Using a paver calculator is the ideal way to control project costs and shop for your raw materials with confidence. These handy online tools are available through reputable suppliers and retailers, giving consumers a helping hand during the planning phases of residential and commercial construction projects.
Pavers have been growing in popularity across the United States over the past 30 years. Concrete and clay pavers are available in a wide range of shapes, styles, colors and tints, allowing you to create unique custom designs.
The range of possible configurations is endless, and when you pair high-quality materials with a strong vision for the finished product and work with a skilled contractor, you can create incredible driveways, patios and walkways that will add a great deal of value to your property.
Paver Calculator Basics
Paver calculators help you plan projects by generating accurate estimates for raw material requirements. They can help you determine how much of the following raw materials you will need to buy:
- Concrete or clay paver stones for the driveway or patio surface
- Quarry process (QP) or recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) for the base of the exterior floor
- Concrete stand for stabilizing the foundational base
- Plastic edging for the perimeter trim
It is especially important to determine the precise quantity of paver stones you will need, since these are the most expensive of the necessary raw materials. If you need further assistance, you can always turn to an experienced professional for help.
How to Use a Paver Calculator
To use a paver calculator, you will need to know two basic facts about your project:
- The total surface area you wish to cover
- The depth to which you will be filling the foundation
Generally, contractors recommend that the foundational base be filled with QP or RCA to a depth of about 4 inches. That base should then be topped with about 1-inch of concrete sand, depending on how much traffic you expect the surface to get.
The concrete sand provides an essential moisture barrier, and also helps lock the individual paver stones in place without requiring expensive and tedious individual mortaring.
Surface area is relatively easy to determine if you’re working with a regular shape, such as a rectangle, triangle or circle. For rectangular (or square) surfaces, simply multiply the length of the area by its width to determine its total surface area.
The surface area of a triangle can be found by multiplying 1/2 of the triangle’s base width by the triangle’s height at its tallest point. If you’re working with a circular space, multiply the diameter of the circle by the constant pi (approximately 3.14).
If you’re working with an irregular shape, simply divide the area into smaller shapes with regular dimensions. Then, calculate the surface area of each of the regular shapes and add up your results to find the total surface area you need to cover.
The Paver Calculator: What to Do Next
Once you’ve determined the amount of raw materials you’ll need to complete your project, your next step is to find a reputable supplier that offers quality products at highly competitive prices.
Serving customers throughout New Jersey, the greater New York City area and adjacent regions of Pennsylvania, Braen Supply is the area’s leading provider of premium-quality stone products.
Braen Supply always maintains an extensive inventory of stone construction materials, and the company’s bulk strategy helps customers save money while enjoying excellent quality. Braen Supply is also happy to deliver products directly to your job site, making your shopping experience easier and more convenient.
