How to calculate cement consumption per 1 cubic meter of brickwork?

Construction is a serious and expensive business. To save money wisely, you need to correctly calculate the amount of building material needed. Therefore, we figure out how to calculate the consumption of mortar per 1 m³ of brickwork - taking into account the ingredients of the masonry mixture and the type of brick.

The consumption of mortar is influenced by many factors, for example, the hollowness of the brick. Source sense-life.com

Mortar consumption per 1m3 of brickwork

Approximate consumption of mortar per 1 m2 of masonry
Most builders calculate approximately the consumption of mortar per 1 m2 of masonry, but there are certain subtleties that are very important to take into account. So, the consumption rates of the solution per 1 m3 of masonry can be different, and this is what will be discussed further

A little about brickwork

As you know, the use of bricks in construction is an extremely common phenomenon. Buildings made from this material are characterized by high reliability, they retain heat well and transmit much less noise compared to structures made from some other materials.

Factors affecting the cost of cement mixture

What affects solution consumption

The criteria on which the volume of mortar consumption per 1 m2 of masonry depends are as follows:

• The thickness of the walls of the structure, which can be 1, 1.5 and 2 bricks.
• The type of cement used for the anchoring base.
• A type of building material used, which can be either solid or hollow from the inside.

Principle of production of building fastening material:

Depending on exactly what components are included in it (sometimes structures such as clay, lime are used), the consumption of the solution per m3 of masonry may be different.

Professional skills of someone who mixes cement ready for installation:

• It is believed that there is nothing complicated in such work and even an inexperienced owner can do it with his own hands.
• However, a very common reason for overspending is that, due to his inexperience, the master uses more material than the instructions require.

Based on what type of cement is used in the fixing composition, some conclusions can also be drawn.

How much dry raw material is required for 1 m3 of building mixture?

Each type of cement has its own measures.

So, studying the consumption rates of mortar for laying partitions of ¼ brick, dry raw materials are used in the following quantities:

• Cement grade “M50” – 2.5 kg.
• Mixtures of type “M75” require 4 kg.
• For cement grade “M100” you need to use 5 kg.

There are some other ways to perform measurements:

• If the installation is carried out in 1 brick, then the mortar consumption per 1 m/sq. m of masonry will be approximately 75 liters.
• When constructing partitions with 1.5 elements, this parameter will change and will be equal to 110 l.

Amount of cement per cubic meter

Required amount of cement to prepare 1 m3 of building composition:

• Professional specialists use such measures very often, since volume is the basis of all calculations.
• It is believed that in order to prepare 1 m3 of the composition, at least 400 kg of cement will be required (in other words, standard 50 kg bags).
• At the same time, the consumption of masonry mortar per 1 m3 of masonry will be about 0.25 m3 of the resulting composition.
• It is these proportions that are taken as optimal and used in construction.

Expense rate

Despite this, the data in certain sources may differ slightly, which may be due to the presence of different installation options.

The previously indicated rate of mortar consumption per cube of masonry is suitable for the standard installation procedure and can be taken into account when independently constructing a brick building.

During long-term storage, the technical characteristics of the material are significantly reduced, and the price of such an error is very high:

For example, the “M400” cement brand, after six months of its acquisition, will correspond in its properties to the “M200” or “M100” brand.

Tools used to calculate train costs

When calculating the cost of cement mixture consumption for brick installation, you need to take into account the list of tools required for this procedure.

These include:

The use of cement composition when installing shell rock

First of all, it should be noted that the consistency of the fixing structure for installing shell rock must have certain viscosity parameters.

Thickness of joints in masonry

Another parameter that affects the consumption of masonry mixture. There are standard dimensional parameters for the thickness of the gaps between bricks, which craftsmen must adhere to. It is these dimensions that ensure the strength of the entire structure. Here are their parameters:

• horizontal seams should have a thickness of within 12 mm;
• vertical 10;
• longitudinal in the range of 12-15 mm;
• transverse 8-10.

It is not always possible to adhere to these indicators. Causes:

• low skill of the workman;
• climatic conditions;
• geometric unevenness of bricks.

The last reason is considered the main one. Most often, this is a criterion for excessive consumption of masonry mixture. To lay the stones evenly, you have to increase the mortar in some areas to hide the unevenness of the blocks.

So, everything is clear with the thickness of the seam. The thicker it is, the more solution you will have to use.

Thickness of joints in brickwork Source etokirpichi.ru

Types of solutions and their applicability

The connecting link between brick blocks is a mixture of the binder component with filler and water. The most common are 4 types of solutions.

• Cement-sand. It is diluted with water, its proportions depend on the brand of cement and the method of laying. When hardened, this option is the most durable, but if the technology is deviated from, it is prone to cracking;
• Limestone - in it cement is replaced with quicklime; it is plastic, but is washed out by rain, so it is only suitable for installing internal walls;
• Mixed - cement and sand are diluted with liquid slaked lime (lime milk). The combination combines the best qualities of the first two options;
• With a plasticizer - a polymer additive is mixed with cement and sand (fraction 2 mm) to increase the plasticity of the mixture. It is easier to make such a solution from a dry construction mixture by adding water according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Despite the composition, the requirements for the quality of the mixture are almost the same. All ingredients are cleared of lumps, the sand is sifted, and the liquid lime is filtered. To prepare the solution, first thoroughly mix the powder components, then slowly pour in cold liquid (20 o C) and mix thoroughly so that setting does not occur. The process is accelerated using a concrete mixer or a hammer drill with a whisk attachment.

Mortar consumption per cube of brickwork

How long does it take to prepare mortar for laying a wall? This is determined by several conditions:

• the skill of a mason;
• the structure of the brick block - products with voids take more mortar mixture;
• type of brick - hyper-pressed and facing silicate absorbs less mortar than ceramic or ordinary silicate with a rough surface;
• wall thickness.

The average consumption of mortar per 1 m3 of brickwork with a standard joint thickness (12 mm) is approximately 0.23 m3. Table 1 provides more accurate information.

Cement consumption for bricklaying

The composition of the mixture for constructing a brick wall varies depending on the quality of the original components, weather conditions, and the number of storeys of the building. To mix the ingredients correctly, you should know: a 10-liter bucket holds 14 kg of cement or 12 kg of sand.

1. Cement mortar is flexible in proportions. It is characterized by the degree of strength: the lower it is, the lower the required grade of cement and the lower its percentage (1 part to 2.5 - 6 parts of sand). For M400 cement the ratio is 1.3, for M500 – 1.4. The volume of water (on average 0.5 - 0.7 liters per 1 kg of cement) depends on the desired thickness of the mixture, the type of brick, air temperature - in the summer heat the solution should be more liquid. To increase its plasticity, experienced masons add a little washing powder or dishwashing detergent to the water. For 1 cubic meter of ready-made mortar 1.4, 410 kg of M500 cement and 1.14 m3 of sand are needed. Knowing that for 1 cubic meter of an ordinary wall, one brick made of a silicate block 250 x 120 x 65 takes 0.24 m3 of mortar, the cement consumption per cubic meter of brickwork is determined as follows: 0.24 x 410 = 98 kg. Accordingly, when using M400 cement (proportion 1.3) a cubic meter of the mixture contains 490 kg of cement, and 117 kg of it is consumed per 1 m3 of masonry.
2. Cement-lime mortar is suitable for use within 5 hours, and in the summer at +25 o - no more than an hour, so calculation is also desirable for it. For 1 cubic meter of mixture, 190 kg of cement M400 - M500, 1.5 m3 of sand, 106 kg of hydrated lime and 475 liters of water are required. For a cubic meter of masonry you will need an average of 46 kg of cement.

Consumption of cement for laying bricks during cladding

In this case, the developer is interested in how much binder mixture will be consumed per square meter of wall. This depends on the water absorption of the building material, the season of work, the hollowness and porosity of the blocks. The standards are laid down in SNiP 82-02-95, but the real numbers are always higher, so you should buy ready-made mortar or cement with a reserve.

To save on consumables, 2 factors should be noted:

1. the larger the dimensions of the brick, the less mortar will be needed;
2. The higher the % of voids and pores, the higher the mixture consumption will be.

From this point of view, it is optimal to use ceramic or silicate double bricks of sufficient strength. This choice will allow you to achieve savings of 20% of the mortar mixture. Table 2 shows comparative data on mortar consumption per square meter of wall.

Determination of cement content

It should be remembered that the masonry mortar begins to harden quite quickly, so it is not worth preparing it for future use.

The easiest way to perform the necessary calculations is to take 1 m3 of masonry as a basis, consisting of 400 bricks. On average, its installation requires 0.25-0.3 cubic meters of solution. Knowing this, you can make simple approximate calculations and determine the required consumption of binder per 1 m2; walls of any thickness.

Calculations are performed in the following sequence:

• calculate the area of ​​the wall by multiplying its length by its width;
• determine the expected volume of masonry work by multiplying the area of ​​the wall by its thickness. It should be noted that the construction of load-bearing structures is usually carried out in 1.5 or 2 bricks. Their thickness will be 38 or 51 cm, respectively. Internal partitions are made of 1 or 0.5 bricks, which will be 25 or 12.5 cm. For example, we give a calculation for the construction of a wall laid out with 1.5 bricks, the area of ​​which is 12 m2: 0.38 x 12 = 4.56 m3;
• the estimated amount of mixture for a given amount of work. 4.56 x 0.25 = 1.14 m3; It should be borne in mind that the estimated need may change both up and down depending on the material used and the experience of the craftsman. Therefore, the calculated amount is quite approximate.
• Knowing the required ratio of components, we determine the required need for cement: 1.14. 5 = 0.23 m3;
• since the weight of 1 m3 of cement is 1300 kg, then in this case you will need: 0.23 x 1300 = 296 kg.

The weight of one bag of cement is about 50 kg. This means that to build the wall taken as an example, you need to use 5 bags. Similarly, you can determine the approximate consumption of binder for any brick structure.

Considering that masonry joints are the weakest point of the walls, the proportions of the binder and filler should be strictly observed. Changing the dosage in any direction can lead to so-called fatty or lean solutions. Their use will worsen the technical characteristics of the buildings being constructed.

What compounds are used

The most famous and popular mixtures:

1. Traditional universal building composition of sand and Portland cement. The standard ratio of components is three to one or four to one;
2. A working mixture of sand and quicklime. Applicable only for interior masonry work;
3. Mixed composition for brickwork. These are quartz sand, cement and slaked lime;
4. Cement mixtures with plasticizer additives.

General standards according to SNiP II-22–81: sand must be washed and sifted, milk of lime must be strained, cement must be fresh and without lumps. All compositions are mixed with clean technical water. Water is added to the dry mixed ingredients in portions until the required consistency is achieved.

Cost of solution per cubic meter of partition

The solution consumption rates per 1 m3 are affected by the following process parameters:

1. Base thickness and quality of brick blocks;
2. A type of brick - it can be solid or hollow;
3. Climatic conditions - air temperature and humidity, sunny or cloudy day.

Practice shows that for a 1m2 building made of ordinary brick, 75 liters must be prepared. A structure of one and a half bricks will require the preparation of 115 liters of working mixture, a base of half a brick will take 40 liters of cement composition per 1 m2.

According to SNiP 82-02-95, which show that the mortar consumption rates per 1 m3 of brickwork are as follows:

1. 0.19 cubic meters for half-brick masonry;
2. 0.22 cubic meters for laying one brick;
3. 0.235 cubic meters for masonry in one and a half blocks;
4. 0.24 cubic meters for laying two bricks;
5. 0.25 cubic meters for masonry in two and a half blocks.

More accurate and expanded data is contained in SNiP II-22–81.

Wall mortar - how much is needed per 1 m2

How to find out the consumption of mortar per 1 m2 of brickwork? To avoid doing the calculations, there is a table of all the components included.

It takes into account the consumption of mortar for laying bricks from different materials:

Consumption rates for building mixtures for different types of building blocks

About 0.0108 m3 of composition is consumed per unit, and 0.054 m3 of mixture will be needed to cover 50% of the seam. The arithmetic mean of these two values ​​is 0.08 m3. This value determines the consumption of mortar per 1 m2 of brickwork.

For different masonry this parameter will be equal to:

1. When erecting a half-brick partition - 0.04 m3;
2. Private - 0.82 m3;
3. One and a half - 0.125 m3;
4. Double - 0.164 m3.

The table shows the mortar consumption rates for brickwork made from blocks of different sizes for partitions of different thicknesses:

In this case, the solution consumption per 1 m3 will be equal to:

1. When working in half a brick for 53 building units - 0.19 m3;
2. For single masonry for 102 blocks - 0.22 m3;
3. One and a half for 153 units - 0.23 m3;
4. Double for 204 blocks - 0.24 m3.

How to calculate the amount of bricks to build a house?

To calculate the required amount of brick, you need to know the area of ​​​​the future walls and the method of laying them.

For maximum reliability and solidity, during construction, bricks are laid in a bandage.

And if for interior partitions simple methods of ligation with displacement are used (this can be ligation of half a brick or one), then load-bearing walls (both external and those that take on the weight of floors and roofs) are performed in several ways:

• one and a half bricks when the wall thickness is 38 cm including seams;
• in two bricks, the wall and seams will have a thickness of 51 cm;
• two and a half bricks, this option assumes a 64-centimeter wall.

Based on these data, we can conclude that the volume of material required for the construction of each wall is different in each specific case. The formula for calculating it is simple. You need to multiply the area of ​​the wall (m2) by its thickness (m). Dividing the resulting number (m3) by the volume of one brick used (m3), we get the required quantity.

Cement consumption during construction work

The use and consumption of this binder depends on its viscosity, density, and drying time. The material is used to prepare mortars used for foundations, brickwork and other purposes. Also, consumption depends on the brand of material:

• To lay 1m3 of brick you will need approximately 250 kg of mixture. The amount of cement depends on the brand, the requirements for the solution (ratio of cement to sand). If you need a mortar of the M100 brand, which is most often used for masonry, then the cement consumption will be 75-100 kg. A lot here depends on the professionalism of the builders;
• when arranging a cement screed, the cement consumption is approximately 575 kg per “cube” of the mixture when using grade 400, if grade 500, then 460 kg will be enough;
• for the construction of a foundation, provided that grade 300 cement is used, the consumption will be 320 kg per “cube” of the mixture;
• for plastering an area of ​​1 “square”, 0.005 cubic meters is enough. m of cement, provided that the layer thickness does not exceed 1 cm. Consumption will also depend on the amount of lime or plasticizers added.

Carefully selected components included in the mixture are the key to preparing a good solution. The durability of any structure, be it a house, a fence post or a garage, directly depends on its quality. Construction recommendations should be taken into account and the appropriate type of mortar should be drawn up for each type of construction work.

What should you consider when purchasing bricks?

The most popular material for the construction of private houses, garages, and summer cottages is brick. Its ability to withstand cold, moisture, and good energy-saving qualities are very attractive and outweigh the weight when choosing. But the fairly high price does not allow one to be negligent in purchasing it. It is important to calculate what the total volume will be in all walls (it is better to measure it in m3), this will help you create an order for the purchase of materials as accurately as possible. Bricks are often sold in pallets of one m3. But this does not always happen, because the brick itself can be made of different materials, have a non-standard shape, size, and purpose. Volume does not always play a key role in storage and transportation. It is also important how much weight the vehicle hired for transportation can withstand. Sand-lime brick is significantly heavier than red brick and 1m3 of such material will be very inconvenient for further movement. The average number of pieces in one package can be given in the table, for clarity:

Calculation of cement for brickwork

The need for cement is determined as follows:

Compositions of mortars for brickwork.

• the total volume of brickwork is calculated;
• the total volume of the required mixture is determined;
• Taking into account the selected ratio of components, the amount of cement is calculated.

For example, you need to find out how much cement will be required to build the external walls of a one-story house 10x12 m with a ceiling height of 3.2 m, if ordinary brick and 2-brick masonry are used.

The first step is to find out the total volume of the masonry. To do this, the length of the walls is multiplied by the height and thickness of the masonry: (10+10+12+12)*3.2*0.51 = 71.808 m3. From Table 1 it is clear that 0.240 m3 of mortar is required per 1 m3. Therefore, for the example given, you will need: 71.808 * 0.240 = 17.233 m 3 of cement-sand mixture. To prepare a mortar for masonry in a ratio of, for example, 1:3, you need to buy: 17.233/4 = 4.308 m 3 of cement.

Since the hardener is sold in 50 kg bags, this value must be converted to kg. To do this you need to know the density of cement. Usually the average density value is used, which is 1300 kg/m3. That is, to build walls you need to buy: 4.308 * 1300 = 5600 kg, or 5600/50 = 112 bags of cement.

When purchasing cement, you should note that it is not recommended to choose material in simple two-layer packaging. They do not protect cement well from moisture, so its quality will be significantly lower than that declared by the manufacturer. In this case, you will not be able to achieve the required structural strength, which will reduce its service life.

Foam concrete masonry

Foam concrete blocks are very actively used for the construction of residential buildings up to 14 m high.

This material has a number of positive advantages:

1. High degree of heat and noise insulation.
2. Increased strength.
3. Easy to install.
4. Lightness of the material.
5. Resistance to external factors.
6. Low temperature resistance.
7. Big sizes.
8. Low price.

Foam concrete blocks, compared to bricks, due to their dimensions, require less concrete mixture. Mortar for laying foam concrete is sold in a ready-made version in construction stores, but its cost is slightly higher than cement-sand mortar. But considering that the consumption of a special solution is 3 times lower due to the smaller thickness of 5 mm, this significantly affects the overall costs.

Due to the need to use a large layer of composition to level foam concrete blocks, the first row is laid on a cement-sand mixture. The consumption of any type of mixture for walls 40 cm thick is approximately 40 kg/m3.

For 1 m3 you will need approximately 0.2 m3 of solution. With a cement-sand mixture proportionality of 1:4 per 1 m3, 350 * 0.2 = 70 kg of solution will be needed, and with a 1:3 ratio - 466 * 0.2 = 93 kg.

To lay the blocks, an appropriate temperature ranging from 5 to 25°C is required.

Mortar consumption per 1m3 of brickwork

Approximate consumption of mortar per 1 m2 of masonry

Most builders calculate the consumption of mortar for masonry approximately, but there are certain subtleties that are very important to take into account. So, the consumption rates of the solution per 1 m3 of masonry can be different, and this is what will be discussed further

A little about brickwork

As you know, the use of bricks in construction is an extremely common phenomenon. Buildings made from this material are characterized by high reliability, they retain heat well and transmit much less noise compared to structures made from some other materials.

Factors affecting the cost of cement mixture

What affects solution consumption

The criteria on which the volume of mortar consumption per 1 m2 of masonry depends are as follows:

• The thickness of the walls of the structure, which can be 1, 1.5 and 2 bricks.
• The type of cement used for the anchoring base.
• A type of building material used, which can be either solid or hollow from the inside.

Principle of production of building fastening material:

Depending on exactly what components are included in it (sometimes structures such as clay, lime are used), the consumption of the solution per m3 of masonry may be different.

Professional skills of someone who mixes cement ready for installation:

• It is believed that there is nothing complicated in such work and even an inexperienced owner can do it with his own hands.
• However, a very common reason for overspending is that, due to his inexperience, the master uses more material than the instructions require.

Based on what type of cement is used in the fixing composition, some conclusions can also be drawn.

How much dry raw material is required for 1 m3 of building mixture?

Each type of cement has its own measures.

So, studying the consumption rates of mortar for laying partitions of ¼ brick, dry raw materials are used in the following quantities:

• Cement grade “M50” – 2.5 kg.
• Mixtures of type “M75” require 4 kg.
• For cement grade “M100” you need to use 5 kg.

There are some other ways to perform measurements:

• If the installation is carried out in 1 brick, then the mortar consumption per 1 m/sq. m of masonry will be approximately 75 liters.
• When constructing partitions with 1.5 elements, this parameter will change and will be equal to 110 l.

Amount of cement per cubic meter

Required amount of cement to prepare 1 m3 of building composition:

• Professional specialists use such measures very often, since volume is the basis of all calculations.
• It is believed that in order to prepare 1 m3 of the composition, at least 400 kg of cement will be required (in other words, standard 50 kg bags).
• At the same time, the consumption of masonry mortar per 1 m3 of masonry will be about 0.25 m3 of the resulting composition.
• It is these proportions that are taken as optimal and used in construction.

Expense rate

Despite this, the data in certain sources may differ slightly, which may be due to the presence of different installation options.

The previously indicated rate of mortar consumption per cube of masonry is suitable for the standard installation procedure and can be taken into account when independently constructing a brick building.

During long-term storage, the technical characteristics of the material are significantly reduced, and the price of such an error is very high:

For example, the “M400” cement brand, after six months of its acquisition, will correspond in its properties to the “M200” or “M100” brand.

Tools used to calculate train costs

When calculating the cost of cement mixture consumption for brick installation, you need to take into account the list of tools required for this procedure.

These include:

The use of cement composition when installing shell rock

First of all, it should be noted that the consistency of the fixing structure for installing shell rock must have certain viscosity parameters.

Specifications

The technical characteristics of sand concrete determine the rules of its operation and resistance to external destructive factors. The composition and technical properties of the M300 mixture make it possible to use it both as a self-leveling compound (self-leveling mixture) and as a repair composition.

Compound

Any variants of M300 mixtures are gray in color. Its shades may vary depending on the composition. For such materials, Portland cement M500 is used. In addition, the M300 mixture, according to GOST, has the following proportions of the main components: one third of cement, which is the binding ingredient, and two thirds of sand, which is the filler.

Frost resistance

This indicator indicates the ability of the material to withstand multiple temperature changes, alternating thawing and freezing without severe destruction and reduction in strength. Frost resistance allows the use of M300 sand concrete in unheated places (for example, in permanent garages).

Frost resistance of mixtures with special additives can be up to 400 cycles. Frost-resistant repair mixtures (MRMs) are used for mixing construction compounds used in the reconstruction and restoration of concrete, reinforced concrete, stone and other joints, filling voids, cracks, anchors and for other purposes.

Compressive strength

This indicator helps to understand what tensile strength a material has under static or dynamic influence on it. Exceeding this indicator has a detrimental effect on the material and leads to its deformation.

Dry mixture M300 can withstand compressive strength up to 30 MPa. In other words, given that 1 MPa is approximately 10 kg/cm2, the compressive strength of M300 is equal to 300 kg/cm2.

Temperature range

If the thermal conditions are observed at the time of work, the process technology is not disrupted. The continued preservation of all the performance qualities of concrete is also guaranteed.

It is recommended to carry out work with M300 sand concrete at temperatures from +5 to +25? C. However, sometimes builders are forced to violate these recommendations.

Adhesion

This indicator characterizes the ability of layers and materials to interact with each other. Sand concrete M300 is capable of forming reliable adhesion to the base layer, which is equal to 4 kg/cm2. This is a very good value for dry construction mixtures. To ensure maximum adhesive performance, manufacturers provide appropriate recommendations regarding preliminary preparation work.

Bulk density

This indicator means the density of the material in its uncompacted form, taking into account not only the volume of particles, but also the space that has arisen between them. This value is often used to calculate other parameters. In bags, the M300 dry mixture is in bulk with a density of 1500 kg/m3.

If we take this value into account, it is possible to draw up an optimal ratio for construction. For example, with the declared density, 1 ton of material is 0.67 m3 in volume

In small-scale construction work, a 10-liter bucket with a volume of 0.01 m3 and containing about 15 kg of dry mixture is used as a measure of the amount of material.

Sand particle size

Factories produce M300 sand concrete using sand of different fractions. These differences determine the peculiarities of the technique for working with the solution.

There are three main sizes of sand used as raw material for dry mixtures.

• Small size (up to 2.0 mm) – suitable for street plastering work, leveling seams.
• Medium size (from 0 to 2.2 mm) – used for screeds, tiles and borders.
• Large size (more than 2.2 mm) – used for pouring foundations and foundations.

Mixture consumption

This indicator characterizes the material consumption with a layer thickness of 10 mm per 1 m2. For M300 sand concrete it is usually in the range from 17 to 30 kg per m2. It is worth noting that the lower the consumption, the more economical the work costs will be. In addition, manufacturers often indicate the consumption of sand concrete in m3. In this case, its value will vary from 1.5 to 1.7 t/m3.

Delamination

This indicator characterizes the connection between the lower and upper parts of the solution. The M300 mixture usually has a delamination rate of no more than 5%. This value fully complies with the requirements of the standards.

Tolerances for calculations

The calculator is designed to calculate walls made entirely of brick. For this reason, structures that have voids or are filled with insulation must be calculated using other methods, since the result will be greatly overestimated. Another factor influencing the result is the thickness of the seams. Let's say that a 10-millimeter gap is included in the calculation, but in practice the builders slightly reduced or increased it. In this case, the greater the volume of masonry, the greater the error in the calculation.

It is recommended to multiply the number of bricks obtained during the calculation by a factor of 1.05 - 1.07, adding 5 - 7 percent to the original quantity. This way you can insure yourself in case of detection of a defect, a battle or your own mistake.

“Old-father method” or current SNiP?

Experience is a good thing, but we should not forget about building regulations. They take into account all the factors associated with the preparation of mortars and concrete (purity, coarseness, moisture content of sand and crushed stone, cement activity and water quality).

Therefore, when preparing for work on pouring a foundation, screed or laying walls, do not be lazy to look at the GOST tables. You only need one or two lines in them. They clearly describe what the cement consumption per cube of mortar should be to obtain the required strength (grade).

Here is a simple “squeeze” from SNiP, which will help you prepare a high-quality mortar for masonry and screed. After studying it, remember that the given consumption rates differ slightly from practical values.

The reason is that they are produced from standard preparation conditions (air temperature +23C, medium-grained sand, ideally clean, its humidity no more than 7%, etc.).

It is not realistic to ensure standard parameters for mixing at a construction site, so it is better to purchase cement with a small reserve (10-15%).

The answer to the question of how much cement and sand you need per cube of concrete will be given by the following standards:

When making concrete, it is important to know not only the amount of cement, but also the standard volume of sand and crushed stone. The following table will be useful for calculations

Volumetric proportions for various grades of concrete

The required sand consumption per 1 m3 of solution is 1 cubic meter. Some developers are mistaken in believing that the volume of cement increases the volume of the finished mixture. This is wrong.

The cement is very finely ground, so it is distributed in the voids between the sand, without increasing the total volume of concrete and mortar. Therefore, for 1 m3 of sand we can add 200 and 400 kg of cement, obtaining the same 1 cubic meter of solution.

Water is added to the mixture according to a simple proportion - half of the total weight (not volume!) of cement. In this case, you need to take into account the actual moisture content of the sand and pour water in small portions so that the solution or concrete does not turn out to be too liquid.

The consistency of the solution according to the standards is determined by the amount of sediment of a standard metal cone lowered into the mixture. You are unlikely to be able to conduct such a test on a construction site.

Therefore, just remember that the thickness of the masonry mortar should be such that it is not too hard, but rather flexible and does not leak out of the seams.

For the screed, the mortar and concrete must be of medium thickness so that they can be easily compacted and leveled according to the rule.

Types of solutions and their applicability

The connecting link between brick blocks is a mixture of the binder component with filler and water. The most common are 4 types of solutions.

• Cement-sand. It is diluted with water, its proportions depend on the brand of cement and the method of laying. When hardened, this option is the most durable, but if the technology is deviated from, it is prone to cracking;
• Limestone - in it cement is replaced with quicklime; it is plastic, but is washed out by rain, so it is only suitable for installing internal walls;
• Mixed - cement and sand are diluted with liquid slaked lime (lime milk). The combination combines the best qualities of the first two options;
• With a plasticizer - a polymer additive is mixed with cement and sand (fraction 2 mm) to increase the plasticity of the mixture. It is easier to make such a solution from a dry construction mixture by adding water according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Despite the composition, the requirements for the quality of the mixture are almost the same. All ingredients are cleared of lumps, the sand is sifted, and the liquid lime is filtered. To prepare the solution, first thoroughly mix the powder components, then slowly pour in cold liquid (20 o C) and mix thoroughly so that setting does not occur. The process is accelerated using a concrete mixer or a hammer drill with a whisk attachment.

Mortar consumption per cube of brickwork

How long does it take to prepare mortar for laying a wall? This is determined by several conditions:

• the skill of a mason;
• the structure of the brick block - products with voids take more mortar mixture;
• type of brick - hyper-pressed and facing silicate absorbs less mortar than ceramic or ordinary silicate with a rough surface;
• wall thickness.

The average consumption of mortar per 1 m3 of brickwork with a standard joint thickness (12 mm) is approximately 0.23 m3. Table 1 provides more accurate information.

Cement consumption for bricklaying

The composition of the mixture for constructing a brick wall varies depending on the quality of the original components, weather conditions, and the number of storeys of the building. To mix the ingredients correctly, you should know: a 10-liter bucket holds 14 kg of cement or 12 kg of sand.

1. Cement mortar is flexible in proportions. It is characterized by the degree of strength: the lower it is, the lower the required grade of cement and the lower its percentage (1 part to 2.5 - 6 parts of sand). For M400 cement the ratio is 1.3, for M500 – 1.4. The volume of water (on average 0.5 - 0.7 liters per 1 kg of cement) depends on the desired thickness of the mixture, the type of brick, air temperature - in the summer heat the solution should be more liquid. To increase its plasticity, experienced masons add a little washing powder or dishwashing detergent to the water. For 1 cubic meter of ready-made mortar 1.4, 410 kg of M500 cement and 1.14 m3 of sand are needed. Knowing that for 1 cubic meter of an ordinary wall, one brick made of a silicate block 250 x 120 x 65 takes 0.24 m3 of mortar, the cement consumption per cubic meter of brickwork is determined as follows: 0.24 x 410 = 98 kg. Accordingly, when using M400 cement (proportion 1.3) a cubic meter of the mixture contains 490 kg of cement, and 117 kg of it is consumed per 1 m3 of masonry.
2. Cement-lime mortar is suitable for use within 5 hours, and in the summer at +25 o - no more than an hour, so calculation is also desirable for it. For 1 cubic meter of mixture, 190 kg of cement M400 - M500, 1.5 m3 of sand, 106 kg of hydrated lime and 475 liters of water are required. For a cubic meter of masonry you will need an average of 46 kg of cement.

Consumption of cement for laying bricks during cladding

In this case, the developer is interested in how much binder mixture will be consumed per square meter of wall. This depends on the water absorption of the building material, the season of work, the hollowness and porosity of the blocks. The standards are laid down in SNiP 82-02-95, but the real numbers are always higher, so you should buy ready-made mortar or cement with a reserve.

To save on consumables, 2 factors should be noted:

1. the larger the dimensions of the brick, the less mortar will be needed;
2. The higher the % of voids and pores, the higher the mixture consumption will be.

From this point of view, it is optimal to use ceramic or silicate double bricks of sufficient strength. This choice will allow you to achieve savings of 20% of the mortar mixture. Table 2 shows comparative data on mortar consumption per square meter of wall.

Types of masonry mixture

There are four main types of masonry mortar used in construction:

1. Cement-sand . A classic mixture of cement, sand and water. If the proportions are correct, the solution will be strong.
2. Limestone . Here, instead of cement, slaked lime is added. After drying, the seams can “go limp” from getting wet, so usually this mixture is used only for the construction of internal walls and partitions.
3. Combined . That is, both cement and lime are added to the solution, which makes it possible to use the solution for the construction of external walls.
4. With the addition of plasticizers . In fact, these are all three varieties indicated above, to which a liquid polymer additive is simply added, which increases the plasticity of the masonry mortar.

The most expensive ingredient in mortars is cement. Accordingly, cement-sand will cost the most, since it contains more of this binder. If the goal is to save money, then it is better to choose a combined solution, and for partitions - lime mortar.

The best option is with the addition of a plasticizer. The additive, of course, increases the cost of the solution, but not by much. Plus, the plasticity of the mixture increases, which helps to achieve an accurate thickness of the mortar layer, as well as its uniform distribution over the brickwork.

Classic masonry mortar based on cement and sand Source masteravannoy.ru

The main problem in preparing a high-quality solution is to know exactly and follow the proportions. But recently, manufacturers have made life easier for customers by offering ready-made dry mixtures that simply need to be diluted with water. Mixtures of the M50-M200 brand are suitable for laying bricks. On the packaging, the manufacturer must indicate the consumption of the solution per masonry.

How to use the table?

Since when preparing concrete and masonry mortars it is generally accepted to operate with the volumetric characteristic “1 m3”, we calculate (reduce to 1 m3) the amount of cement for the preparation of 1 m3 of mortar with the “cement-sand” ratios of 1:3 and 1:4.

When making practical calculations of the amount of cement, novice developers make a serious mistake. They believe that if it is necessary to prepare a solution from 1 part cement and 3 parts sand, then the weight of 1 m3 should be divided by 4 and thus obtain the number of components. Actually this is not true. Since cement particles are much smaller than sand grains, it fills the voids between the sand grains, so more cement is needed. To carry out any calculation of the components of cement and sand, we will accept the following assumptions:

• One “cube” – 1000 liters;
• The volume of a bag of cement weighing 50 kg is 36 liters;
• The weight of one “liter” of cement is 50/36 = 1.4 kilograms;

Option for cement:sand ratio 1:3

To prepare the solution you will need 1 m3 of sand and 1.3 m3 of cement, which corresponds to 333 liters of cement. 333x1.4=466 kilograms of cement will be required to mix 1 m3 of masonry mortar.

Option for cement:sand ratio: 1:4

To prepare the solution, 1 m3 of sand and 1.4 m3 of cement are required, which corresponds to 250 liters of cement. 250x1.4 = 350 kg of binder will be required to mix 1 m3 of masonry mortar.

Using the obtained calculation data and the table data, as an example, we calculate the amount of cement required to mix the amount of masonry mortar per cubic meter of brickwork from a single brick of a normal format with a thickness of “1.5 bricks”.

For 1 m3 of the specified masonry, you will need to spend 0.234 m3 of solution (table). Therefore, the amount of cement solution with a ratio of 1:3 is 466x0.234=109 kg; for a ratio of 1:4 – 350x0.234=82 kg.

Using the given technology and tabular data, you can calculate the required amount of cement for masonry mortars of any ratio of components - just substitute your data.

You can also use the calculator to calculate the required amount of bricks for your home, garage or outbuilding.

How to build a house without delays and delays?

Only a qualified team of specialists is able to carry out all the work at the proper level: quickly, accurately, but at the same time, without violating technology and standards.

The quality of work directly affects the final result, because a house built with violations will not be able to last for many years without major repairs and constant intervention in all its systems.

The second factor, the implementation of which is the key to the success of construction, is the choice of material and its purchase. There is no doubt that brick, concrete slabs, timber, cement and sand - all this must be of normal quality and certified. However, in addition to making the right choice, you need to calculate as accurately as possible the amount of all necessary materials. In this case, the data must be in pieces, in 1m3 and in 1m2.