How much mortar

[Zen83237]

Very quick question. How many bags of sand will I need to lay 80 bricks for the base of a greenhouse.

Thanks

Kevin

[R]

How big are your bags of sand required?

[Zen83237]

The normal Wickes size of from my local builders merchant. I can't see that it will need many.

[John Rumm]

I would have thought a barrow/mixer load would do that many bricks. That usually works out at three bags of sand and half a cement...

[Tim S]

Zen83237 coughed up some electrons that declared:

Try a google for "brick estimator|calculator" or "mortar calculator" or similar - I've seen one somewhere on the web (pavingexpert?? - can't remember) that let you reckon a section of wall into number of bricks and amount of mortar.

Cheers

Tim

[R]

Prolly 3 or 4 bags, plus a bag of OPC, add water, mix thoroughly to a nice stiff creamy consistency, add to faces of brick, lay brick in a straight line where you need it, repeat for another 79 bricks making courses as you go to required height. Leave a small gap at the lowest points for water escape when the garden hose stays on when you go watch TV. Finish job. Make a cuppa Stand back and watch next doors cat pee all over them ;-)

[Andrew Mawson]

straight

I'd keep it OFF the faces if I were you - looks 'orrid !!!

AWEM

[Andrew Mawson]

bricks and

Paving Expert has one iirc

AWEM

[Bruce]

Depends rather crucially on the bag size! Might only need one.

[Phil L]

three 25kg bags will be sufficient

[John Rumm]

well I was assuming the typical 25kg ones rather than the 1000kg ones...

[Fred]

That all depends on how thick you make the joints!

Lets assume 1cm

Brick 200 x 100 x 75

Area of mortar on 1/2 single brick = 0.1 x 0.3 = 0.03m2 Volume of mortar per brick = 0.03 x 0.01 = 0.0003m3

80 bricks ; volume = 0.024m3 1m3 = 2,000 kg ; 0.024m3 = 48kg of mix

So 2 bags (25kg) sand at a minimum - plus cement;

[Bruce]

I recall the wise words of a line manager from some years ago:

"Don't assume!"

[John Rumm]

;-) well yes, but I would be surprised if you have a barrow or mixer that would take three large bags in one mix!

[meow2222]

supposed to use SRPC for that, technically speaking. I've little idea just what the failure rate is with opc though.

NT

[Bruce]

I'm tempted to say "Don't assume!"

;-)

[Bruce]

Isn't most OPC now also sulphate resisting?

[Bob Mannix]

I've heard it put better:

"Assumption is the mother of all c*ck-ups"

[Andy Burns]

"Assume makes an ASS out of U and ME"

[Bruce]

I like both of those - thanks guys!