Project Guides
Step-by-step DIY guides for the projects our calculators were built for. Each guide walks the job in the order you should do it, and each one links to the calculator that sizes your materials.
How to Pour a Concrete Slab
The full DIY sequence: planning, layout, excavation, forms, gravel base, reinforcement basics, ordering concrete, finishing, curing, and common mistakes.
Fence Planning Guide
Choose a style and height, check property lines and HOA rules, lay out post spacing, set posts in concrete or gravel, plan gates, and estimate materials.
Mulch Installation Guide
Pick a mulch type, prep and edge the bed, decide on weed barrier, spread at the right depth, and figure out exactly how much to order.
How Much Does a Concrete Slab Cost?
Typical cost ranges for a poured slab — DIY vs. pro, per-square-foot bands, what drives the price, and a worked 10×10 ft example.
How Much Does a Deck Cost?
Wood vs. composite cost ranges per square foot, installed vs. DIY, and the factors — height, railings, stairs — that move any quote.
How Much Does a Fence Cost?
Per-linear-foot cost ranges for wood, chain-link, and vinyl fences — installed and DIY — plus gates, terrain, and removal costs.
Concrete Bags vs. Ready-Mix: Which Is Cheaper?
The break-even math: per-yard costs, short-load fees, and the project sizes where bags or a ready-mix truck wins.
How to use these guides
Every guide is written as a sequence, not a reference — read it start to finish once before you buy materials, then work through it step by step on project day. When a step needs a number (bag counts, cubic yards, post spacing), the linked calculator does the math. New guides are added as new calculators launch, so browse all calculators if your project is not covered here yet.