How the planner works
Each project combines several Calcist calculators into one list, using the same formulas, so the numbers match the single calculators exactly. Quantities already include the usual extra: 10% for concrete, pavers, studs and drywall, and 5% for blocks.
| Project | What's on the list | Built from |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab or patio | Ready-mix or 80 lb bags, gravel base, #4 rebar grid, form boards | Concrete cost, rebar, gravel |
| Paver patio | Pavers, gravel base, bedding sand, edge restraint | Paver calculator |
| Block wall | 8 × 8 × 16 blocks, mortar mix, footing concrete | Concrete block, footing |
| Retaining wall | Wall blocks, caps, base and drainage gravel, landscape fabric | Retaining wall calculator |
| Deck | Deck boards, joists, screws, footing concrete | Deck boards, footing |
| Interior wall | Studs, plates, drywall sheets, paint | Studs, drywall, paint |
Worked example
A 12 × 10 ft patio, 4 in thick, on 4 in of gravel with a rebar grid: 1.75 cubic yards of ready-mix (120 sq ft × 4 in is 1.48 cu yd, plus 10%, rounded up to a quarter yard), 2.1 tons of gravel, 11 bars of #4 rebar and 6 form boards. At $150 a yard, the concrete alone is $262.50.
Assumptions to check
- Slab: #4 rebar on an 18 in grid with 3 in cover, form boards around the edge. Follow your plans or local code if they differ.
- Block wall: a 16 in wide, 8 in deep footing along the wall; about 13 blocks per bag of mortar mix.
- Retaining wall: one buried course, a 6 × 24 in gravel pad, 12 in of drainage stone behind, fabric behind the stone.
- Deck: 5.5 in boards with 3/16 in gaps, joists 16 in on center spanning the width, footings 12 in across and 36 in deep. Beams, posts, hardware and railings aren't included.
- Interior wall: studs 16 in on center, 4 × 8 ft drywall, two coats of paint at 350 sq ft per gallon.
For any part that differs from your project, open the single calculator linked above, where every setting can be changed. Building codes, permits and engineering requirements always come first.