There’s no easier way to instantly transform your lawn into a lush, green oasis than by laying fresh sod. But, before you can do that, you’ll need to determine exactly how much sod you need to get the job done.
The process of sod measurement requires that you measure the dimensions of your yard as accurately as possible to avoid overspending, or even worse, not ordering enough. So, what do you need to know about measuring for sod?
Why Do Accurate Sod Measurements Matter?
Accurate sod measurements are incredibly important for a few different reasons. Firstly, your measurements will help you estimate the exact amount of sod that you need for your lawn, which prevents you from buying too much or too little sod, saving extra delivery charges or spending too much on unnecessary products. Sod is not returnable so make sure your calculations are correct.
Accurate sod measurements are also crucial to help you estimate the total cost of your sod installation, including the cost of sod, other materials, and labor, as well as the amount of time it will take to complete the project.
Measuring Your Lawn For Sod
Now that you know why having accurate sod measurements is important, how do you actually go about finding the total square footage of your yard?
To find the exact area of your yard in square feet, you’ll need to measure the length and width of your yard and multiply them together to calculate how many square feet of sod you’ll need. For example, if your lawn is 30 feet long and 20 feet wide, the total square footage of your lawn would be 600 square feet.
However, while simple square or rectangle lawns are easy to measure, the more complex the shape of your yard, the more difficult it will be to calculate the area.
If you’re having trouble, drawing a rough diagram of your yard can be a big help. Doing this allows you to easily write down your measurements and split your yard into smaller more manageable chunks that make coming up with an accurate measurement much easier.
Factoring in Sod Wastage
No matter how big or small your sod installation project is, there’s no doubt that you’ll have to account for sod waste or the amount of sod that will be lost due to trimming and fitting pieces together.
Generally, the amount of sod waste depends on the complexity of the shape of your yard and it usually accounts for anywhere from 5% to 15% of the total amount of sod needed to complete the project.
To factor in sod waste, simply multiply the total square footage of your yard by 1 plus the percentage of waste you expect. For instance, if your lawn is 600 square feet and you expect 10% sod wastage, the total amount of sod you will need to buy is 660 square feet.
Ordering Sod
Now that you’ve accurately measured the area of your yard and factored sod waste, you’re ready to order your sod. Simply contact a reputable sod supplier like All American Sod, and your sod will be delivered to your home when it’s most convenient for you.
Helpful Hint
Landscapers normally calculate waste at 10%, time for installation at 1 man hour per 500 sq ft, and will start watering immediately after a small zone/area is installed. Determine how well your crew would compare to a landscaper and adjust your calculations accordingly.