+  ],
+  "type": "string"
+}

Changed9 schema fields changedOct 6, 2026

addedInput schema / properties / concrete

Added value: +{
+  "description": "Whether the concrete slab uses labelled example figures (quick) or the thickness decided for the job and figures read off the bag (custom). Needed for the keys below to take effect. The room is the slab: its length and width, no height.",
+  "enum": [
+    "quick",
+    "custom"
+  ],
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / concrete.extra

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "Percent to add for an uneven base and spillage."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / concrete.step

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "The step in cubic metres the supplier sells ready-mixed concrete in. Ready-mixed only; optional."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / concrete.supply

Added value: +{
+  "description": "Bags of dry mix, or ready-mixed concrete delivered by the cubic metre.",
+  "enum": [
+    "bags",
+    "mixed"
+  ],
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / concrete.thickness

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "Slab thickness in millimetres, decided for the job. BuildBatch suggests none."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / concrete.weight

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "The weight of one bag in kilograms. Bags only."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / concrete.yield

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "Cubic metres one bag makes, as printed on the bag. Bags only."
+}

changedInput schema / properties / height / description

Previous value: -"Floor to ceiling, in the units. Needed when walls are painted, papered, tiled or boarded (paint-carpet too); not for flooring, carpet, loft insulation or skirting alone."New value: +"Floor to ceiling, in the units. Needed when walls are painted, papered, tiled or boarded (paint-carpet too); not for flooring, carpet, loft insulation, concrete or skirting alone."

changedInput schema / properties / job / enum

Previous value: -[
-  "paint",
-  "wallpaper",
-  "tiles",
-  "flooring",
-  "carpet",
-  "loft",
-  "both",
-  "paint-carpet",
-  "skirting",
-  "plasterboard"
-]New value: +[
+  "paint",
+  "wallpaper",
+  "tiles",
+  "flooring",
+  "carpet",
+  "loft",
+  "both",
+  "paint-carpet",
+  "skirting",
+  "plasterboard",
+  "concrete"
+]

Changed5 schema fields changedOct 3, 2026

addedInput schema / properties / bath

Added value: +{
+  "description": "A bath or shower tray: a name (bath-1700, tray-900) or its length along the wall x its rim height x how far it comes into the room, in the units. The wall behind it comes off up to the rim, and its footprint off a floor being laid. The key may be repeated.",
+  "items": {
+    "description": "A bath or shower tray: a name (bath-1700, tray-900) or its length along the wall x its rim height x how far it comes into the room, in the units. The wall behind it comes off up to the rim, and its footprint off a floor being laid. The key may be repeated.",
+    "type": "string"
+  },
+  "maxItems": 50,
+  "type": "array"
+}

addedInput schema / properties / floor.tileh

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "Floor tiles: the other side of a tile, in millimetres (with floor.tilew)."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / floor.tilew

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "Floor tiles: one side of a tile, in millimetres, for a count of tiles (with floor.tileh). Optional; the boxes are still counted by area."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / walltiles.tileh

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "The other side of a wall tile, in millimetres (with walltiles.tilew)."
+}

addedInput schema / properties / walltiles.tilew

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "number"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    }
+  ],
+  "description": "One side of a wall tile, in millimetres, for a count of tiles (with walltiles.tileh). Optional; the boxes are still counted by area."
+}

First observedOct 2, 2026

TDQS

A3.7/5.0

Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations already declare readOnly, idempotent, non-destructive, closed-world, so the safety bar is met. The description adds genuine behavior beyond that: unstated heights fall back to 2.4 m and the answer says so, price arguments are silently dropped but surfaced in the response, and the return is a short shopping list with quantity plus reason and a link. It does not cover failure modes or the detail=full size tradeoff explicitly, though the schema does.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness4/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Roughly 100 words for a 157-parameter tool is economical, and it is front-loaded with the purpose before moving to invocation facts and the return shape. A couple of clauses (height default, array repetition) restate schema content and could be trimmed, but nothing is bloated.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given a fully documented 157-property schema and an output schema, the description carries only what the schema cannot: that job is the sole required input, that defaults are applied and disclosed, and that prices are deliberately ignored. The remaining gap is routing context among the siblings, which matters for a tool this large but is not strictly needed to call it correctly.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 100%, so the baseline is 3. The description adds only a thin layer — 'Arguments are the named parameters of /plan.json', repeats the 2.4 m height default already documented in the height property, and notes that repeated door/window/opening values are arrays (also in the schema). It correctly signals price arguments are accepted and ignored, but that is likewise in the per-parameter docs.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description opens with a concrete verb and resource: it 'works out the whole shopping list for one room' and enumerates the option space it covers (door/window sizes, pack sizes, L-shaped rooms, partial wall tiling). 'With every option the planner has' implicitly contrasts with quick_room_list, but it never names that sibling, so differentiation is inferred rather than stated.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines3/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

Call-time guidance is present — 'A job is required', repeated values go in arrays, missing heights default to 2.4 m, price arguments are ignored — but this is invocation guidance, not tool selection guidance. There is no explicit statement of when to prefer this over quick_room_list or when to escalate to ask_questions/find_guide, and the '/plan.json' reference is opaque to an agent without outside knowledge.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

All BuildBatch tools Inspect

Try in Browser

One endpoint for every MCP toolRayrun runs every MCP server behind one URL and holds the credentials. Each call is decided per client, tool, and argument, then recorded.ray.runAd

Glama MCP Gateway

Add one secure layer between your agents and this server.

Resources

Need Help?