Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy
This policy explains what data Baluster & Stair Calc collects, how it's used, and the choices you have.
1. Overview
Baluster & Stair Calc ("the app," "we," "our") is a construction-calculator app for deck railing and stair spacing. This policy covers the Android app available on Google Play. We built the app to work primarily on your device — most of what you type never leaves your phone.
2. Data we collect
We keep data collection to the minimum needed to run the app and its optional features.
| Category | What it includes | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Project inputs | Rail length, baluster width, gap size, stair rise/run, project titles and notes you enter | To calculate spacing and store your saved projects on-device |
| AI Inspector messages | Questions you type to the AI Inspector, and the railing figures needed to answer them | Sent to Google's Gemini AI service to generate a response, see Section 4 |
| Advertising identifiers | Advertising ID, coarse device & app-usage signals | Used by Google AdMob to show and measure banner ads, see Section 5 |
| Diagnostic data | Crash logs, app performance signals | To find and fix bugs |
We do not require you to create an account, and we do not collect your name, email address, or contact list to use the calculator or blueprint features.
3. Your saved projects
Stored on your device only
When you save a railing project, it's written to a local database on your phone (using Android's Room/SQLite storage). We do not upload your saved projects to our servers, and we cannot see them. Uninstalling the app or clearing its storage permanently deletes this data.
4. The AI Inspector feature
When you ask the AI Inspector a question, your message — along with relevant numbers from your current calculation (like gap size or stair angle) — is sent to Google's Gemini AI service to generate a response. This exchange is processed by Google under its own terms and privacy practices. We don't attach your name or account information to these requests, since the app doesn't require an account.
Avoid including personal or sensitive information in your questions to the AI Inspector beyond what's needed to describe your railing.
5. Advertising
The app shows banner ads through Google AdMob to keep the calculator free. AdMob may use your advertising ID and general app-usage signals to show ads and measure their performance, and may use this data across other apps that use AdMob. You can reset or opt out of personalized advertising in your device's ad settings.
6. Third-party services
The app relies on the following services to function.
Google AdMob
Serves in-app banner advertising.
Google Firebase AI (Gemini)
Powers the AI Inspector's answers to your questions.
Firebase App Check
Verifies that requests to our AI service come from a genuine copy of the app, to prevent abuse. This does not identify you personally.
Each of these providers processes data under its own privacy policy.
7. App permissions
The app requests only the device permissions needed for ads and network features (such as internet access) to load. It does not request access to your camera, contacts, location, microphone, or photos.
8. Children's privacy
Baluster & Stair Calc is a professional construction tool and is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided personal information through the app, contact us and we'll remove it.
9. Data retention and deletion
Saved projects live on your device until you delete them in-app, clear the app's storage, or uninstall the app. AI Inspector conversations are processed to generate a response and are not stored by us for later use. To request deletion of any data a third-party service may retain, contact us using the details below.
10. Security
We use industry-standard practices, including Firebase App Check, to help protect the app's AI feature from abuse. No method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure, so we can't guarantee absolute security, but we work to protect your information appropriately.
11. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy as the app changes. We'll update the effective date at the top of this page when we do. Continued use of the app after an update means you accept the revised policy.
12. Contact us
Questions about this policy or your data? Reach out any time.
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