Estimating in Building Construction

122 CHAPTERELEVEN

11–6 SPECIFICATIONS—

CONCRETE MASONRY

The specifications will state exactly which types of units are
required in each location. They give the size, shape, color,
and any requisite features such as glazed units, strength, and
fire ratings. The type, color, thickness, and shape of the
mortar joint must be determined, as well as the style of
bond required. Also to be checked are the reinforcing, con-
trol and expansion joints, wall ties, anchors, flashing, and
weep holes needed.
If the specifications are not completely clear as to what
is required, the estimator should call the architect/engineer’s
office to check; they should never guess what the specifica-
tions mean.

11–7 Estimating—Concrete Masonry

Concrete masonry should be taken off from the drawings by

the square feet of wall required and divided into the different

thickness of each wall. The total square footage of each wall,

of a given thickness, is then multiplied by the number of

units required per square foot (Figure 11.6). For sizes other

than those found in Figure 11.5, the following formula can

be used:

For a nominal size 8– 8 –  16 – block

Units per square foot

144

square inches per unit

(There are 144 square inches in 1 square foot.)

FIGURE 11.5.Typical Block Sizes (All Sizes Are Actual).

FIGURE 11.6.Materials Required for 100 sf of Face Area.