CCYDIONTools
TRANSPARENT METHODOLOGY

How our estimates work

The calculators are designed for project planning. They do not replace an onsite measurement, supplier quote, or contractor proposal.

SOD

Quantity & purchasing

Sod starts with measured lawn area, adds the selected waste allowance, and rounds purchasing up to whole pallets using a 450 sq-ft planning pallet.

Cost ranges

Material pricing varies by grass type. Professional ranges respond to site preparation, grading, access, project size and grass choice.

MULCH

Quantity & purchasing

Mulch volume uses area × depth ÷ 324. Bulk ordering rounds up to the next 0.5 cubic yard, while 2-cu-ft bags round up to whole bags.

Cost ranges

DIY includes material, selected delivery, cleanup allowance and basic tools. Professional estimates add spreading labor and access adjustments.

SATELLITE MEASUREMENT

How map measurement works

Satellite measurement lets the homeowner outline one or more project areas on an aerial map. The site calculates the polygon area using geographic coordinates, converts square meters to square feet, and totals completed sections.

Satellite imagery can be dated or obscured by trees and shadows. Treat the result as a planning measurement and verify critical quantities before ordering materials.

Important: Real-world prices can move. Before purchasing, confirm material availability, delivery fees, minimum orders, tax, and scope with the supplier or contractor.
FERTILIZATION & WEED CONTROL

DIY retail benchmark model

The DIY estimate uses a representative retail basket checked August 20, 2026. The current benchmark blends nationally available homeowner products from brands such as Scotts, Vigoro, Sta-Green, Sunday, BioAdvanced, Spectracide, IMAGE and The Andersons.

The model scales a 5,000-sq-ft benchmark to the entered lawn size. The baseline annual program includes three fertilizer allowances, two pre-emergent allowances and one post-emergent allowance. Weed pressure and lawn condition add treatment allowances; a first-year spreader allowance is added when the homeowner does not already own one. This is a cost-comparison model, not a treatment prescription.

PROVIDER MATCHING BETA

Providers are matched by Service × ZIP.

CYDION can return up to three active providers for the exact service and saved 5-digit ZIP code. Participating providers do not influence the DIY-vs-Pro score. The static beta uses a deterministic daily rotation; production will use backend impression balancing so qualified providers receive fair exposure.

SCORING PRINCIPLE

Product Access & Effectiveness

For services such as lawn treatments and pest control, CYDION does not assume that a homeowner-accessible retail program is automatically equivalent to a professional program. Homeowners can buy many effective general-use products, while licensed professionals may have access to additional products, formulations, application equipment, and treatment strategies. CYDION factors the practical difference into Knowledge & Skill, Equipment, and Risk rather than adding a separate seventh score.

The model scores the expected DIY-vs-professional capability gap for the selected situation; it does not assume that every professional product requires a license or that retail products are ineffective.

PEST CONTROL SCORING

Knowledge & Skill carries the most weight.

General Pest Control uses the same CYDION Score language and visual breakdown as the other project tools, but its service-specific weights reflect the job. Knowledge & Skill is 35% of the pest-control score, followed by Cost Savings 20%, Effort 15%, Risk 15%, Time 10%, and Equipment 5%.

PEST CONTROL GUARDRAIL

Home size limits very high DIY scores.

For General Pest Control, a home must be under 2,000 sq ft to receive a CYDION Project Score above 75. At 2,000 sq ft or larger, the maximum score is 75. The guardrail reflects the recurring treatment coverage, inspection, follow-up, application effort, and professional knowledge that become more meaningful as home size increases.