Blog
Projects, comparisons and buying guides
The short guides answer one question each. These articles go wider: a whole project from measuring to ordering, or two ways of doing the same job side by side. The numbers still come from the calculators.
- How to order gravel by the ton (and check what the truck brings)
Measure, turn square feet into tons for your stone, pick bags, bulk bags or a truck, read a per-ton quote against per-yard, and check the delivery ticket.
· 6 min read
- How to build a gravel path that stays put (with quantities)
Edging first, a compacted crushed stone base, two inches of pea gravel on top: the whole job in order, with tons and bags worked out for 3 and 4 ft paths of 10 to 50 ft.
· 6 min read
- How to build a block retaining wall under 3 ft (with quantities)
Trench, base, first course, drainage pipe and stone, setback and caps, in order, with the block counts and the tons of stone for 10 to 50 ft walls at 1 to 3 ft high.
· 7 min read
- How to pour a concrete slab for a shed (with quantities)
The whole job in order: gravel base, forms, thickness, bags or a truck, pour, finish and cure, with concrete and gravel worked out for 8x10 to 12x16 ft sheds.
· 7 min read
- Bagged concrete vs ready-mix: where is the break-even?
Bags per yard, short-load fees, mixing time and mix quality, with the arithmetic to find the break-even for your own volume and local prices, not a national average.
· 6 min read
- How to measure a room for paint, flooring and tile
Measure once, order three materials: wall area minus openings for paint, floor area with the right waste for flooring and tile, and how to turn square feet into boxes.
· 7 min read