Masonry, Stucco & Hardscape: Calculators, Diagrams & Guides

7 calculators · 24 diagrams · 5 guides

Masonry and hardscape estimating is unit math layered on earthwork: bricks per square foot with mortar bags to match, three coats of stucco each with its own thickness and mix, pavers over a compacted base that outweighs the pavers themselves, and asphalt ordered by the ton against a volume you measured in inches of depth. The five calculators in this hub each own one of those takeoffs, from brick and block counts through bedding sand and driveway tonnage.

The diagrams expose the layers that get buried: running bond coursing with standard modular dimensions, the three-coat stucco system (scratch, brown, finish) over lath and weep screed, a paver section from subgrade through compacted base to bedding sand and edge restraint, and the asphalt driveway stack with its stone base doing the real structural work under the surface course.

The numbers track ASTM and industry specs — C270 mortar proportions, the 6.75-brick-per-square-foot modular convention, ICPI base-depth guidance for pavers by traffic load, and compaction factors that turn loose cubic yards into placed depth. All five calculators are free with no signup, and the paver and asphalt driveway guides walk the full build sequence from excavation through compaction, edge restraint, and final joint sanding.

Masonry, Stucco & Hardscape calculators

Cost guides

Budget-level price ranges per room, computed from a dated cost model — wide brackets by design, updated on an annual review.

Guides & references

Masonry, Stucco & Hardscape · 24 diagrams

Frequently Asked Questions

How many bricks do I need per square foot of wall?

Standard modular brick with a ⅜-inch mortar joint runs about 6.75 to 7 per square foot in running bond; queen and king sizes run fewer. Add 5 to 10 percent for cuts and breakage. The brick calculator pairs the unit count with mortar bags — roughly one 70 lb bag per 40 bricks — so the two quantities arrive together. The brick coursing diagram shows the nominal brick-plus-joint cell behind the per-square-foot count.

How deep should the base be under pavers?

ICPI guidance: 4 to 6 inches of compacted crushed stone for walkways and patios, 8 to 12 for driveways, always compacted in lifts of 2 to 4 inches, topped by exactly 1 inch of bedding sand. Skimping the base is the root cause of nearly every rutted or heaved paver surface. The paver calculator sizes base tonnage from your traffic type. The paver base diagram shows the compacted base, bedding sand, and edge restraint.

How thick should each stucco coat be?

The traditional three-coat system over lath runs ⅜-inch scratch coat, ⅜-inch brown coat, and a ⅛-inch finish — about ⅞ inch total per ASTM C926. Each coat has its own cure window before the next. The stucco calculator figures bags per coat separately, because the scratch and brown coats consume most of the material. The three-coat stucco diagram shows the scratch, brown, and finish layers over lath.

How many tons of asphalt do I need for a driveway?

Area × compacted depth × about 145 lb per cubic foot, converted to tons — a 12×50 driveway at 3 inches compacted needs roughly 11 tons, plus the aggregate base beneath it. Hot mix is also sold against a minimum load, so small jobs price differently. The asphalt driveway calculator runs both the asphalt and base tonnage. The compacted-vs-loose diagram shows why you order loose tons for a compacted depth.

What kind of sand goes under pavers?

Concrete sand (ASTM C33) for the 1-inch bedding layer — its angular grains lock under compaction. Mason sand is too fine and holds water; play sand is worse. Joint filling afterward is a different product again (polymeric or fine joint sand). The sand calculator converts bedding area to tons and flags the bag-versus-bulk crossover. The bedding sand diagram shows the screeded 1-inch layer over a compacted base.

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