Measure in square feet
For a square or rectangle, multiply the length by the width in feet. A patio 20 feet by 30 feet is 600 square feet.
For an odd shape, break it into rectangles, measure each one and add them together. For a round area, multiply the radius by itself and then by 3.14. A circle 12 feet across has a radius of 6 feet, so 6 x 6 x 3.14 is about 113 square feet.
Take out anything the stone will not cover, such as planters, a fire pit or the pool itself when you are measuring the deck around it.
Add extra for cuts
Pieces get cut at the edges, around drains and at the corners, and a few always break. Many installers add five to ten percent to the measured area. Go toward ten percent or more for a French pattern, curved edges or a lot of corners.
On a 600 square foot patio, ten percent extra is 60 square feet, so you would order for 660.
Buy it all at once, from the same lot. Stone varies in color from one run to the next, and a few spare pieces kept back make a future repair invisible.
Coping is measured in linear feet
Pool coping runs along the edge, so measure the distance around the pool in feet rather than the area. Count the corners and any curves, and allow a few extra pieces for cuts. Our coping guide covers profiles and sizes.
Gravel is measured by depth
Decorative gravel fills a volume, so you need the depth as well as the area. Multiply the square footage by the depth in inches and divide by 12 to get cubic feet, then divide by 27 to get cubic yards.
For example, 200 square feet at 2 inches deep is 200 x 2 / 12, or about 33 cubic feet, which is roughly 1.2 cubic yards.
Rock is sold by weight, and different rock weighs different amounts, so give us the area and the depth and we will convert it for the gravel you pick. Our gravel size guide covers which size suits which job.
Synthetic grass comes off a roll
Our synthetic grass comes in rolls 15 feet wide and 100 feet long. Plan the lawn in 15 foot wide runs and order by the length you need off the roll.
A yard 30 feet by 40 feet takes two 15 foot runs, each 40 feet long. That is 80 feet off the roll and covers 1,200 square feet. Lay every run in the same direction so the blades lean the same way on both sides of the seam.
Bring us the numbers
Call the yard nearest you or send the quote form with the material, the square footage and when you need it, and we will come back with a price. Not sure of the measurements yet? Bring a sketch with the dimensions to the counter.
