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Can't think straight today

CT18fireman

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Messages
250
Location
Brookfield, CT
Occupation
Owner
I have a relative small paver patio job to estimate and need to calculate the stone base needed. Dimensions are 16x18 ft. It is just below grade so only 4-5" of fill will be needed. Following this will be the 1" sand bed. I keep coming up with a huge amount in terms of yards of material. I am doing something wrong and have never had this problem. Very aggravating. Someone help me get this figured.

Thanks
 

Cat420

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2004
Messages
527
Location
Pine Bush Ny
Occupation
Construction, small engine and machine shop work
Here's what I got. 4.5 yds of stone/fill, 1 yd of sand. You have to convert feet to inches to get the correct amount. For stone/fill multiply 192x216x5, divide 207,360 by 1728, then divide 120 by 27 to get cubic yards needed. 1728 is the volume of a cubic foot in inches, 27 is the volume of a cubic yard in feet. Once you convert everything to like terms it's pretty easy. Now that I'm starting to sound like a math teacher, I'll stop. Glad to be of service.
 

Oversized2

Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2004
Messages
10
Location
Western Washington
Occupation
Heavy Haul Lowboy Driver
An Area 16' X 18' X 4.5" works out to 7 Tons or 4 cu/yds. 1" of sand is 1.3 Ton or just under 1 cu/yd. All depends on the material weight, base at 3500lbs per yard and sand just over 3000lbs. per yd.
 

CT18fireman

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Messages
250
Location
Brookfield, CT
Occupation
Owner
That is where I made my mistake. Some how I was getting a much higher amount. I knew it was wrong, just couldn't see it.

Thanks
 

CT18fireman

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Messages
250
Location
Brookfield, CT
Occupation
Owner
Thanks.

That makes it even faster.

I know the formulas but sometimes you just have those days when things don't work. Seems to always be the small jobs I have trouble with.
 

mert0714

Charter Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2003
Messages
64
Location
Eastern IA
Another way to figure it is that a cubic yard covers 80 square feet 4 inches deep (actually 81 square feet), 60 square feet 6 inches deep, 40 square feet 8 inches deep and so on. This works well well for quick figuring and guestimations. There is an actual formula for figuring it tonnage wise but I am not completely sure of all of it.
 
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