DIY guides
How to estimate materials for common home and garden projects.
Measure a bathroom floor, work out tiles and boxes for 12x12, 12x24 or mosaic tile, and estimate grout and thinset, with a worked example.
How to work out mulch in cubic yards or bags, when bulk delivery beats bags, and how deep to spread it, with worked examples.
Cubic yards of concrete for one- and two-car driveways at 4, 5 and 6 inches thick, plus base, reinforcement and how to order ready-mix.
Plan the materials for a rectangular deck: deck boards, joists, beams, posts and screws, with a worked 16 x 12 ft example and spacing rules.
Work out drywall sheets, screws, joint compound and tape for a basement, with a worked 20 x 30 ft example and tips on board types.
Plan a wood privacy or picket fence: posts, rails, pickets and concrete, with a worked 150 ft example and tips on spacing, gates and depth.
Work out tons of gravel for a new or refreshed driveway, which stone to use in each layer, and how deep each layer should be.
Measure rooms, add the right waste, and work out boxes, underlayment, baseboard and transitions for laminate or vinyl plank flooring.
Estimate roof area from the ground using your house footprint and pitch, then convert to squares and bundles of shingles, with a worked example.
Measure square footage for rooms, L-shaped spaces, odd shapes and whole houses, and convert to square yards, square meters and acres.
How to work out how many 80, 60 or 40 lb bags of concrete you need for a slab, post holes or a pad, with a quick chart and worked examples.
Work out how many gallons of paint you need for a bedroom, living room or ceiling, with the formula, a room-size chart and tips to avoid buying too much.