Blog
Material price moves, new products and our own checks on the numbers other calculators rely on.
7 posts
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Data and analysis We tested 32 online calculators on one patio, base and mulch bed 32 calculators, three jobs, tested October 10, 2026. Concrete bag counts ran 55.42 to 62 and gravel 3.4 to 5.04 tons. The data and what to type in. -
Data and analysis Paint coverage per gallon: what nine data sheets actually say Nine interior paints from four brands, read from their data sheets. A bigger coverage number mostly means a thinner coat. The math, and what to plan with. -
Data and analysis Retaining wall blocks per square foot: why area math comes up short Ten common wall blocks compared: blocks per square foot, pallet coverage and weight from the makers' sheets, and why counting by area undercounts a wall. -
Data and analysis Gravel calculators compared: compaction is where the orders split We checked five gravel calculators. The volume math is identical. What changes your order is compaction, and one site's 30% advice doesn't add up. -
Data and analysis Mulch calculators compared: the default depth changes your order Four mulch calculators, one formula. The depth each one suggests can nearly double your bag count. What we found on Oct 6, 2026, and what to type in. -
New products Type IL cement is now the norm. What it changes for a DIY slab Most US cement is now Type IL. Your bag count stays the same, but finishing and curing change a little. What the cement makers and finishers say. -
Data and analysis How many bags of concrete in a yard? We checked two calculators 45 bags of 80 lb mix make a cubic yard, per Quikrete and Sakrete. One calculator we checked says 51. Where the gap comes from and what to buy.