How to Calculate Cement Needs from Measurements

This cement has been carefully calculated to prevent waste or lack of materials.

Calculating cement needs for a project is required before the job begins. This estimating method saves time and money, and it will help ensure that all materials are on the job site beforehand. The construction industry has simplified the estimating techniques over the years to include do-it-yourself project planners. You can expect to complete this project in one to two hours, depending on the size and scope of the job.

Things You'll Need

• Calculator

Instructions

1. Record the lengths and widths of the perimeters of the area planned for cementing. For example, if you are reading from blueprints, measure and record the dimensions onto a blank sheet of paper. Keep the dimensions separated and labeled.

2. Calculate the footer cement requirements by measuring the entire length of the footers and multiplying them by the footer width and depth. For example, if you have four walls that are 10 feet each, then take the total length, which is 40 feet. Multiply 40 feet times the footer width, which is typically 2 feet, which equals 80 square feet of footers.

3. Multiply 80 square feet times the footer depth, which is typically 1 foot. Record the total cubic feet onto your paper, which in the example, is 80 cubic feet.

4. Convert the total cubic feet into cubic yards by dividing the total cubic yards by 27, which is the equivalent of one cubic yard or 3 cubic feet cubed. For example, 80 cubic feet divided by 27 (one cubic yard) is 2.96 yards. You will need 2.9 yards of cement for this project.

5. Calculate cement slabs by taking the length of one wall and the width of one wall and multiplying them. In the example, the walls are ten feet, so ten times ten is 100 or 100 square feet. Multiply this times the slab thickness, which must be converted to feet: 4 inches = .33, 6 inches = .5 and 8 inches = .75. Multiply all measurements to calculate the total cubic feet needed to pour the slab, which totals 33 for a 4-inch slab. Divide 33 by 27(one cubic yard) and you will need 1.2 yards of cement to pour a 4-inch slab.

References

• "Foundations and Concrete Work";Fine Homebuilding;2003
• "Ultimate guide to masonry and Concrete:Design, Build, Maintain";Creative Homeowner Press;2006;
• "Masonry & Concrete";Benjamin W. Allen;1997