Project guides

Step-by-step explanations that go with our calculators: how to measure awkward areas, what depth to use and how to buy the right amount.

Concrete & masonry

Concrete & masonryBagged concrete vs. ready-mix: how to decideCompare total cost, labor and risk before your next pour.Read guide Concrete & masonryHow thick should a concrete slab be?Typical thickness for patios, driveways and pads — and why the base matters.Read guide Concrete & masonryHow to mix bagged concreteWater per bag, batch sizes, mixing and curing.Read guide

Patios, walls & paving

Patios, walls & pavingPaver patio base: how deep to dig and what to orderExcavation depth, base and sand layers, slope and what to order.Read guide Patios, walls & pavingHow to plan a block retaining wallHeight limits, base, buried course, drainage and caps.Read guide

Landscaping & yard

Landscaping & yardGravel driveway guide: layers, depth and how much to orderLayers, depths, stone types and tonnage for a lasting driveway.Read guide Landscaping & yard7 mulching mistakes to avoidVolcano mulching, piling it too deep and other common errors.Read guide Landscaping & yardTypes of gravel and what to use them for#57, #411, crusher run, pea gravel and more — which to use where.Read guide Landscaping & yardTopsoil vs. fill dirt vs. garden soilWhat each soil is for, typical depths and how to buy.Read guide Landscaping & yardHow to lay sodSoil prep, laying pattern and watering for a new sod lawn.Read guide

Decks, stairs, fences & roofs

Decks, stairs, fences & roofsRoof pitch explainedWhat 6/12 means, how to measure pitch and how it affects materials.Read guide Decks, stairs, fences & roofsStair dimensions and building codeRiser, tread, headroom, handrail and guard requirements.Read guide Decks, stairs, fences & roofsDeck board spacing: how big a gap?Side gaps, end gaps and joist spacing for wood and composite.Read guide

Interior & walls

Interior & wallsHow to measure a room for flooringMeasuring, layout direction, waste and boxes for any floor.Read guide Interior & wallsHow many coats of paint do you need?One, two or three coats — and when primer is the smarter buy.Read guide

Heating, cooling & insulation

Heating, cooling & insulationWhat size air conditioner do I need?BTU by room size, adjustments, and why bigger isn't better.Read guide Heating, cooling & insulationBlown-in vs. batt insulation for atticsR-value per inch, coverage and DIY trade-offs compared.Read guide

Measuring

MeasuringHow to measure an irregular areaThree reliable ways to measure curved beds and odd-shaped yards.Read guide MeasuringCubic yards to tons: how to convert landscape materialsConversion chart for gravel, sand, soil, mulch and asphalt.Read guide MeasuringHow to calculate cubic yardsThe formula, unit conversions and worked examples.Read guide