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Category Foundation Concrete

Total Length of Paving (m)

Avg. Width of Paving (m)

Thickness (mm)

Joint Settings

Expansion Joint Spacing (m) Distance between major expansion joints

Joint Width (mm)

Joint Depth (mm) Usually same as paver thickness

Total Paving Area 0.00 m²

Net Concrete/Paver Volume 0.00 m³

        Joint Filler Volume
        0.00
        Liters
      

Expansion Joints Deducted 0.00 m³

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About

Perimeter paving serves both a functional and aesthetic role in residential construction. Beyond framing the architecture of a home, a properly calculated perimeter apron ensures adequate water runoff management, protecting the foundation from moisture ingress. Whether you are laying decorative concrete, natural stone, or interlocking pavers, the precision of your material estimation directly impacts the budget and the structural longevity of the hardscape.

This tool is designed for contractors and homeowners planning decorative paving around a structure. Unlike simple area calculators, it accounts for the critical reduction in volume caused by expansion joints—essential for preventing thermal cracking—and estimates the volume of polymeric sand or grout needed to fill the interstices. Accurate estimation here prevents the common pitfalls of material shortage during the final stretch of installation or excessive waste that eats into project margins.

Formulas

The calculation for the total paving area involves determining the gross area and subtracting the space occupied by structures or expansion joints. The joint filler volume is derived from the total linear length of joints.

V_total = (L × W × T) − V_joints

Where the volume of expansion joints is calculated based on spacing intervals:

V_joints = (L_path ÷ S_joint) × (W_path × W_joint × D_joint)

Reference Data

Paver Type	Standard Dimensions (mm)	Joint Width (mm)	Sand Usage (kg/m²)	Typical Application
Standard Brick	200 x 100 x 50	3	3.5 - 5.0	Walkways, Borders
Holland Stone	200 x 100 x 60	3 - 5	4.0 - 6.0	Driveways, Patios
Large Slab	450 x 450 x 50	5 - 10	2.0 - 3.5	Modern Terraces
Cobblestone	100 x 100 x 60	10 - 15	8.0 - 12.0	Decorative Aprons
Interlocking I-Shape	200 x 160 x 80	3	4.5 - 6.5	Heavy Load Traffic
Permeable Paver	200 x 100 x 80	6 - 10	Varies (Aggregates)	Eco-friendly Drainage
Flagstone (Irregular)	Random	15 - 25	15.0 - 20.0	Natural Garden Paths
Travertine Tile	406 x 406 x 30	3	1.5 - 2.5	Pool Decks

Frequently Asked Questions

Expansion joints allow concrete and pavers to expand and contract with temperature changes without cracking. While the volume of a single joint seems negligible, in large perimeter projects, the cumulative volume of these gaps can significantly affect the amount of concrete or filler material required, saving costs on unnecessary material.

Standard industry practice for concrete paving suggests placing control joints at intervals of 2 to 3 times the slab thickness (in feet) converted to proper linear units, or typically every 2 to 3 meters for ease of calculation. For pavers, joints are everywhere, but expansion joints are usually placed against fixed structures like the house foundation.

When paving curved perimeters, cutting rectangular pavers to fit a radius results in material waste. A curve factor (usually 10-15%) is added to the total order to account for these cut-offs that cannot be reused elsewhere.

This specific calculator focuses on the surface layer (pavers/concrete) and joint fillers. However, a solid foundation typically requires 4-6 inches of crushed gravel and 1 inch of bedding sand, which should be calculated separately based on the area output provided here.

Regular joint sand allows for drainage and flexibility but can wash away or host weeds. Polymeric sand contains additives that bind the particles together when wetted, creating a firm, weed-resistant joint that mimics mortar but retains some flexibility.