Structural disclaimer
Design aid, not engineering advice · Last updated 1 October 2026
Zome Calculator and Zome Calculator Pro are design and planning aids. They are not structural engineering, and they do not replace a qualified engineer, a building surveyor or certifier, or your local council. Check every design with the right professionals before you cut or buy anything.
What the tools do
The tools calculate geometry: the shape of a zome, strut lengths, bevel and mitre angles, panel shapes, and from those, quantities and cut lists. They show the result in 3D and in drawings, and can produce a PDF build plan.
What the tools do not do
They do not assess whether a structure is safe, strong or legal to build. In particular they do not calculate or check:
- wind, snow, rain, seismic, dead or live loads, or the load path through the structure;
- timber or metal sizes, grades, spans, fixings, brackets or connection design;
- foundations, footings, anchoring or ground conditions;
- fire, bushfire, energy efficiency, insulation, condensation or waterproofing;
- windows, doors, glazing or cladding as structural elements;
- building codes, Australian Standards, planning rules or any local requirement.
Before you build
- Have the design checked by a qualified structural engineer, and ask what sizes, materials and connections they require.
- Contact your local council and a building surveyor or certifier to find out whether you need a permit or approval and which rules apply where you live.
- Cut and assemble a test frame or a single panel from cheap material before you cut everything. Real timber varies, saw blades remove material (kerf), and small errors add up across many pieces.
- Check the numbers you intend to cut against the drawing and against each other. Results are rounded for display.
Plans from the Service are not certified building plans. If your project needs approval, the authority may require plans prepared or certified by a registered or licensed building designer, architect or engineer.
Safety
Building involves power tools, heavy materials and working at height. Use appropriate safety equipment, follow the tool and material makers' instructions, and get help where you need it.
Our care, and your responsibility
We work hard to make the calculations correct, and if you find an error we want to hear about it at [email protected]. But you are responsible for how you use the results and for the structure you build. Our liability is limited as set out in the Terms of use, and nothing in this page or the Terms removes any right you have under the Australian Consumer Law that cannot be excluded.