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Building Reference: Concrete, Lumber, Stairs and Posts

Plain answers with sources: bags per yard, concrete weight and curing, lumber sizes, stair code, post depth and paver base.

How Deep Should Fence Posts Be?Fence post depth: Quikrete says 1/3 to 1/2 of the post height above ground plus 6 in of gravel, in a hole 3 times the post width. Go below …How Long Does Concrete Take to Cure?Concrete needs at least 7 days of moist curing in mild weather and reaches its design strength at 28 days. When to walk, drive and load a n…How Many Bags of Concrete Are in a Yard? (40, 50, 60 and 80 lb)How many bags of concrete make a cubic yard: 45 bags of 80 lb, 60 bags of 60 lb and 90 bags of 40 lb, from Quikrete’s published yields.How Much Does a Yard of Concrete Weigh?A cubic yard of normal concrete weighs about 4,000 lb (about 2 tons), at roughly 150 lb per cubic foot. What that means for trailers, forms…Nominal vs Actual Lumber SizesWhy a 2x4 is 1-1/2 x 3-1/2 inches: nominal and actual (dressed) sizes for common dimension lumber and boards under the American Softwood Lu…Paver Base DepthICPI guidance for paver patios and walks: at least 4 in of compacted base and about 1 in of bedding sand. How to work out the materials.Residential Stair CodeIRC stair rules for most US homes: 7-3/4 in maximum riser, 10 in minimum tread, 3/8 in variation, 6 ft 8 in headroom and handrails at 34 to…