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Using sand under stepping stones can be beneficial in certain situations. Sand can help level the ground and provide stability for the stepping stones, especially if the ground is uneven. It also allows for minor adjustments during the installation process. However, sand may not be the best choice for all environments. In areas with high foot traffic or heavy rain, sand may wash away or become displaced, leading to an uneven surface. In such cases, a more stable base material like gravel or crushed stone is preferable. Consider your specific landscape conditions before deciding whether to use sand under stepping stones.

Artificial turf usually requires some sort of base. If you’re installing the grass over soil, you’ll want to add a weed barrier (weeds can damage your fake grass) and an artificial grass sub-base . Typically, this is a mixture of gravel and sand, like crushed miscellaneous base (CMB) or decomposed granite. If you're placing turf over concrete, you can skip the sub base and use a padded underlayment.

It depends on the model of your pool. You’ll always have to level the topsoil, but most vinyl-lined pools require an additional 1- to 2-inch layer of sand to protect the liner. This way, when a foot kicks down to the bottom of your pool, it’s not scraping the liner against the hard ground. If your pool isn’t vinyl-lined, you can skip this step or add a layer of another base material, like decomposed granite. Always check your manufacturer’s instructions before you begin.

This will depend on the depth of the structure. For a landscape, patio, or walkway that’s around 2 inches deep, a ton of gravel will cover around 100 square feet or about 0.6 cubic yards. However, if you’re building a driveway, which should be a minimum of 12 inches deep, you’d need about 6 tons of gravel to cover the same area.