Guides & How-tos
Plain-English guides to estimating materials — concrete, gravel, mulch, paint, roofing and lumber — written to answer the questions people actually search for, with a free calculator for every job.
Deck Materials List: Working Out Boards, Joists, Posts and Fasteners
How to work out a deck materials list — decking boards, joists, beams, posts, footings and fasteners — plus board spacing, waste and what a permit covers.
How Much Concrete Do I Need? A Straight Answer for Slabs, Footings and Posts
Work out concrete for a slab, footing or post hole: the cubic yard formula, bag counts, common slab sizes, waste allowance and when to switch to ready-mix.
How Much Gravel Do I Need? Tons, Cubic Yards and the Right Depth
Calculate gravel for a driveway, path or drainage bed: the cubic yard formula, tons per yard, coverage tables, the right depth and which stone size to buy.
How Much Mulch Do I Need? Bags, Cubic Yards and the Right Depth
Work out mulch by the bag or the cubic yard, learn the right depth for beds and trees, when bulk beats bags, and how much a yard of mulch really covers.
How Much Paint Do I Need? Gallons Per Room, Worked Out
Work out paint by the gallon or litre: the wall area formula, coverage rates, how many coats, when to prime, and worked examples for common room sizes.
How to Calculate Square Footage of a Room, a House or a Yard
How to measure and calculate square footage for rooms, L-shapes, circles and land — plus conversions to square metres and yards, and what to include.
Roof Pitch Explained: Rise Over Run, Degrees and the Slope Factor
What roof pitch means, how to measure it safely, converting between x-in-12, degrees and percent, and using the slope factor to turn footprint into roof area.