When constructing any structure, accurate material estimation is crucial. This guide provides a step-by-step calculation for determining the required quantity of cement, sand, and bricks for 1 cubic meter of brickwork.
Understanding the Basic Parameters
To begin, we must consider essential factors such as the mortar ratio, mortar thickness, and cement density:
- Mortar Ratio = 1:6 (Cement: Sand)
- Mortar Thickness = 10mm = 0.01m
- Density of Cement = 1440 kg/m³
Brick Calculation for 1m³
The number of bricks required depends on their dimensions, both with and without mortar.
Volume of a Brick (Without Mortar)
- L × W × T = 0.19m × 0.09m × 0.09m
- Volume = 0.001539 m³
Volume of a Brick (With Mortar)
- L × W × T = 0.20m × 0.10m × 0.10m
- Volume = 0.002 m³
Total Number of Bricks Required
- 1m³ / 0.002m³ = 500 Bricks
Mortar Calculation for 1m³
Mortar fills the gaps between bricks, and its volume must be considered.
Wet Volume of Mortar
- 1m³ – (500 × 0.001539m³)
- Wet Volume = 0.2305m³
Dry Volume of Mortar
Since mortar shrinks after mixing, a dry-to-wet conversion factor of 1.33 is applied:
- 0.2305m³ × 1.33 = 0.306565m³
Cement Requirement for 1m³
Using a 1:6 mortar ratio, we calculate the amount of cement needed.
Quantity of Cement
- (1/7) × 0.306565 × 1440 = 63kg
Cement in Bags
- 63kg / 50kg (per bag) = 1.26 bags ≈ 2 bags
Sand Requirement for 1m³
Volume of Sand
- (6/7) × 0.306565 = 0.26277m³
Conversion to Cubic Feet
- 0.26277 × 35.3147 ft³ = 9.28 ft³
Final Material Estimation for 1m³ Brickwork
For 1m³ of brickwork, the following quantities are required:
- Total Number of Bricks = 500 Bricks
- Cement = 63kg (≈ 2 bags)
- Sand = 9.28 ft³
