[Curry4113]

i need to know how much topsoil in need for my yard and i need the yardage can anyone tell me how to figure this out, i got and area of 6500 sq ft and i want to put 4 inches of topsoil on it, how do i figure out the amout of yards i need for the job? thanks

[Dale Wiley]

80.25 yards X 1.23 compaction factor =

98.7 yards.

[dan deutekom]

Dale

I came to 97.71 yards and I couldn't figure out why we were so close to each other and yet not the same until used a different method of calculation. My formula was 6500 *.33/27 * 1.23=97.72. I guess Dale used 6500/27/12*1.23=98.7.
Shows what rounding off numbers can do but over this size of job 1 yard isn't worth quibbling about.

[Curry4113]

ok so whats the compaction factor for? when its topsoil

[dan deutekom]

If you are just topdressing the lawn then I wouldn't worry about the compaction factor but if you are trying to bring the level up to a specific grade or fill planters, and you don't account for compaction of the soil you won't have enough soil. Soil is nice loose and fluffy when dumped off the truck but when you spread it, level it and then let the rain hit it; it loses the fluffiness and compacts. Different soils have different rates and it is not a hard and fast rule. In the area I work I use about 15% extra while it seems Dale uses about 23% extra. Sand and Gravel are a little different. Pea gravel is pretty much dead on but road course and sand I will tack on about 10% extra.

[start2finish]

believe it or not, but the phase of the moon has alot to do with excavation. Sometimes you will have plenty of dirt when digging something out, and sometimes you will not have enough to fill the same hole in.

[AZTLANLC]

Most of my jobs I don't have to be 100% accurate so the formula I use is this.

Area X Inches / 300 = Yds. required
This works pretty good for me for mulch and top soil.

Area x inches after compaction / 240 = Yds. required for aggreaate base material

[Stonehenge]

Here's a perfect example - today we removed three trees from a clients yard for transplanting at another site. After the over-excavation needed to get a good rootball, we removed the trees (with rootball). Roughly 16-20" diameter, 12-16" deep (varied by tree).

Even with the soil that came out with the tree, when we pushed the over-excavated loose soils back into the hole, there was a mound where the hole used to be - there was "too much" soil.

That's the "fluff factor" discussed above - in time those soils will settle. But as Dan mentioned, if it's a simple topdressing, that doesn't really apply.

[jwholden]

Stonehenge Brickpaving and Horticultural Services

I like it!