Introduction:
Iām thrilled to share the story of building the Asphalt Calculator, a web app designed to simplify asphalt planning for contractors and DIY enthusiasts. This post covers the journey from concept to launch! 
The Idea:
The idea sparked from my struggle estimating asphalt for a driveway project. With complex variables like area and thickness, I saw a need for a tool to automate calculations, benefiting many in the construction field. 
Development:
I built the app using Next.js for a fast, server-rendered experience and deployed it on Cloudflare Pages for seamless scalability. It calculates asphalt volume and cost based on size, thickness, and local prices, with support for imperial and metric units. 
Testing & Feedback:
After testing with sample data, I gathered feedback from industry friends, refining the UI and adding thickness recommendations based on project type. 
Launch & Lessons:
The app is now live at https://asphalt-calculator.work. Key lessons include the value of research and iteration. Try it out and let me know your thoughts! 