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 to get the required strength.
Calculate Cement for 1 Cubic Meter of Brickwork
![Cement for 1 Cubic](https://wordpress.bricknbolt.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Calculate-Cement-for-1-Cubic-Meter-of-Brickwork.webp)
To understand the calculation of the amount of cement needed for a 1m3 brick wall, you must know the following things:
- 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
Factors Affecting the Cement Quantity for 1 M3 Brickwork
![Cement Quantity for 1 M3](https://wordpress.bricknbolt.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Factors-Affecting-the-Cement-Quantity-for-1-M3-Brickwork.webp)
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 optimise cement usage. However, it’s always recommended to consult professionals like Brick & Bolt for the exact material estimation for your dream construction project.