Curb Ramp - Material Estimations
How much material will I need to create the ideal driveway ramp for my curb?
The Simple Way
Perhaps the easiest and most straightforward way to estimate how many kits you’ll need can be accomplished with a simple video. In this video, two kits were used to cover 18 ft on a standard rolled curb gap with a width of 20 inches. If you have a unique shaped curb, continue reading.
For Unique Shaped Driveway Curbs...
When working with mathematically perfect shapes, calculating volume is a straightforward equation. But calculating volume for imperfect, irregular, real-world shapes can prove more challenging. Here are some things to examine when considering Curb Ramp for your driveway.
Length of Driveway (in inches)
The easiest part to calculate: simply measure the length of your driveway entrance.
Width of Ramp (in inches)
The width of your Curb Ramp depends on how smooth a transition you want between your driveway and the road. The greater the width = the smoother the transition = the more material you need to fill the width. Most customers don’t need a perfectly smooth Curb Ramp – just one smooth enough to lessen the impact on the car’s shocks and the driver’s neck. While every driveway is different, we find most of our customers enjoy ramps between 18-22 inches.
Depth of Curb Gap (in inches)
The depth of your curb gap is the final consideration when determining how much Curb Ramp material you need. Rolled curbs, layback curbs, square curbs all vary in shape and depth making recommendations that suit all styles of curb impractical. Instead, the easiest way to measure the depth of your curb gap is with a simple ruler.
Multiply Length x Width x Depth
Each unit of Curb Ramp covers approximately 1.33 cubic feet, which equates to about 16 sq. ft. That is, for example,16 feet length by 12 inches width (from curb top to bottom) by 1 inch gap/height. A driveway entrance with a two inch curb gap would therefore require two kits, as each would only cover about 8 feet at that depth. A cubic feet calculator may come in handy when trying to determine the number of kits you need. *Tools like these should be used for ballpark estimations only though, as curbs have geometrically different shapes and are not rectangular gaps. In general, for double car driveways 16-18 ft with standard rolled curb gaps, two kits are normally required.
For additional information on how much product your driveway needs, see our Installation Guide.
cut into strips to fit your curb. For example, a 5′ x 6′ sheet can be cut into (3) 2′ x 5′ strips to cover 15 ft on a standard rolled curb. Lay the strips over the curb where your ramp will be and tape them down to hold them in place for the installation.