How much do I need?

[bodypilot]

Ok, I removed all the old mulch at a customers house. He wants both rock and mulch put back in. I need 400 sq.ft. of mulch, and 450 sq.ft. of rock. How do I figure out how much I need if it's going to be 2-3 inches thick? Anyone?

[Seascape]

2" 3 yds.
3" 4.5 yds.

usually its sold by tons. 1 yd weighs about 1.5 tons. Your quarry will be able to hone your #s for you if you give them your sq footage.

[bodypilot]

How did you come up with those numbers? Was that for 400 sq.ft. i guess?

[hardboiled]

Sit down and spit out your gum, class is about to start.

Divide your square footage by 27 to get square yards. 1 square yard that is 1 foot deep is equal to 1 cubic yard. You want it 2" deep, not 1 foot so divide your cubic yards(same as square yards at 1' thick) by 6 for 2", or by 4 for 3", to get the yards of material you need. Please show your work....You have 2 minutes froooooom now.

18 x 25 = 450
450/27 = 16.6
16.6/6(for 2" deep) = 2.7 ..... 3 cu. yds.


400 sq. ft./27 = 14.8
14.8/4(for 3" deep) = 3.7...4 cu.yds.

Switch them around if you need to, you didn't say which depth for which area.

[bodypilot]

That's exactly what I was looking for. Thanks a lot!

[Seascape]

How did you come up with those numbers? ?

Off the top of my head.

[Jack D.]

http://www.gardenplace.com/content/calculator/mulch_calc.html

http://www.atstecks.com/mulch.htm

[Bikehigh]

Divide your square footage by 27 to get square yards. 1 square yard that is 1 foot deep is equal to 1 cubic yard. You want it 2" deep, not 1 foot so divide your cubic yards(same as square yards at 1' thick) by 6 for 2", or by 4 for 3", to get the yards of material you need. Please show your work....You have 2 minutes froooooom now.

18 x 25 = 450
450/27 = 16.6
16.6/6(for 2" deep) = 2.7 ..... 3 cu. yds.


400 sq. ft./27 = 14.8
14.8/4(for 3" deep) = 3.7...4 cu.yds.

Switch them around if you need to, you didn't say which depth for which area.

Um, a square yard that is three feet deep gives you a cubic yard. You got the right answer, but the wrong way.

18 x 25 = 450 correct
450/27 = 16.6 should be 450/(3x3) = 450/9 = 50
16.6/6(for 2" deep) = 2.7 ..... 3 cu. yds. should be 50x(2/36) = 50/18 = 2.8

Sorry I had to correct you.

[hardboiled]

Yeah, thanks. I meant what I said, I just didn't say what i meant. I was taking the cubic yard and slicing it into thirds so it was a foot thick, then its easier to visualize dividing for the 2 or 3 inches of mulch.
It should have read....27 square feet at 1 foot thick is equal to a cubic yard.
Thanks, my bad.