The Low Down on Dirt..

[txkevin]

I need to order some top soil or sandy loam. The question is, how much.

I know soil is sold by the yard. How many yards are in a standard dual axle dump truck anyway? Is this square yards? Basically I need to figure out the Yard volume to figure how much this covers a given square feet a given number of inches with top soil.

Anyone got any insight into this?

 

[Deerlope]

The load is measured in cubic yard. It would be hard to say how many yards would be on a load because a load is figured by weight. For ex, a yard of cotton would weight less than a yard sand, but each would still be a cubic yard.

 

[peterc38]

Here ya go

Topsoil Calculator

 

[lp333]

1 cu. yd. = 27 cu. ft.
Length(ft) X Width(ft)X Thickness(in) = Vol (cu.in.) = Vol (cu. yds)
3 X 3 X 36 = 46656 cu.in. = 1.0 cu.yd.

To apply 1 in. of soil to a yard that's 100 x 100 ft you need 31 cu.yds
Length (ft) X Width (ft) X Thickness (in) = Vol (cu. in.) = Vol (cu. yds)
100 X 100 X 1 = 1440000 cu.in.= 30.9 cu. yds

To apply 3 in. of soil to a yard that's 100 x 100 ft you need 92 cu.yds
Length (ft) X Width (ft) X Thickness (in) = Vol (cu. in.) = Vol (cu. yds)
100 X 100 X 3 = 4320000 ci.in = 92.6 cu.yds

 

[nspec]

It depends on who loads the truck! A ten wheeler is generally 12-15yds, and a triaxle is 15-18, or maybe even 20. Lots of variables - how wet is it when loaded, do they care about being legal with regards to weight, do they heap it up or do they have a small machine loading that can't really reach well enough to do that? Know what I mean?

 

[BXinNH]

I have to admit I got a little confused by lp333's numbers. It looks right but for me it is easier to keep all the units (feet & inches) the same so I do it this way.

To cover an area 100ft by 100ft 3inches deep, my math would look like this;
100ft x 100ft x .25ft = 2500 cubic feet / 27 cubic ft per yard = 93 cubic yards or about 5 tri-axle loads worth.

Which is a lot of dirt no matter how you add it up.

Matt.

 

[LBrown59]

I go by tons not yards.
A couple of years ago i got 30 tons of real nice top soil .
Then again last Feb i got about 30 to 36 tons of fill dirt .
got all this free including delivery .
Otherwise this would have cost me about 1200 to 1400 dollars.

I need to order some top soil or sandy loam. The question is, how much.

I know soil is sold by the yard. How many yards are in a standard dual axle dump truck anyway? Is this square yards? Basically I need to figure out the Yard volume to figure how much this covers a given square feet a given number of inches with top soil.

Anyone got any insight into this?

 

[tallyho8]

33 tons of fill dirt is only 26 cubic yards. Our price of fill has doubled since Katrina and it is still only $120 for 18 yards delivered. You must have some real expensive top soil.

 

[savageactor7]

txkevin requires topsoil not fill, most places that deliver topsoil around here screen it out for rocks so it's easier to landscape with. Topsoil is precious compared to fill.

 

[mikim]

here in Tx "sandy loam" is mostly sand with a little clay mixed in ...not black topsoil like up north. How good the sand/clay mix is depends on where it comes from....I've seen it really pretty and really poor .... just depends. I always went with 80 sq ft / 4" deep = 1 yd of material and 1 yd = just over 1 ton. Depending on if you have room for excess or not -- order more (better) than you need (figure 1.5 ton per yd) or if you end up a bit short - figure out a secondary way to get the rest.

 

[txkevin]

Thanks for the info, this really helps.

I am looking to put some under my relatively thin natural layer that resides over domanately weathered limestone. Basically not solid rock but lots of smaller - golf to softball sized rocks. The natural soils seems to range from 3-4 inches to a 2-3 feet before hitting some very hard poor ground.

I am looking to lawn sod an area and wildflower the rest. I was thinking that 2" or so of topsoil under the sod would be ideal. Sound about right?

Regarding sandy loam here in Austin, I talked to a sod dealer and asked about putting top soil. He said most just use the sandy loam and plan on fertilizing it more often. Cheaper than top soil he claims. I am going to call about pricing today but wanted to at least sound like I half way knew what I was buying.