How Much Sand Do I Need For Paving?

When it comes to paving your driveway or patio, the question "how much sand do I need for paving" is an important to ask. Too little, and your paving might not be stable. Too much, and you'll end up spending more than necessary. So, what's the right amount?
For a typical paving project, you'll need about 1 cubic ft. of sand for every 10 square feet of surface area. So, if you're paving a 10x10 foot driveway, you'll need about 1 cubic yard of sand.
This article will help you to understand:

• How much sand you'll need for a paving project
  
• How to calculate the amount of sand you need
  
• What sand should you get?
  
• And some FAQs
  

How to Calculate the Paver Sand Needed For Your Project

To calculate the amount of sand you need for your paving project, you must measure the surface you intend to pave. If you want to build a parking space, for example, use the average dimensions of 19 ft x 8 ft. Continue with these measures:

Find the total area of your project

• If the surface is rectangular, all you have to do is multiply these values together to get the surface area.
  
• Surface Area = 19 ft x 8 ft = 152 square footage.
  

Find the Total Volume of Sand Required 

• Then, check how thick the pavers are that you're using. In this example, we'll use 1-inch thick pavers.
  
• Now that we know the paver thickness(or sand depth), we can determine how much sand volume we need to fill the gaps between the pavers.
  
• Total Volume = Surface Area(sq. ft) * thickness(ft)
  
• Convert inch into ft. Here 1-inch = 0.0833333 ft
  
• Hence,
  
• Total Volume = 152 sq. ft. * 0.0833333 ft
  
• Total Volume = 12.6 cubic feet of sand required.
  

You may need to purchase extra paver sand if you do not wish to invest in a large quantity. Some sand is typically lost during the building process, which is why this is the case. Then you can fill the gaps between pavers with the remaining sand.
Now that we know how many cubic feet sand is required, let's look at what type to use.
Make sure to convert units into yards to get results in cubic yards.

What Sand Should I Use for My Paver Project?

The best sand to use for paving is coarse, angular sand. This type of sand will interlock the pavers and provide proper drainage. If you live in an area with a lot of clay in the soil, you may want to use sharp sand instead. This type of sand is also suitable for drainage.
Ask your local hardware store or home improvement center for advice if you're not sure what type of sand to get. They should be able to point you in the right direction.

Conclusion

Conclusion

Paver sand is an important part of the paver installation process. Without the right paver sand, your brick and cement pavers may not stay in place or function properly. Use paver sand calculator to figure out exactly how much sand you need for your project, or contact a paving sand professional for help.