MortarDesk
Before The First Cut
Get the spec.
Get it right.
The details that make a material fit.
Dimensions, grades, mixes, and the checks
to make before you order.
Practical guides.
Material by material.
TOOL 01 / QUANTITY DESK
Work Out
The Volume.
Length × width × depth, plus an allowance you choose.
INDEX / 01—08
The Material Files.
Timber & Sheets
3/8 x 4 x 8 Plywood: Sizes, Types & Prices
Actual thicknesses span 0.313–0.354 in., with 32 sq. ft. gross coverage. Compare finishes, exposure labels, uses and standard-panel prices of $18.64–$35.97.
Concrete & Masonry
Dry Pack Mortar for Shower Pan: Mix, Slope and Installation Guide
In principle, dry pack mortar for a shower pan is simple: a low-moisture blend of sand and cement is packed into a firm, sloped base. The work becomes…
Concrete & Masonry
Concrete Driveway Thickness Changes With Vehicle Use
Consider 4 inches for cars on stable soil with a suitable base; 5 inches adds margin for pickups or slopes, while recurring RV use starts around 6 inches.
Roofing
How Many Shingles in a Square? Counts by Type
For 3-tab roofing, 26-29 shingles per bundle and three bundles per square produce a preliminary count of 78-87 pieces.
Concrete & Masonry
A Slump Cone Test Has Defined Dimensions and Steps
For the second and third layers, the rod passes through the current layer and slightly into the layer below.
Fixings
What Is a Bugle Head Screw, and How Do You Choose One?
It is identified by its curved countersunk head, not by any universal thread, point, drive, material or coating.
Timber & Sheets
Crawl Space Drainage Matting: When You Need It
Find when it protects a liner, routes liquid water or adds needless cost—and how to choose full coverage, a service path or no matting.
Roofing
Oil Canning Metal Roof: Causes, Prevention and Fixes
Usually aesthetic, waviness still warrants review if it is new or progressive or appears with leaks, loose parts, or displaced seams.
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THE THINKING BEHIND MORTARDESK
Useful. Specific. Clear.
Mortar Desk is a reference desk for building materials. Nominal versus actual sizes, sheet-metal gauges, span ratings, mortar types, fastener classes, coverage rates — the numbers you need before ordering, in one place.
We are not a contractor and we do not provide engineering advice. Work involving gas, structural elements or the main electrical supply belongs to a licensed trade, working to local code.
Specifications change and codes are local. We cite the standard behind a number so you can check it against the edition your inspector uses.