How much decorative chips/stones needed?

[KRUSTYMAN]

Hi, my wife wants to 'brighten' up the garden by putting down some decorative stones or shingle. The area to cover is 4m x 4m to a depth of 50mm. Anyone know how to calculate the amount of stones needed? My maths was hopeless 30 years ago it's even worse now. TIA

[Old_Geezer]

Depends on the size of the stones.
I'm guessing 2,943,236½.
Or maybe 0.8 square meters worth ?

[lilsecret]

http://www.onlinegravel.co.uk/calc.htm

[buildersmate]

0.8 cubic metres.
A cubic metre of gravel weighs about 1.5 tonnes, so say 1.2 tonnes.
The bulk bags from Builders Merchants weighs about 0.8 tonnes.
Doubtful if you could get away with one bag - you could try, because having 50mm of gravel is quite deep.

[gazzawazza]

Those bulk bags from builders' merchants are supposed to hold a cubic metre, which means that at 50mm you should be able to get coverage of 20m2.
You have 16m2 x 50mm which as BM says is about 0.8m3. However I have my doubts that they do hold a m3, but you might just get away with one bag.
Here's a link to a good calculator. http://stone2yourhome.co.uk/calculator

[landscaper2]

You will need to check the size of the bulk bags where you are. Round here ( South Essex) they are usually 850kg, which works out at around 0.6cu.mtr.

I really dont like the 'bulk bag' trade - give me a good old local builders merchant who whacks the amount I actually want on the back of my little tipper any day!

[buildersmate]

Yea, but your average ABer doesn't want half a tonne of gravel in the back of her Chelsea Tractor.