126 CHAPTERELEVEN
determines the types of lintels, flashing, reinforcing, and
weep holes required, and who supplies and who installs
each item.
Glazed-face brick with special shapes for stretchers,
jambs, corners, sills, wall ends, and for use in other partic-
ular areas is available. Because these special pieces are rela-
tively expensive, the estimator must allow for them. Also,
the materials must meet all ASTM requirements of the
specification.
Many specifications designate an amount, cash
allowance,for the purchase of face brick. The estimator then
allows the special amounts in the estimate. This practice
allows the owner and architect/engineer to determine the
exact type of brick desired at a later date.
11–10 Estimating Brick
The first thing to be determined in estimating the quantity
of brick is the size of the brick and the width of the mortar
joint. They are both necessary to determine the number of
bricks per square foot of wall area and the quantity of
mortar. Brick is sold by the thousand units, so the final
estimate of materials required must be in the number of
units required.
To determine the number of bricks required for a given
project, the first step is to obtain the length and height of all
walls to be faced with brick and then calculate the area of
wall. Make deductions for all openings so that the estimate
will be as accurate as possible. Check the jamb detail of the
opening to determine whether extra brick will be required
for the reveal; generally if the reveal is over 4 inches deep,
extra brick will be required.
Once the number of square feet has been determined,
the number of bricks can be calculated. This calculation
varies depending on the size of the brick, width of the mor-
tar joint, and style of bond required. The figures must be
extremely accurate, as actual quantities and costs must be
determined. It is only in this manner that estimators will
increase their chances of getting work at a profit.
Figure 11.13 shows the number of bricks required per
square foot of wall surface for various patterns and bonds.
Special bond patterns require that the estimator analyze the
style of bond required and determine the number of bricks.
One method of analyzing the amount of brick required is to
make a drawing of several square feet of wall surface, deter-
mine the brick to be used, and divide that into the total area
drawn. Sketches are often made right on the workup sheets
by the estimator.
Labor costs will be affected by lengths of straight walls,
number of jogs in the wall, windows, piers, pilasters, and
anything else that might slow the mason’s work, such as the
weather conditions. Also to be calculated are the amount of
mortar required and any lintels, flashing, reinforcing, and
weep holes that may be specified. Any special requirements
such as colored mortar, shape of joint, and type of flashing
are noted on the workup sheet.FIGURE 11.12.Structural Clay Tile.
(Courtesy of Brick Institute of America)