How Brickwork & Mortar Quantities are Calculated
Estimating bricks and mortar accurately is critical to prevent material shortages on site or over-purchasing cement and sand.
According to standard Indian Standard (IS) codes and CPWD Specifications, 1 cubic meter of brick masonry using standard modular bricks (190mm × 90mm × 90mm with 10mm mortar joint) contains approximately 500 bricks.
Why We Apply a 1.33 Multiplier for Dry Mortar Volume
When estimating mortar materials (cement and sand):
- The wet volume of mortar is calculated by subtracting the actual volume of bricks from the gross volume of the wall.
- Dry cement and sand shrink when water is added to form mortar paste.
- Mortar is also filled inside brick frogs (indentation on top of bricks) and joint voids.
- Therefore, we multiply the wet mortar volume by a factor of 1.33 (33% extra) to calculate dry material quantities.
Standard Mortar Mix Ratios (CPWD / IS Code)
| Mortar Ratio | Application | Recommended Wall Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1:3 | Rich Mortar | Half Brick (4.5") Outer Partition Walls |
| 1:4 | Medium Rich Mortar | Load Bearing & Foundation Brickwork |
| 1:6 | Standard Mortar | Standard 9" Outer & Inner Brickwork |
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