Concrete Calculator

Concrete is a construction material made of cement bonded with coarse aggregates such as gravel, slag, sand, and crushed stone. Portland cement is the most common ingredient of concrete and is also used in plasters and mortar.  

Concrete is sold in multiple forms, including 40, 60, or 80-pound bags. It is also delivered in more significant amounts by concrete mixer trucks.  

Concrete is a viscous fluid produced by mixing water with cement, aggregate, and other additives. Proper mixing is critical to ensure that the concrete is solid and uniform.  

Concrete production is time-sensitive because it hardens quickly. Some types of concrete are designed to harden faster for applications with a short set time. These concretes are ideal for manufacturing precast concrete products like concrete walls.  

After placing concrete, it hardens through curing, a slow process that takes a minimum of 28 days. Concrete takes years to attain full strength.  

We can enhance the curing process by ensuring the concrete is damp during the early stages. The concrete can be dampened by submerging concrete in water and then wrapping it in plastic or spraying it with certain compounds that increase water retention.  

However, the concrete must be mixed correctly by adding the right amount of each ingredient. A concrete calculator helps estimate the volume and concrete necessary to cover a given area. It is advisable to purchase a little more than the estimated requirement to cover the margin of error and avoid having less than you need.  

A concrete calculator estimates the volumes required for concrete slabs, steps, walls, curbs, footers, and gutters. The estimated volume of concrete needed to make a structure is measured in cubic yards. It is based on the dimensions of the structure in imperial or metric units.  

To calculate concrete for slabs, add ¼ of an inch to the slab thickness, assuming that the job is evenly graded to the proper depth. After finding the overall thickness of the slab, compute the volume to determine how many bags of concrete you need for a given slab. Compute the cost per bag, cost per unit area, and the overall material costs.

If the grade is uneven, you will need to fix the quality first.  

Footings rarely follow the exact drawing, so it is essential to calculate the proper width. Calculate the true width and depth of a footing to get an average size. You can use a concrete calculator to estimate the amount of concrete necessary for the footing.

Never include the exact amount, but always include a margin of safety in your calculations.