SizeTheJob guides
Material guides
Straight answers to the “how much do I need?” questions — depths, coverage, material choices, and the math — each paired with a calculator that does it for you.
- 11 min read
Deck Board Spacing: Gap Rules for 2026
Learn proper deck board spacing gaps (1/8" to 1/4") for drainage, wood movement, and longevity. Real measurements for pressure-treated and composite.
Read the guide - 4 min read
Concrete Bag Yield & Coverage Chart
Concrete bag yield and coverage chart: how many 40, 60, and 80-lb bags are in a cubic yard, slab coverage by thickness, round-column (Sonotube) fill per foot, and ready-mix conversions.
Read the guide - 12 min read
Mulch Depth for Flower Beds: Coverage
Ideal mulch depth: 2–3 inches for beds, 3–4 inches under trees. Coverage by cubic yard, settling factors, and refresh schedules.
Read the guide - 14 min read
Concrete Footing Depth by Frost Line: Posts, Decks & Fences
Find your frost line. Deck, fence, and post footing depths by region. Avoid heave and settling with proper concrete depth.
Read the guide - 2 min read
How Many Bags of Concrete Are in a Yard?
How many 40, 60, and 80-lb bags of concrete make a cubic yard, why ready-mix wins past half a yard, and a quick reference table — plus free concrete calculators.
Read the guide - 2 min read
How Many Concrete Blocks Do I Need for a Wall?
Work out how many concrete blocks (CMU) a wall needs from its area, plus the mortar and optional grout — with a worked example and a free block calculator.
Read the guide - 2 min read
How Much Concrete Do I Need for a Slab?
How much concrete a slab needs — cubic yards and bag counts, the right thickness, bags vs ready-mix, and a worked example — plus a free concrete slab calculator.
Read the guide - 2 min read
How Much Crushed Stone for a Patio Base?
How much crushed stone a patio base needs — the right depth, what stone to use, and a worked example in tons — plus calculators for the base and the pavers.
Read the guide - 3 min read
How Much Gravel Do I Need for a Driveway?
How many tons of gravel a driveway needs — the right depth, the three-layer system, and a worked example — plus a free calculator that does the math for you.
Read the guide - 2 min read
Gravel vs. Crushed Stone: What's the Difference?
Gravel and crushed stone look similar but behave differently. Here's how they compare on shape, drainage, compaction, weight, and cost — and which to use for your project.
Read the guide - 2 min read
How Much Mulch Do I Need? Depth, Coverage & Bags
How much mulch your beds need — the right depth, how much a cubic yard covers, bags vs bulk, and a worked example — plus a free calculator that gives you yards and bags.
Read the guide - 2 min read
How Many Deck Boards Do I Need?
Work out how many deck boards your deck needs — from board width and gap to total linear feet and a buy-list by stock length — plus a free calculator that does it.
Read the guide - 2 min read
How Much Topsoil Do I Need for a New Lawn?
How much topsoil a new lawn needs — the right depth, how much a cubic yard covers, and a worked example — plus a free calculator that gives you yards and bags.
Read the guide - 2 min read
How Much Sand Do I Need for Pavers?
How much bedding sand a paver patio needs, what type to use, the right 1-inch depth, and a worked example — plus calculators for the sand, the base, and the pavers.
Read the guide - 2 min read
How to Build a Paver Patio Base (Layers & Depths)
The right base for a paver patio — subgrade, gravel base depth, bedding sand, and edge restraint — with depths, a worked example, and calculators for every layer.
Read the guide