Question about asphalt tonnage and area

Thunder · 26th November 2009, 08:52 PM

I don't know if we have any construction engineers out there, but I will give this a go.

how does one figure out the required tonnage of top course and binder asphalt required to fill a certain area?

lets say the area is 100 ft. by 300 ft. (30,000 sq. ft. or 3,333 sq. yds.)

if we want 4.5 inches depth total, with 1.5 inches of top course and 3 inches of binder, and we use a 7 ton roller with a vibrater or a 10 ton roller, how many tons of binder and top course is required?

i had been working with these formulas:

1 ton binder= 5.81 sq. yds. (at 3 inches depth)
1 ton top course= 12 sq. yds. (at 1.5 inches depth)

is this wrong?

Hokulele · 26th November 2009, 09:08 PM

Are you trying to ship it? I have always used volume (cubic yards) when estimating paving quantities and never worried about weight. The compaction factors for various mixes are often available from the state DOT in which it will be used.

Thunder · 26th November 2009, 09:10 PM

Originally Posted by Hokulele

Are you trying to ship it? I have always used volume (cubic yards) when estimating paving quantities and never worried about weight. The compaction factors for various mixes are often available from the state DOT in which it will be used.

no.....this is a work related question.

i am trying to figure out what is the correct formula for estimating required tonnage of asphalt binder and top course for schoolyards and play grounds.

many asphalt supplier web-sites have a calculator to figure out total tonnage required based on the cubic yardage of your area to be paved, but i dont know if they factor in compaction by a roller, and if that roller meets our specs.

pchams · 26th November 2009, 09:15 PM

Originally Posted by parky76

no.....this is a work related question.

i am trying to figure out what is the correct formula for estimating required tonnage of asphalt binder and top course for schoolyards and play grounds.

many asphalt supplier web-sites have a calculator to figure out total tonnage required based on the cubic yardage of your area to be paved, but i dont know if they factor in compaction by a roller, and if that roller meets our specs.

Are you doing your homework on the internet?

Hokulele · 26th November 2009, 09:30 PM

It will vary by the mix. If you really need an estimate that accurate, contact the supplier directly. By the way, they call it "estimating" for a reason.

shadron · 26th November 2009, 11:02 PM

Originally Posted by parky76

I don't know if we have any construction engineers out there, but I will give this a go.

how does one figure out the required tonnage of top course and binder asphalt required to fill a certain area?

lets say the area is 100 ft. by 300 ft. (30,000 sq. ft. or 3,333 sq. yds.)

if we want 4.5 inches depth total, with 1.5 inches of top course and 3 inches of binder, and we use a 7 ton roller with a vibrater or a 10 ton roller, how many tons of binder and top course is required?

i had been working with these formulas:

1 ton binder= 5.81 sq. yds. (at 3 inches depth)
1 ton top course= 12 sq. yds. (at 1.5 inches depth)

is this wrong?

If your figures are correct, and the tonnage figures are for the compacted (finished) quantities, then you have all the info you need right there. A ton of binder is 5.81 * .087 = .484 cu yd, and about .50 cu yd for the topping; you'll need 33333 * .087 = 2900 cu yds of binder, which is about 6000 tons, and say about 2900 tons of the topping. The vendor(s) should be able to help you if compaction is a factor (if the tonnages quoted are for uncompacted, loose material); in fact for a sale like that, he'd likely do a complete cost analysis for you, including delivery and installation.

Thunder · 27th November 2009, 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by shadron

If your figures are correct, and the tonnage figures are for the compacted (finished) quantities, then you have all the info you need right there. A ton of binder is 5.81 * .087 = .484 cu yd, and about .50 cu yd for the topping; you'll need 33333 * .087 = 2900 cu yds of binder, which is about 6000 tons, and say about 2900 tons of the topping. The vendor(s) should be able to help you if compaction is a factor (if the tonnages quoted are for uncompacted, loose material); in fact for a sale like that, he'd likely do a complete cost analysis for you, including delivery and installation.

6,000 tons of binder and 2,900 tons of top course, is actually more then 10 times what we would need, based on the formulas I have been working with for almost 4 years.

based on the numbers and formulas I have in the OP, I would need 573 tons of binder and 277 tons of top course.

i emailed some people in some national asphalt organization, to see what they say. no response till Monday I gather.

fishbob · 27th November 2009, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by parky76

I don't know if we have any construction engineers out there, but I will give this a go.

how does one figure out the required tonnage of top course and binder asphalt required to fill a certain area?

lets say the area is 100 ft. by 300 ft. (30,000 sq. ft. or 3,333 sq. yds.)

if we want 4.5 inches depth total, with 1.5 inches of top course and 3 inches of binder, and we use a 7 ton roller with a vibrater or a 10 ton roller, how many tons of binder and top course is required?

i had been working with these formulas:

1 ton binder= 5.81 sq. yds. (at 3 inches depth)
1 ton top course= 12 sq. yds. (at 1.5 inches depth)

is this wrong?

You need to know the density of the finished paving. The numbers you are using work out to be a little less than 2 tons per cubic yard for the binder and exactly 2 tons per cubic yard for the top course. Although exact numbers make me nervous, these are not unreasonable numbers.

Figure your finished volume, multiply by the compacted density, order that many tons.

For a 100 ft x 300 ft area, 4.5 inches deep, you need 11250 cubic feet or about 420 cubic yards of finished paving, so that will be about 800 tons.

fishbob · 27th November 2009, 01:29 PM

Originally Posted by parky76

Based on the numbers and formulas I have in the OP, I would need 573 tons of binder and 277 tons of top course.

i emailed some people in some national asphalt organization, to see what they say. no response till Monday I gather.

The only numbers you need is compacted density of your materials. I bet you can find these on the internet.

shadron · 28th November 2009, 12:14 AM

Originally Posted by parky76

6,000 tons of binder and 2,900 tons of top course, is actually more then 10 times what we would need, based on the formulas I have been working with for almost 4 years.

based on the numbers and formulas I have in the OP, I would need 573 tons of binder and 277 tons of top course.

i emailed some people in some national asphalt organization, to see what they say. no response till Monday I gather.

Sorry about the slipped digit.

26th November 2009, 08:52 PM	#1
Thunder Banned Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Queens Posts: 34,947	Question about asphalt tonnage and area I don't know if we have any construction engineers out there, but I will give this a go. how does one figure out the required tonnage of top course and binder asphalt required to fill a certain area? lets say the area is 100 ft. by 300 ft. (30,000 sq. ft. or 3,333 sq. yds.) if we want 4.5 inches depth total, with 1.5 inches of top course and 3 inches of binder, and we use a 7 ton roller with a vibrater or a 10 ton roller, how many tons of binder and top course is required? i had been working with these formulas: 1 ton binder= 5.81 sq. yds. (at 3 inches depth) 1 ton top course= 12 sq. yds. (at 1.5 inches depth) is this wrong?
	Last edited by Thunder; 26th November 2009 at 08:55 PM.

26th November 2009, 09:08 PM	#2
Hokulele Official Nemesis Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Trying to decide whether to set defenses against an army, or against mole rats. Posts: 27,265	Are you trying to ship it? I have always used volume (cubic yards) when estimating paving quantities and never worried about weight. The compaction factors for various mixes are often available from the state DOT in which it will be used.
	__________________ Yvette: "Blasty! Blasty! Blasty!" Some person: "Why did you shoot that?" Yvette: "Blasty! Blasty! Blasty!" - Tragic Monkey

26th November 2009, 09:10 PM	#3
Thunder Banned Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Queens Posts: 34,947	Originally Posted by Hokulele Are you trying to ship it? I have always used volume (cubic yards) when estimating paving quantities and never worried about weight. The compaction factors for various mixes are often available from the state DOT in which it will be used. no.....this is a work related question. i am trying to figure out what is the correct formula for estimating required tonnage of asphalt binder and top course for schoolyards and play grounds. many asphalt supplier web-sites have a calculator to figure out total tonnage required based on the cubic yardage of your area to be paved, but i dont know if they factor in compaction by a roller, and if that roller meets our specs.
	Last edited by Thunder; 26th November 2009 at 09:14 PM.

26th November 2009, 09:15 PM	#4
pchams Muse Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 804	Originally Posted by parky76 no.....this is a work related question. i am trying to figure out what is the correct formula for estimating required tonnage of asphalt binder and top course for schoolyards and play grounds. many asphalt supplier web-sites have a calculator to figure out total tonnage required based on the cubic yardage of your area to be paved, but i dont know if they factor in compaction by a roller, and if that roller meets our specs. Are you doing your homework on the internet?
pchams Muse Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 804	__________________ Last edited by pchams; 26th November 2009 at 09:23 PM.

26th November 2009, 09:30 PM	#5
Hokulele Official Nemesis Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Trying to decide whether to set defenses against an army, or against mole rats. Posts: 27,265	It will vary by the mix. If you really need an estimate that accurate, contact the supplier directly. By the way, they call it "estimating" for a reason.
	__________________ Yvette: "Blasty! Blasty! Blasty!" Some person: "Why did you shoot that?" Yvette: "Blasty! Blasty! Blasty!" - Tragic Monkey

26th November 2009, 11:02 PM	#6
shadron Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 5,717	Originally Posted by parky76 I don't know if we have any construction engineers out there, but I will give this a go. how does one figure out the required tonnage of top course and binder asphalt required to fill a certain area? lets say the area is 100 ft. by 300 ft. (30,000 sq. ft. or 3,333 sq. yds.) if we want 4.5 inches depth total, with 1.5 inches of top course and 3 inches of binder, and we use a 7 ton roller with a vibrater or a 10 ton roller, how many tons of binder and top course is required? i had been working with these formulas: 1 ton binder= 5.81 sq. yds. (at 3 inches depth) 1 ton top course= 12 sq. yds. (at 1.5 inches depth) is this wrong? If your figures are correct, and the tonnage figures are for the compacted (finished) quantities, then you have all the info you need right there. A ton of binder is 5.81 * .087 = .484 cu yd, and about .50 cu yd for the topping; you'll need 33333 * .087 = 2900 cu yds of binder, which is about 6000 tons, and say about 2900 tons of the topping. The vendor(s) should be able to help you if compaction is a factor (if the tonnages quoted are for uncompacted, loose material); in fact for a sale like that, he'd likely do a complete cost analysis for you, including delivery and installation.

27th November 2009, 01:10 PM	#7
Thunder Banned Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Queens Posts: 34,947	Originally Posted by shadron If your figures are correct, and the tonnage figures are for the compacted (finished) quantities, then you have all the info you need right there. A ton of binder is 5.81 * .087 = .484 cu yd, and about .50 cu yd for the topping; you'll need 33333 * .087 = 2900 cu yds of binder, which is about 6000 tons, and say about 2900 tons of the topping. The vendor(s) should be able to help you if compaction is a factor (if the tonnages quoted are for uncompacted, loose material); in fact for a sale like that, he'd likely do a complete cost analysis for you, including delivery and installation. 6,000 tons of binder and 2,900 tons of top course, is actually more then 10 times what we would need, based on the formulas I have been working with for almost 4 years. based on the numbers and formulas I have in the OP, I would need 573 tons of binder and 277 tons of top course. i emailed some people in some national asphalt organization, to see what they say. no response till Monday I gather.

27th November 2009, 01:21 PM	#8
fishbob Seasonally Disaffected Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chilly Undieville Posts: 5,666	Originally Posted by parky76 I don't know if we have any construction engineers out there, but I will give this a go. how does one figure out the required tonnage of top course and binder asphalt required to fill a certain area? lets say the area is 100 ft. by 300 ft. (30,000 sq. ft. or 3,333 sq. yds.) if we want 4.5 inches depth total, with 1.5 inches of top course and 3 inches of binder, and we use a 7 ton roller with a vibrater or a 10 ton roller, how many tons of binder and top course is required? i had been working with these formulas: 1 ton binder= 5.81 sq. yds. (at 3 inches depth) 1 ton top course= 12 sq. yds. (at 1.5 inches depth) is this wrong? You need to know the density of the finished paving. The numbers you are using work out to be a little less than 2 tons per cubic yard for the binder and exactly 2 tons per cubic yard for the top course. Although exact numbers make me nervous, these are not unreasonable numbers. Figure your finished volume, multiply by the compacted density, order that many tons. For a 100 ft x 300 ft area, 4.5 inches deep, you need 11250 cubic feet or about 420 cubic yards of finished paving, so that will be about 800 tons.
	__________________ When you believe in things you don't understand, then you suffer . . . " - Stevie Wonder "Stupidity - a callow indifference to facts or data" - Stuart Firestein -neuroscientist. I hate bigots. Last edited by fishbob; 27th November 2009 at 01:26 PM.

27th November 2009, 01:29 PM	#9
fishbob Seasonally Disaffected Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chilly Undieville Posts: 5,666	Originally Posted by parky76 Based on the numbers and formulas I have in the OP, I would need 573 tons of binder and 277 tons of top course. i emailed some people in some national asphalt organization, to see what they say. no response till Monday I gather. The only numbers you need is compacted density of your materials. I bet you can find these on the internet.
	__________________ When you believe in things you don't understand, then you suffer . . . " - Stevie Wonder "Stupidity - a callow indifference to facts or data" - Stuart Firestein -neuroscientist. I hate bigots.

28th November 2009, 12:14 AM	#10
shadron Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 5,717	Originally Posted by parky76 6,000 tons of binder and 2,900 tons of top course, is actually more then 10 times what we would need, based on the formulas I have been working with for almost 4 years. based on the numbers and formulas I have in the OP, I would need 573 tons of binder and 277 tons of top course. i emailed some people in some national asphalt organization, to see what they say. no response till Monday I gather. Sorry about the slipped digit.