by Dirtman » Tue Jul 25, 2006 6:58 am
Hi Robert:
You need approximately 120 bank cubic yards to fill the hole (36 * 18 * 5 = 3240 cubic feet / 27 = 120 cubic yards) but the tonnage needed depends on what the material you need weighs per bank cubic yard.
You need tonnage based on bank cubic yards (as it lies in a natural, compacted state). If your source gives you the weight in loose cubic yards (material loaded in a dump truck "grows" because it gets loose when loaded), add 20% to 30% to the total for compaction.
If loose yardage is quoted, I suggest starting at 20% added to the total, realizing that you may need a little more to finish filling the hole.
George