How Many Paver Base Bags Do You Need? Insights from a Brick Paver Installer in Hinsdale, Illinois

Before starting a brick paver installation project in Hinsdale, Illinois, you must first choose a suitable base. Whether you are paving a walkway, a driveway, or a patio, selecting the right paver base bags is critical to ensure the best results.

Of course, choosing higher quality materials means you will have to spend a little extra on it. However, high-quality materials are worth the investment, because they will help you save money on maintenance and repairs in the long run.

Fortunately, you can avoid overspending by calculating the right amount of paver base you need for your project. This brick paver installer in Hinsdale, Illinois is going to provide some tips below that will help with your calculations.

Calculating the number of paver base bags required

The paver base is typically made up of a layer of sand over a layer of gravel. If you are carrying out the project on your own, you will need to purchase those two materials separately — although they should both be available at your local hardware store and are generally sold by cubic yard or cubic feet.

Here are the steps that a professional brick paver installer in Hinsdale, Illinois would follow to estimate how much paver base material is needed for a project:

Step 1: Calculate the project’s area.

The first step in this calculation is to determine the project’s total area — i.e., the square footage of the area that will be paved. Perhaps you have already calculated the area if you have been working on the project for a while. If you have not done that yet, calculating the area entails taking the width and length of each section and multiplying them.

Step 2: Calculate how much sand and gravel you need.

Calculating the project area is the most challenging step. You can use simple multiplication to calculate the volume of sand. If you want to have a 1-inch-thick sand layer, simply multiply the project area by 0.00309. This will provide you with the required volume of sand.

The volume of gravel required is slightly more challenging to determine. While most projects only need a 1-inch sand layer, the amount of gravel required depends on how much weight you intend your brick pavers to bear daily.

For example, if you want to pave a patio, you only need a 4-inch-thick layer of gravel because it will primarily support people and furniture. In this case, multiply your project area by 0.01235. This will give you the required volume of gravel. On the other hand, if you want to pave a driveway, you will need a thicker layer of gravel. Otherwise, the pavers may begin to sink over time. In this case, you will need at least a 6- or 8-inch-thick layer, so multiply the area by 0.01852 or 0.02469.

If all those numbers are too complex to remember, there is an easier way to calculate the cubic yards you will require. You can use an online paver base calculator, or you can always leave the calculations to your local brick paver installer in Hinsdale, Illinois.

Once you have calculated the area in square feet, multiply it by the layer thickness (in inches) and divide by 12. This will give you the cubic foot volume. Simply divide the volume in cubic feet by 27 to get the volume in cubic yards. This is particularly useful if your project requires thicker layers of gravel or other materials.

Step 3: Calculate how many bags of paver base you need.

The number of bags you will need is dependent on the bag sizes available at your preferred shop. Different stores (and even brands) may offer bags of different volumes. Some shops may sell them by the cubic foot, while others may sell them by cubic yard. If you need the volume in cubic feet but only have cubic yards, simply multiply it by 27.

However, we recommend rounding up the calculated volume to the nearest multiplier. For example, if you only have 0.5 cubic feet of material and need 47.7 cubic feet, divide 47.7 by 0.5 and round up. You will get 95.4, indicating that you need 96 bags.

Rounding up means having leftovers if you use all the materials correctly. Having some paver base on hand can be helpful because it is tough to get everything right on the first go.

Get professional help

Coming up with all these calculations can be complex, especially if you are new to paving. In those cases, it is best to simply ask your brick paver installer in Hinsdale, Illinois. This way, you can rest assured that you will get a high-quality finish and that the installation process will run smoothly.

Looking for a Professional Brick Paver Installer in Hinsdale, Illinois?

If you are looking to partner with a professional brick paver installer in Hinsdale, Illinois, you’ve come to the right place — Via Galante Cement Contractors is the team to call. We have over three decades of experience delivering concrete services for both residential and commercial property owners throughout the Hinsdale area. Contact us today at (773) 589-9893 to discuss your project.