How much Concrete do I need?

[oldgoat378]

This has probably been answered a million times but it wasn't asked by me! I have 1000 square feet of area 3" deep. How many "yards" of concrete would it take to fill it and how do I do this Math? And what what does the term "yards" mean?

Old Goat :oops:

[Knight]

This has probably been answered a million times but it wasn't asked by me! I have 1000 square feet of area 3" deep. How many "yards" of concrete would it take to fill it and how do I do this Math? And what what does the term "yards" mean?

Answering the questions in reverse order:

1)
Yards in the case of concrete means square yards of concrete. A cube of concrete one yard wide, one yard long, and one yard tall. A yard is three feet, so that would make a 3 foot by three foot by three foot cube, with a total of 3x3x3 = 27 square feet.

2)
In order to do any type of math, you have to be talking in the same units. You've got 1,000 square feet of area, but three inches of depth. We need to convert inches to feet before we can continue.

There are twelve inches to the foot, and you're depth is three inches, so:

Code: Select all

3 in
-------- = 0.25 Ft
12 In/Ft

3)
Having gotten to the same units, we can proceed with the math. With 1,000 Ft² of area by 0.25 ft thick you have:

1,000 Ft² x 0.25 ft = 250 Ft³.

Since step one showed us there are 27 cubic feet in one cubic yard...

Code: Select all

250 Ft³
----------- = 9.259 Yd³
27 Ft³/Yd³

You'll need 9.259 cubic yards of concrete. Best to order 10, just to be sure, It's always easier to throw it away, then scramble to get more while the stuff you've already poured is setting up.

[oldgoat378]

Mr. Knight:
Thank you very much for your time and your answer. I never was much good at math but I appreciate the fact that some people are! I was at one time, prior to my retirement, very good at catching drug dealers and murderers and solving crimes! Thanks Again! Have a good life!
Old Goat 8)