If you are wondering how to calculate how much gravel to buy for your garden, here’s how. This article will tell you all the basic things you need to know to work out how much gravel to get so for whatever purpose you have in mind.
Bear in mind though, gravel coverage is not an exact science. If a calculation suggests that a tonne of gravel is just right for your driveway, and you then buy exactly that amount, only to discover that you are slightly short, just remember that you should allow for something like this happening. However, the good news is that it’s actually easier than it sound to get it right.
There are several things you need to be certain about before you go ahead and order your gravel. You need to know some fairly exact measurements first. If, for example, you are getting some garden gravel for a driveway, you need to know the length of the driveway, the depth of the gravel in the driveway, and the width of the driveway.
Let’s take an example of a driveway that is two metres, or six feet, in width, 50 millimetres, or two inches, in depth, and 50 metres, or about 50 yards in length. For a driveway of those dimensions, you would need slightly less than 12 tonnes of gravel to fill it.
There are a few other things to take into consideration though. Your gravel driveway should ideally be rounded in profile with the middle of the driveway slightly higher than the sides. This will allow rain water to run off to the sides and drain away. This kind of profile may affect the overall measurements, so you need to allow for this.
Also, you may find there are a few soft spots in the bed of the driveway when it is being dug out. Soft spots should ideally be dug down to a hard base. This may also affect the way you calculate how much gravel you need to buy.
It should be obvious, but it is always best to do any digging out required before you order the amount of gravel you think you will need. Ordering the gravel based on a paper calculation may need serious revising if you subsequently discover a large soft spot that will need an extra depth of gravel.
On the other hand, if you dig out the path or driveway first, and ensure that everything is exactly how you want it to be first, then your calculations can be on paper, but also tempered by what the reality is, should it deviate from the expected.
As a broad rule of thumb, a path or driveway or indeed any area that is about 10 metres, or about 33 feet long by two metres, or about six feet, wide, by 50 millimetres, or about two inches deep, will need almost two and a half tonnes of gravel. There should be some gravel left over, but not too much. The extra can come in handy for all kinds of things in the garden, so it shouldn’t be wasted.
David A Robinson
Help and information about using gravel for driveways and gardens.
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