More advice required - gravel n stuff

[Nelson]

Well, I just phoned Jewsons for some expert knowledge on this.  The chap was most helpful and I enquired how much 10mm gravel he thought I'd need to lay a 8'x6' area to a depth of about 2".  He very kindly called me back after making enquiries and said that I would need 3 bags at £35+vat each.  I asked how big each bag was and he said 1 ton  :o

Now, I'm thinking that this is 'bovine manure'.  No way can I need 3 tons of gravel to do a 6x8 area.  I could do my drive with that... and next door's.

General opinion in the office is that I'll need a few sacks of the stuff but I'm not entirely sure and I'm trying to plan for the cost etc and to make sure I don't have to go back to the store half way through a job.

Any ideas on either; required volume (I make it to be 6'x8'x2/12' = 8 cubic feet), how big the regular sacks of the stuff are and what they cost?

Many thanks in advance,

JW

[Nelson]

[Tee Gee]

I would say maths is not his strong point!

I would say 3-4 HUNDREDWEIGHT not tonnes. (150-200 kg)

[Palustris]

one of those big bags is a ton which is normally reckoned to be 1 cubic yard.
A cubic yard is 9 cubic feet, so at most you would need one of those bags!

[Tee Gee]

Sorry to correct you palastrus but I think there are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard i.e/ 3 x 3 x 3 so I would say a 1/3rd of a tonne.

Those bags are generally sold as tonnes not cubic yards as different material have different densities.

My previous calcs were based on gravel weighing 1cy = 2 tonne (although as I recall 1.83 tonnes is nearer the mark)

It reminds me of the old adage what would you rather carry? a tonne of feathers or a tonne of lead. ::)

[Nelson]

Duh!  Feathers are much lighter than lead! ;)

I think that 8-10 regular sized bags should do it.  Thinking that 1 bag is about 1 cubic foot.  I'm off up to B&Q this evening to do some sizing up for myself.

What's the betting that it rains on Sunday and all this will be in vein  ::)

[Two Choices]

I put nine 25kg bags in my 8x6 greenhouse and that gives me a good 2 inches deep over the whole floor. Hope this helps.TC

[Palustris]

Whoops. Sorry, yes, was thinking of a square yard, Not used to imperial measurements any more, well that's my excuse anyway.

[Nelson]

I put nine 25kg bags in my 8x6 greenhouse and that gives me a good 2 inches deep over the whole floor. Hope this helps.TC

Thanks, TC, that does help.  B&Q 25kg bags are only £1.44 and I was guessing at ten of them to do it.  :)

[Marymary]

I bought half a ton to cover my 10 & 8 greenhouse to about 2" deep.   It cost £25 delivered & had a bit left over.

[OliveOil]

I have gravel free for collection if you are in Lincolnshire!

[Nelson]

Ooo, close.  The Sussex coast  ;D

Thanks for the very kind offer though.