Ideas and Tips
Practical garden, landscape and building supply advice from the D'Abaco team, including material quantities, base preparation, mulch depths, sand estimates and delivery-friendly product choices.
How do you choose brickwork mortar colour?
We offer a wide variety of colours for brick sands and cement, with four different colours available for each. With this range of options, we can create 16 unique natural and white mortar colours without adding additional oxide colours. Our Keysborough showroom displays all 16 colour samples, and you can also contact us for advice or photo samples.
Our selection helps you find the right match for your project. D'Abaco offers a large Melbourne range and choice of colours for brick sands and cement, so you can compare combinations before ordering.
Visit the Keysborough showroom to view the samples or contact us for more information and advice.
How much material do I need?
When measuring up for a job, work in metres to calculate length, width and depth accurately. To calculate surface area, multiply length by width to get square metres. This is useful for paving tiles, concrete mesh, weed mat, instant turf and synthetic grass.
To calculate volume, multiply length by width by depth to get cubic metres. This is useful for concrete, soil, mulch, pebbles and drainage scoria.
For unusual shapes, break the area into squares and rectangles, calculate each section, then add them together.
How do you prepare the base for synthetic grass?
Excavate the area to the required depth. Lay 20mm crushed rock to a depth of 75mm, keeping the base level and even, then compact it to create a firm surface.
Finish with 5mm crusher dust to a depth of 20mm. Create a slight fall in the surface for natural drainage.
After cutting and joining the synthetic grass, brush the pile up and cover it with kiln-dried sand. Use approximately 10kg per square metre, depending on pile height and density.
What depth should you lay crushed rock or toppings?
For pathways, a depth of 75mm after compacting is suitable for most general pathway areas or as a base before laying pavers.
For driveways, 100mm after compacting is sufficient for light car traffic. Larger sites or heavy traffic areas may need 150mm to 200mm, depending on ground conditions and traffic volume.
Choose a heavy-grade crushed rock, available up to 40mm in size, with larger rubble of 100mm if required. Compacting the base material well is essential for strength and longevity.
What depth should you lay compost and mulch on garden beds?
Compost can be laid 25mm to 50mm over garden beds and tilled evenly into the surface to improve soil and stimulate plant growth. Compost is also suitable for plants, lawns, trees and vegetable gardens.
Mulch and pine bark can be laid 75mm to 100mm over garden beds to help retain moisture and reduce weed growth. Keep mulch a few centimetres away from the base of trees and plants to prevent rotting.
Mixing compost and mulch can provide a nutrient-rich layer for garden beds, encourage worm growth and allow air and rain to penetrate the soil.
How to use decorative pebbles and stones on garden beds?
Use a good quality weed mat under pebbles and stones. It allows water and some nutrients through to the soil while reducing weed growth and maintenance.
The quantity required depends on stone size. For the same coverage area, a 75mm to 100mm stone can use twice the volume of a 20mm product.
Choose plants carefully. Leafy and strappy foliage is generally hardier and helps keep pebbles and stones looking cleaner over time. Remove fallen flowers and leaves to avoid staining.
How much sand do I need?
For laying bricks, one cubic metre of sand will lay approximately one thousand standard bricks. This can vary depending on whether the bricks are solid or have holes.
For concrete blocks, one cubic metre of sand will lay approximately five hundred standard 390x190x90 solid blocks. This varies depending on width and whether the blocks are solid or hollow.
For screeding floors or rendering walls, use one cubic metre of sand to cover approximately thirty square metres at a depth of 25mm.
Should I buy in bags or bulk?
Most bulk materials weigh approximately 1,000kg to 1,300kg per cubic metre. As most materials come in 20kg bags, that is equivalent to about 50 to 65 bags per cubic metre.
There are 1,000 litres in a cubic metre, so 30-litre bags equal approximately 33 bags per cubic metre. Concrete premix comes in 20kg bags, and around 80 bags are needed to make one cubic metre of concrete.
Before purchasing bags, calculate the required quantity in cubic metres and compare the bulk price with the bagged price.