How Much Cement is Required for 1 Cubic Meter of Brickwork

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Brickwork is an essential building component that gives durability and strength to the structure. Hence, figuring out how much cement is required to get the right strength and stability is an important part of bricklaying. Read on to know how much cement is required for 1 cubic meter of brickwork. But before you know the brickwork cement requirement per cubic meter, let’s understand what brickwork is, its importance and the required materials.

What is Brickwork & Its Importance?

Brickwork is also called brick masonry or bricklaying process. It’s a structural method of construction where a solid structure like a wall is created by arranging the bricks in a methodical pattern and filling the joints with mortar, which can withstand the applied load. It’s an extremely durable construction form. Different types of bricks and mortar are available in the market for the brickwork. Brick masonry relies on a bond that is created when the joints between bricks are filled with the proper mortar. You have to take particular care when mixing and placing mortar because it significantly impacts the functionality and longevity of masonry structures.

Materials Required for Brickwork

You require the following materials for brickwork:

1. Bricks

Bricks are the key component of brickwork, and they come in various types, such as common burnt clay bricks, concrete bricks, sand lime bricks, and more. Standard, modular, and jumbo brick sizes are common for brickwork.

2. Cement

Cement is another important ingredient in brickwork; cement acts as a binding agent when combined with sand to make mortar. Hence, calculating brickwork cement requirement per cubic meter needs careful attention. Depending on your project’s needs, you can use different types of cement, such as Ordinary Portland Cement and Portland Pozzolana Cement.

3. Sand

Sand is essential in mortar because it makes the mixture workable and helps the bricks stick together. However, you must be careful when choosing the type and grade of sand, as it can affect the strength of the mortar and the overall quality of brick masonry.

4. Water

To make mortar, you need water to mix with sand and cement, which helps activate the cement reaction. The right ratio of cement to water is essential for strength.

Brick work mortar ratio

The brickwork mortar ratio is the proportion of cement and sand used to make mortar for bricklaying. Here are the common ratios based on the type of brickwork:

Load-bearing walls (stronger walls):
- 1:4 or 1:5 (1 part cement, 4 or 5 parts sand)
- This ratio provides greater strength and is typically used in walls that bear structural loads.
Non-load-bearing walls (partition walls):
- 1:6 (1 part cement, 6 parts sand)
- This ratio is used when the wall is not expected to support heavy loads.
Exposed brickwork (to resist weathering):
- 1:3 (1 part cement, 3 parts sand)
- This is often used for walls exposed to the elements for better durability.

Each ratio ensures the mortar meets the specific strength and durability needs of the construction task.

Factors Influencing Brick Work Mortar Ratio

Purpose of Construction:
- For load-bearing walls or areas under heavy stress, a stronger mortar mix (1:3 or 1:4) is preferred.
- For non-load-bearing walls or internal partitions, a weaker mix (1:5 or 1:6) may suffice.
Climate Conditions:
- In hot climates, a stronger mix may be required to prevent mortar from drying too quickly and cracking.
- In cold climates, a slightly weaker mix is often used, as mortar sets more slowly and needs time to cure properly.
Type of Bricks Used:
- Standard clay bricks require a medium-strength mortar mix like 1:4.
- Fly ash or solid concrete blocks might require a stronger mix, especially if the wall needs extra strength to support load-bearing weight.

Brickwork Mortar Mixes and It’s Applications

Here’s how different mortar mix ratios are used in practice:

1:3 Mix (Cement: Sand) This is a high-strength mortar, often used for load-bearing walls or foundations. It’s ideal for structures that will carry heavy weight and require added durability.
- Example: Use this ratio for foundation walls or basement walls, where strength is critical due to the pressure they bear from above.
1:4 Mix (Cement: Sand) This is the most commonly used mortar mix in brickwork for walls, columns, and partition walls in both residential and commercial projects. It provides a good balance of strength and workability.
- Example: This is the standard ratio for most brickwork, including internal and external walls.

1:5 Mix (Cement: Sand) This mix is used for non-structural brickwork where strength is not a primary concern. It is often used for decorative or lighter work, like garden walls or boundary walls.
- Example: For building garden walls or walls that are primarily decorative in nature, a 1:5 mix is often sufficient.

1:6 Mix (Cement: Sand) The weakest of the standard mortar mixes, used for non-critical applications. It can be used for plastering or finishing work where no heavy loads are expected.
- Example: Ideal for internal plastering, non-load-bearing interior walls, and other aesthetic applications.

Brickwork Calculation in Construction

When calculating brickwork for a construction project, it’s important to determine the number of bricks required based on the dimensions of the wall, the size of the bricks, and any voids (such as doors and windows) in the wall. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Measure the Surface Area (Walls)

The first step is to measure the height and length of the wall to determine the total area to be constructed.

Wall Area Calculation:
- Area of Wall=Height×Length
Example:
- If the height of the wall is 3 meters and the length is 5 meters, then:
  - Area of Wall = 3m × 5m = 15sqm

Subtract Openings (Windows, Doors, etc.)

Next, measure and subtract the areas of any openings (such as windows and doors), as these will not require brickwork.

Opening Area Calculation (Windows and Doors):
- Measure the height and width of each window and door and multiply these values to calculate the area.
- Example:
  - For a window of 1.5 meters by 1.5 meters:
    - Area of Window = 1.5m × 1.5m = 2.25sqm
  - For a door of 2 meters by 1 meter:
    - Area of Door = 2m × 1m = 2sqm
Total Opening Area:
- Total Opening Area = 2.25sqm (window)+ 2sqm (door) = 4.25sqm

Calculate the Net Brickwork Area

Now, subtract the total opening area from the total wall area to get the net brickwork area. This is the area where bricks will be laid.

Example:

Net Brickwork Area = Total Wall Area − Total Opening Area.
- Net Brickwork Area = 15sqm − 4.25sqm = 10.75sqm.

Determine the Size of the Brick

Standard brick size can vary, but the typical brick size used in construction is 190mm x 90mm x 90mm (length x width x height). When calculating the number of bricks, you need to account for the mortar gap, which is typically 10mm.

Effective Brick Size (including mortar gap):
- Length: 200mm (190mm + 10mm for mortar)
- Width: 100mm (90mm + 10mm for mortar)
- Height: 100mm (90mm + 10mm for mortar)
The area of one brick is calculated by multiplying the length and height (since we are considering the face that will be exposed):
- Area of One Brick = Length × Height = 200mm × 100mm = 20,000mm2 = 0.02sqm

Calculate the Number of Bricks Required

Now that you know the net brickwork area and the area of one brick, you can calculate how many bricks are required for the project.

Number of Bricks Required:
- Number of Bricks = Net Brickwork Area / Area of One Brick
Example:
- Number of Bricks = 10.75 sqm / 0.02sqm = 537.5bricks
Since you can’t use a fraction of a brick, round up to the nearest whole number:
- Total Bricks Required is = 538 Bricks.

How many bricks in 1 cubic meter

To calculate the number of bricks in 1 cubic meter, you need to consider the size of the brick and whether mortar is included in the calculation. Here’s the general method:

Standard Brick Size:

In India, the standard brick size is 190 mm x 90 mm x 90 mm (without mortar).

With mortar:
The size typically becomes 200 mm x 100 mm x 100 mm after accounting for the mortar layer.

Number of Bricks Calculation:

The volume of one brick with mortar:
0.2×0.1×0.1=0.002 cubic meters
To find the number of bricks per cubic meter:
1/ 0.002 = 500 bricks per cubic meter.

You will need approximately 500 bricks in 1 cubic meter, including mortar space.

Calculate Cement for 1 Cubic Meter of Brickwork

To understand the calculation of the amount of cement needed for a 1m3 brick wall, you must know the following things:

Red Bricks or Cement bricks are typically 190x90x90 mm in size.
Mortar layers are typically 10 to 12 mm thick.
Shrinkage factor (an additional 30% of the dry volume) = 1.3
The mortar-to-sand ratio (using cement: sand) is 1:6 for walls.
Brick dimensions after adding 10 mm mortar to each side are 200 x 100 x 100 mm, or 0.2 x 0.1 x 0.1 m.
Cement weight in units of 1440 kg/m³

Calculation of Cement quantity for 1 M3 Brickwork:

The volume of 1 brick without mortar is,

= 0.19×0.09×0.09

= 0.001539 m³

The volume of 1 brick with mortar is,

= 0.2×0.1×0.1

= 0.002 m³

Total number of Bricks with mortar required for 1 m3,

= 1/0.002

= 500 Bricks.

Now,

The Volume of Dry Mortar

=[Total Vol. of Brick Work – Vol. of Total Bricks Without Mortar]

=1m³ – (500 x 0.001539m³)

= 0.2305 m³

Now, Total Volume of Dry Mortar

= Dry Mortar Volume x 1.3

= 0.2305 x 1.3

= 0.29965m³

≈ 0.3 m³

As mentioned above, the Mortar Ratio is 1:6

Hence, the Total Mortar Ratio is = 1+6 = 7

Now, the Total Quantity of Cement

= (Cement Ratio/Total Ratio) x Total Dry Volume x Unit Weight of Cement

= (1/7)x0.3×1440 kg/m³

= 61.71 kg, rounding up 62 kg

Now, if you want to calculate the number of cement bags required in 1m³ brick masonry.

Then, the Number of Cement Bags

= Total cement required cement/ weight of cement in one bag

= 62/50

= 1.24 Bags

How much sand required for 1 cubic meter brickwork 1:6

Calculation of sand required for 1 cubic meter of brickwork 1:6

Step 1: Understand the Mix Ratio

Mix Ratio: 1:6 means 1 part cement and 6 parts sand.

Total Parts: 1 (cement) + 6 (sand) = 7 parts

Step 2: Calculate the Dry Volume of Mortar

The volume of mortar needed for brickwork is more than the wet volume, so we increased it by about 30% to account for shrinkage and wastage.

Dry Volume of Mortar = 1 cubic meter (the volume of brickwork) × 1.30 = 1.30 cubic meters

Step 3: Calculate the Volume of Sand

Now, we calculate how much sand is required based on the mix ratio.

Volume of Sand = (Dry Volume of Mortar) × (Sand’s part in the mix ratio) / (Total parts)
Volume of Sand = 1.30 cubic meters × 6 / 7
Volume of Sand = 1.114 cubic meters

Step 4: Consider Bulking of Sand

When sand is measured, bulking of sand occurs due to moisture, and it’s usually considered by increasing the sand volume by about 25-30%.

Bulking Factor: Let’s use 1.3 for a 30% increase due to bulking.
Corrected Volume of Sand = 1.14 cubic meters × 1.3
Corrected Volume of Sand = 1.482 cubic meters

For 1 cubic meter of brickwork with a 1:6 mix ratio, you need approximately 1.5 cubic meters of sand (Approx).

How much Cement is required for 1 cubic meter brickwork 1:4

Cement Requirement for 1 m³ Brickwork 1:4

Assumptions for Brickwork:

Mortar accounts for ~ 25–30% of the brickwork volume
-> We’ll assume 30% for standard calculation.
So, mortar volume = 30% of 1 m³ = 0.30 m³
Dry volume factor = 1.33 (to account for shrinkage & wastage)

Dry mortar volume = 0.30 × 1.33 = 0.399 m³

Mix Ratio: 1:4 (Cement:Sand):

Total = 1 + 4 = 5 parts

Cement’s share = 1/5 of the total dry mortar volume.

Cement volume = 0.399 / 5 = 0.0798 m³

Convert to Bags of Cement

1 bag of cement = 0.035 m³

No. of cement bags = 0.0798 ÷ 0.035 ≈ 2.28 bags

Answer: Approx. 2(1/2) (Two and a Half) bags of cement are required for 1 m³ of brickwork in a 1:4 ratio.

How much Cement is required for 1 cubic meter brickwork 1:5

Assumptions for Brickwork:

Mortar accounts for ~ 25–30% of the brickwork volume
-> We’ll assume 30% for standard calculation.
So, mortar volume = 30% of 1 m³ = 0.30 m³
Dry volume factor = 1.33 (to account for shrinkage & wastage)

Dry mortar volume = 0.30 × 1.33 = 0.399 m³

Mix Ratio: 1:4 (Cement:Sand):

Total = 1 + 5 = 6 parts

Cement’s share = 1/6 of the total dry mortar volume.

Cement volume = 0.399 / 6 = 0.0665 m³

Convert to Bags of Cement

1 bag of cement = 0.035 m³

No. of cement bags = 0.0665 ÷ 0.035 ≈ 1.9 bags

Answer: Approx. 2 bags of cement are required for 1 m³ of brickwork in a 1:5 ratio.

Factors Affecting the Cement Quantity for 1 M3 Brickwork

1. Types and Size of the Bricks

Brick masonry requires different types and sizes of bricks, which require varying amounts of mortar for proper bonding and finishing. The mortar-brick ratio also influences the cement requirement.

2. Mortar Mix Ratio

The amount of water, sand, and cement in the mortar mix significantly impacts the strength of the brickwork. A typical mix ratio is 1:6 (1 part cement to 6 parts sand). However, this can change depending on the location and requirements of your project.

3. Thickness of Mortar Joints

The thickness of mortar joints is very important to determine the overall volume of mortar used. If you choose a thinner joint, it requires less mortar, but if you choose a thicker joint, it demands more quantity of mortar.

4. Consideration of Wastage and Workability

The cement requirement also depends on the workability and wastage of mortar during construction. Because if the workability is good and wastage is low, it reduces the need for mortar.

Conclusion

In summary, brickwork is an essential component of construction. Hence, to ensure the structural integrity of brickwork, you require a basic knowledge of calculating the cement quantity for 1 m3 brickwork. Numerous factors affect the calculation process, including mortar ratios, thickness, type, and size of the bricks, etc. So, by considering these factors, you can balance strength, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability in brick masonry projects to optimize cement usage. However, it’s always recommended to consult professionals like Brick & Bolt for the exact material estimation for your dream construction project.

How Much Cement is Required for 1 Cubic Meter of Brickwork?