Home project guides
Straight answers to the questions people ask before a project: how much material to buy, what it costs and how the math works. Every guide links to a free calculator so you can run your own numbers.
Projects and materials
- How Many Bags of Concrete Do I Need?
How many 80, 60 or 40 lb bags of concrete you need per cubic yard, for common slab sizes and for fence post holes, with the formula and a free calculator. - How Many Squares of Shingles Do I Need?
How many squares and bundles of shingles a roof needs for 1,000 to 2,500 sq ft houses at 4/12, 6/12 and 8/12 pitch, what a square is, and how to measure your roof. - How Many Deck Boards Do I Need?
How many deck boards, joists and screws you need for 8x8, 10x10, 12x12, 12x16 and 16x16 decks, with the formula for any size and a free deck calculator.
Yard and garden
- How Much Mulch Do I Need?
How much mulch you need in cubic yards and 2 cu ft bags, how much a yard and a bag cover at 2, 3 and 4 inches deep, with tables and a free mulch calculator.
Pool
- How Much Chlorine to Shock a Pool
How much liquid chlorine, bleach or cal-hypo shock to add to raise free chlorine by 10 ppm in 5,000 to 30,000 gallon pools, plus how to dose a normal top-up.