Professional Nashville Concrete Contractors Help With Your Project From Start to Finish
Are you planning to install a concrete walkway, patio, or driveway? Before you can start, you’ll need to know how much concrete to order. This can seem like the toughest part of the job if you’ve never done it before, but it’s fairly simple once you understand the basics.
Here’s a brief overview to help you calculate how many cubic yards of concrete you’ll need for your next concrete construction project. And if you’re ever in doubt, give our Nashville concrete contractors at Greenway of Nashville a call for advice!
So, You’re Planning a Concrete Construction Project…
While concrete is more affordable than other exterior materials, like natural stone, it can still get expensive, so it’s important to know exactly how much you need to avoid waste.
As with most hardscape projects, you need to plan out your space before you can purchase materials. Ask yourself the big questions like:
- How big is your space?
- What’s the purpose of your concrete addition?
- How many people will it need to accommodate?
- What shape would you like it to be?
Knowing the answers to questions like these will help ensure the end result meets your expectations. We recommend marking the area where you want the concrete to go. This will give you a visual for how large your concrete addition will ultimately be, and help you easily take measurements.
Types of Concrete to Consider
Another important factor to consider before you can order is the type of concrete you want. There are many different options to explore, all with various pros and cons. Here are just a few common examples:
- Mixed Designs – Concrete mixes can vary widely in strength, depending on the proportions of cement, aggregates, and additives used.
- Modern or Regular – Modern or regular concrete is a mixed design that uses sand and other common materials typically used to withstand pressure.
- High-Strength – This type of concrete adheres to a set of standards higher than most common applications. Its compressive strength is greater than 6,000 psi (pounds per square inch). 4,000-4,500 psi is the industry standard strength for concrete driveways, slabs, and walkways.
The greatest advantage of concrete is its durability and longevity, so when determining which type to choose for your project, pick a mix with the appropriate strength. The thickness of the pour is also incredibly important and will influence how much of your chosen concrete you need to order.
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Calculating Concrete
After you’ve chosen the type of concrete you want to work with, you can calculate how much of it you’ll need. Concrete is estimated in cubic yards (1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet).
Follow these four steps to calculate how many cubic yards of concrete you need:
- Mark the area, dividing it into smaller areas if necessary.
- Calculate the volume of the area(s). The exact formula used will depend on the shape of the area (see our guide below).
- Divide by 27 to convert the volume from feet to cubic yards.
- Add an estimated 10 percent to account for spillage and ground variations. The final number should tell you how many cubic yards of concrete you need to order!
Here is a reference broken down by common shapes used in residential concrete projects to help you easily find the formula you need to calculate the volume of your space.
- Rectangles: Multiply the length by the width by the depth (or the desired thickness of the concrete).
- Circles: Square the circle’s radius. Multiply by 3.14 (𝜋). Finally, multiply by the depth.
- Other: If you’re planning to construct an irregular shape, break the area down into smaller areas. Find the volume of each small area, and then add together.
Once you’ve figured out the type of concrete you’d like and how much of it you’ll need, keep in mind that ready-mix, or concrete that is batched for delivery as opposed to being mixed on-site, is ideal for most concrete construction projects.
Call Our Nashville Concrete Contractors to Get the Right Amount Every Time
Feel like you’re back in high school geometry class? Give our Nashville concrete contractors at Greenway of Nashville a call. We’ll make sure you get the right amount every time.
Entrusting the calculations, planning, and installation of your concrete project to our professionals will help you avoid mistakes that will cost you unnecessary time and money in the long run.
Contact us today at (615) 238-4574 for a free consultation. We’ve been the trusted choice for homeowners across Nashville since 2009.
