The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Estimating Frame And Brick Houses
Quantities of Bricks and Mortar.
It is a matter of some difference of opinion as to the exact amount of mortar required to lay a given quantity of brick work It may be assumed, however, that where bricks are 81/4 x 4 x 21/4 inches, a cubic yard of brick work laid with 1/2-inch joints will require from 0.35 to 0.40 cubic yard; if the joints are 1/4 to 3/8 inch thick, a cubic yard of brick work will require from 0.25 to 0.30 cubic yards of mortar; or 1000 bricks will require from 4 to 5 cubic feet of mortar. If the joints are 1/8 inch thick, as for pressed brick work, 1000 bricks will require from 11/2 to 21/2 cubic feet of mortar. This being known, it should not be difficult to tell exactly the cost of material required to build up 1000 bricks in a wall, having cost of bricks, sand and lime at hand, including hauling. To get at it a little quicker, perhaps, and also to furnish data for estimating the laying of bricks, with different grades of cement, the following is submitted: To lay 1000 bricks,1 barrel of lime and 3 barrels of sharp sand will be required. If mortar is to be colored, add about 1/2 peck of " mineral " color, mix color in lime before mixing in sand. Prepared colors are always the best to use.
To lay 1000 bricks in cement will require 13/4 barrels of cement and 21/2 barrels of sand; or, for a stronger wall, 2 barrels of cement and 21/2 barrels of sand. Colors ixed in cement mortar had better be mixed in dry, or if
moist colors are used they should be mixed with the water used in mixing the cement. These quantities are made out for mortar joints not more than 1/4 inch thick; and I may add they are, after all, only approximate, as in the hands of some workmen they would be too large, while in others they would be too small; but they are a good average, and may be relied upon as being nearly correct.
Where bricks are to be laid on a circular base, such as a round tower, oriel or circular bay, the cost of laying will increase from 15 to 30 per cent., according to the diameter of the work; the smaller the diameter the greater the cost per thousand, projecting cornices, panels, ornamental belt courses, corbels or similar work will cost from 20 to 50 per cent, more per thousand to lay than ordinary brick work.
Enameled bricks are worth from 11/2 to 21/2 cents each to lay in the wall and properly gauge joints and face. Ornamental work with enameled or glazed bricks must be valued according to the design to which they have to be laid, and it is not the purpose of this little work to describe the methods and rules for estimating the cost of laying enameled bricks to design, terra cotta ornamentation or carved brick work. These may safely be left for future consideration.
