Material estimating guides
Step-by-step how-tos with a calculator built into every post. Learn the formulas, avoid the common measuring mistakes, and order the right amount the first time.
How to Calculate Wallpaper
Work out how many rolls a room needs, allow for pattern repeat, and avoid the dye-lot mistake that ruins an otherwise good job.
2026-09-04
How to Calculate Stair Stringers
Work out riser count, riser height, total run and stringer length for a set of stairs — with the IRC limits that make the layout legal.
2026-09-04
How to Calculate Roof Square Footage
Turn a building footprint into true roof area using the slope factor, convert square feet to roofing squares, and work out shingle bundles.
2026-09-04
How to Calculate Roof Pitch
Measure roof pitch with a level and a tape, convert it to degrees, and use the slope factor to turn a footprint into real roof area.
2026-09-04
How to Calculate Cubic Feet
The cubic feet formula for any box, room, bed or appliance — plus the inch, yard and metre conversions people get wrong, with worked examples.
2026-09-04
How to Calculate Concrete Yardage
Work out cubic yards for any slab, footing or pour, decide between bags and ready-mix, and understand why square yards is the wrong unit.
2026-09-04
How Much Mulch Do I Need?
Size a mulch order in cubic yards or bags, pick the right depth for the plants you have, and know when bulk beats bagged.
2026-09-04
How Much Paint Do You Need for a Room?
Measure wall area, subtract doors and windows, and divide by 350 sq ft per gallon. A 12x12 room usually needs about 2 gallons for two coats.
2026-02-02
How Much Gravel Do You Need for a Driveway?
Size a gravel driveway in tons and cubic yards, learn the right depth per layer, and avoid the ordering mistakes that leave you short.
2026-01-29
How Much Concrete Do You Need for a 10x10 Slab?
A 10x10 slab at 4 inches thick needs about 1.23 cubic yards of concrete. See the bag counts, thickness table, and when to order ready-mix.
2026-01-26
How Many Bags of Mulch Are in a Yard?
One cubic yard of mulch equals 13.5 bags of 2 cubic-foot mulch. Here is the math, a bag-count table, and when bulk beats bags.
2026-01-22
How Do You Calculate Cubic Yards? A Simple Guide
Convert length, width, and depth into cubic yards for soil, gravel, mulch, and concrete — with a conversion table and worked examples.
2026-01-18
How to Calculate Asphalt Tonnage (With a Worked Example)
A step-by-step method for converting a paved area and thickness into tons of hot-mix asphalt, plus a quick-reference tonnage table.
2026-01-15