Brick Mortar Calculator

What is a Brick Mortar Calculator?

A Brick Mortar Calculator is a tool used to estimate the amount of mortar needed for a brickwork project. It helps contractors, masons, and DIY enthusiasts accurately determine the volume of mortar required based on the dimensions of the wall and the size of the bricks being used. This calculation is crucial for proper project planning, material procurement, and cost estimation.

Formula for Mortar Volume Calculation

The formulas used in this calculator are:

\[ N_{bricks} = \left\lceil\frac{L_{wall} \times 12}{L_{brick} + T_{joint}}\right\rceil \times \left\lceil\frac{H_{wall} \times 12}{H_{brick} + T_{joint}}\right\rceil \]

\[ V_{mortar} = V_{wall} - V_{bricks} \]

Where:

• \(N_{bricks}\) is the total number of bricks needed
• \(L_{wall}, H_{wall}\) are wall length and height in feet
• \(L_{brick}, H_{brick}\) are brick length and height in inches
• \(T_{joint}\) is joint thickness in inches
• \(V_{wall}\) is total wall volume
• \(V_{bricks}\) is volume occupied by bricks

Calculation Steps

1. Calculate bricks per row: \(\left\lceil\frac{L_{wall} \times 12}{L_{brick} + T_{joint}}\right\rceil\)
2. Calculate number of rows: \(\left\lceil\frac{H_{wall} \times 12}{H_{brick} + T_{joint}}\right\rceil\)
3. Calculate total bricks by multiplying bricks per row by number of rows
4. Calculate wall volume: \(V_{wall} = L_{wall} \times H_{wall} \times T_{wall}\)
5. Calculate brick volume: \(V_{bricks} = N_{bricks} \times \frac{L_{brick}}{12} \times \frac{H_{brick}}{12} \times T_{wall}\)
6. Calculate mortar volume: \(V_{mortar} = V_{wall} - V_{bricks}\)

Example and Visual Representation

Let's calculate the mortar needed for a brick wall with:

• Wall Length = 20 feet
• Wall Height = 10 feet
• Wall Thickness = 4 inches
• Brick Size = Standard (8" x 2.25")
• Joint Thickness = 0.375 inches

Following the steps:

1. Bricks per row = \(\left\lceil\frac{20 \times 12}{8 + 0.375}\right\rceil = 29\) bricks

2. Number of rows = \(\left\lceil\frac{10 \times 12}{2.25 + 0.375}\right\rceil = 46\) rows

3. Total bricks = \(29 \times 46 = 1,334\) bricks

4. Wall volume = \(20 \times 10 \times \frac{4}{12} = 66.67\) ft³

5. Brick volume = \(1,334 \times \frac{8}{12} \times \frac{2.25}{12} \times \frac{4}{12} = 47.87\) ft³

6. Mortar volume = \(66.67 - 47.87 = 18.8\) ft³ = 0.70 yd³

The calculator provides a visual diagram showing the wall dimensions and automatically performs these calculations based on your input values.