Misc Formulas and Information
Below formulas are commonly found on web sources. They are only approximates & are only meant to assist you in figuring your job requirements for BUDGET purpose ONLY. CABCO can not and does not warrant or guarantee accuracy, results, overage, underage, and /or product suitability. No representation is made or implied as to what strengths or yields will be obtained. Consult your design professional for order quantities and their formula to achieve strength requirements.
For Masonry Walls- below will supply a approximate qty for estimating
Follow the steps below:
For a non fence block wall:
1. Length x Height = Total SQ Footage. Take Square footage X 1.125 if (8" tall ) or 2.25 if (4" Tall) = number of whole block
If face of Block is 8x16= 1.125 pieces to a square foot (face). Example- 6' tall by 100' long wall= 600sf x 1.125= 675 block
If face of Block is 4x16= 2.25 pieces to a square foot (face). Example- 6' tall by 100' long wall= 600sf x 2.25= 1350 block
Need to subtract 1 whole block for every 2 half and 1 whole block for every bond beam block needed.
For a fence block wall:
1. Length x Height = Total SQ Footage. Take Square footage X 1.125 (8" tall x 16) or 2.25 4" (Tall x16) = number of whole block
2. Pillars = Height X 12" = Divided by 4 or 8 (height of Pilaster Block) = Number of courses per Pillar.
3. Number of pillars needed = Length of wall usually divided by 10' or 12' +1
4. Pillar to Pillar = 1 Panel
5. Half block needed = number of courses X number of Panels
6. Need to subtract 1 whole block for every 2 half and every 2 pilaster block plus 1 whole block for every bond beam block needed.
example- Fence block is 8" tall. 6' tall by 100' long wall= 600sf x 1.125= 675 block. 6'x12"=72"/8" tall =9 course high. If 10' pillar centers,
100' / 10' = 10 + 1 =11 pillars x 9 courses =99 pillar block -combination of A's (18) H's (81) -Half block 9 x 11 =99. So subtract 99/2 =49 for half block, 99/2 = 49 for pilaster block from whole block 675 -49-49=577. you need 8x2x16 caps for pilasters
Most professionals add 3-5% extra for broken / chipped replacements to have already on hand
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On Job Grout Mix
Proportion by Volume: One part Portland cement to 2 ¼ to 3 Parts Sand and not more than 2 Parts Pea Gravel. Sufficient water added to produce consistency for pouring without segregation. This mix approximates ASTM – C-476, with a minimum compressive strength of 2000 PSI in 28 days
Common single cell open space, 8816 =.134 CF. ---- 6816 = .079 ---- 8416 = .067 ---- 4816 = .035. Example a 6 foot tall wall using 8x8x16 block, would be computed as: 6' x 12" = 72" tall- then divide by height of block in this example it is (8") 72"/8" = 9 courses high. To grout a single cell, number of courses (9) x per above (.134) = 1.206 Cubic feet needed to fill one solid grouted vertical cell.
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Mortar Mix Choices: Type S mortar is the most common for the Southern Arizona / desert markets.
There are three primary ways to obtain mortar:
1. Separate bags of Portland Cement, Hydrated Lime with Masonry Sand (Bulk) is the old school method.
2. Masonry Cement = Mortar Cement= (Cement and Lime already pre-blended) with Masonry Sand.
3. Pre-mixed Mortar = Has already combined Mortar Cement and Sand, just add water.
On Job Mortar Mix:
Field mix- using Cement & Lime & Sand
Qty of 8x8x16 that can be laid per 94# bag of Portland cement with a half bag of lime (25lbs) is 50, (for a good Mason) with 3/8" mortar joints. One 94# bag of Cement with half bag of lime and 1/5th cyd. of mortar sand.
This is the “old school” method standard for the industry. In order to make a Type S masonry mortar one would proportion the materials into the mixer in this manner;
1 bag94# of Portland Cement = 1 C.F.
½ bag50# Hydrated Type S Lime = 1/2 C.F.
28 “Shovels”Masonry Sand = 5.4 C.F.
7 to 8 Gallons of Clean Water
Field mix- using Mortar Cement
Qty of 8x8x16 that can be laid per 78# bag of mortar cement is approximately 32- (for a good Mason) with 3/8" mortar joints.
One 78 lb bag of Mortar 14 shovels of masonry sand. =( 1/10 cyd. of sand =+/- (270#).
Using 80# Bag of Pre-mix Mortar
Qty of 8x8x16 that can be laid per 80# bag of pre-mix mortar is approximately 10- (for a good Mason) with 3/8" mortar joints.
Misc Mortar Info:
If making mortar using cement & lime - the ratio is approx 2 cement to 1 lime
So for 1 cyd of field mix to make mortar -requires 5 bags of cement with 2 -2&1/2 bags of lime with 1 cubic yard of mortar sand
So for 1 cyd of field mix using mortar cement requires 10 bags of mortar cement with 1 cubic yard of mortar sand
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Field Mix for Concrete
General old school is 1 shovel of cement, 2 shovels of concrete sand and 3 shovels of concrete rock or 1 cement to 5 ideal mix.
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To figure quantity of Bedding, or Concrete for footer
Length x Width in feet, multiply by depth to fill in inches and then divide by 12 = cubic feet. Then divide by 27 to get cubic yards.
_______ X ________ = ___________ X __________ / 12 = ________ / 27 = _________
Length Width Total SQ Footage inch of fill Cubic feet Cubic Cyds.
Misc Formulas
Circle Circumference = 3.1416 x diameter.
3.1416 x (dia. / 2)² or pie x radius squared
For Masonry Walls- below will supply a approximate qty for estimating
Follow the steps below:
For a non fence block wall:
1. Length x Height = Total SQ Footage. Take Square footage X 1.125 if (8" tall ) or 2.25 if (4" Tall) = number of whole block
If face of Block is 8x16= 1.125 pieces to a square foot (face). Example- 6' tall by 100' long wall= 600sf x 1.125= 675 block
If face of Block is 4x16= 2.25 pieces to a square foot (face). Example- 6' tall by 100' long wall= 600sf x 2.25= 1350 block
Need to subtract 1 whole block for every 2 half and 1 whole block for every bond beam block needed.
For a fence block wall:
1. Length x Height = Total SQ Footage. Take Square footage X 1.125 (8" tall x 16) or 2.25 4" (Tall x16) = number of whole block
2. Pillars = Height X 12" = Divided by 4 or 8 (height of Pilaster Block) = Number of courses per Pillar.
3. Number of pillars needed = Length of wall usually divided by 10' or 12' +1
4. Pillar to Pillar = 1 Panel
5. Half block needed = number of courses X number of Panels
6. Need to subtract 1 whole block for every 2 half and every 2 pilaster block plus 1 whole block for every bond beam block needed.
example- Fence block is 8" tall. 6' tall by 100' long wall= 600sf x 1.125= 675 block. 6'x12"=72"/8" tall =9 course high. If 10' pillar centers,
100' / 10' = 10 + 1 =11 pillars x 9 courses =99 pillar block -combination of A's (18) H's (81) -Half block 9 x 11 =99. So subtract 99/2 =49 for half block, 99/2 = 49 for pilaster block from whole block 675 -49-49=577. you need 8x2x16 caps for pilasters
Most professionals add 3-5% extra for broken / chipped replacements to have already on hand
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Job Grout Mix
Proportion by Volume: One part Portland cement to 2 ¼ to 3 Parts Sand and not more than 2 Parts Pea Gravel. Sufficient water added to produce consistency for pouring without segregation. This mix approximates ASTM – C-476, with a minimum compressive strength of 2000 PSI in 28 days
Common single cell open space, 8816 =.134 CF. ---- 6816 = .079 ---- 8416 = .067 ---- 4816 = .035. Example a 6 foot tall wall using 8x8x16 block, would be computed as: 6' x 12" = 72" tall- then divide by height of block in this example it is (8") 72"/8" = 9 courses high. To grout a single cell, number of courses (9) x per above (.134) = 1.206 Cubic feet needed to fill one solid grouted vertical cell.
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Mortar Mix Choices: Type S mortar is the most common for the Southern Arizona / desert markets.
There are three primary ways to obtain mortar:
1. Separate bags of Portland Cement, Hydrated Lime with Masonry Sand (Bulk) is the old school method.
2. Masonry Cement = Mortar Cement= (Cement and Lime already pre-blended) with Masonry Sand.
3. Pre-mixed Mortar = Has already combined Mortar Cement and Sand, just add water.
On Job Mortar Mix:
Field mix- using Cement & Lime & Sand
Qty of 8x8x16 that can be laid per 94# bag of Portland cement with a half bag of lime (25lbs) is 50, (for a good Mason) with 3/8" mortar joints. One 94# bag of Cement with half bag of lime and 1/5th cyd. of mortar sand.
This is the “old school” method standard for the industry. In order to make a Type S masonry mortar one would proportion the materials into the mixer in this manner;
1 bag94# of Portland Cement = 1 C.F.
½ bag50# Hydrated Type S Lime = 1/2 C.F.
28 “Shovels”Masonry Sand = 5.4 C.F.
7 to 8 Gallons of Clean Water
Field mix- using Mortar Cement
Qty of 8x8x16 that can be laid per 78# bag of mortar cement is approximately 32- (for a good Mason) with 3/8" mortar joints.
One 78 lb bag of Mortar 14 shovels of masonry sand. =( 1/10 cyd. of sand =+/- (270#).
Using 80# Bag of Pre-mix Mortar
Qty of 8x8x16 that can be laid per 80# bag of pre-mix mortar is approximately 10- (for a good Mason) with 3/8" mortar joints.
Misc Mortar Info:
If making mortar using cement & lime - the ratio is approx 2 cement to 1 lime
So for 1 cyd of field mix to make mortar -requires 5 bags of cement with 2 -2&1/2 bags of lime with 1 cubic yard of mortar sand
So for 1 cyd of field mix using mortar cement requires 10 bags of mortar cement with 1 cubic yard of mortar sand
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Field Mix for Concrete
General old school is 1 shovel of cement, 2 shovels of concrete sand and 3 shovels of concrete rock or 1 cement to 5 ideal mix.
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To figure quantity of Bedding, or Concrete for footer
Length x Width in feet, multiply by depth to fill in inches and then divide by 12 = cubic feet. Then divide by 27 to get cubic yards.
_______ X ________ = ___________ X __________ / 12 = ________ / 27 = _________
Length Width Total SQ Footage inch of fill Cubic feet Cubic Cyds.
Misc Formulas
Circle Circumference = 3.1416 x diameter.
3.1416 x (dia. / 2)² or pie x radius squared
Paver Information
While pavers may be installed by the do it Your-selfer, we recommend for driveways, areas with poor soil (clay or all sand), heavy run off and / or steep slopes to be done by the professional. Two of the most important elements of a good paver installation is the base and compaction. The intended application largely indicates this importance. If pavers are for a driveway, those increased loads require more subgrade quality than say pavers just being walked on in a patio. Following the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) quide lines is always a very good idea. Soil conditions are generally good in the greater Tucson area but can very alot. Normally an inch of sand is placed under pavers