Adding brick to the home is an excellent way to upgrade the look and even improve the home’s value. If you’re looking for a brick cost estimator, there are some online options to help. How are the estimates done?
To estimate how many bricks are needed, multiply the length by the width of the wall being finished. Add 10% for the overage and multiply that number by 66 to get a general idea of how many bricks you will need.
The formula is: L x W x 1.1 x 60
That will give you an approximation of how many bricks are needed if you’re using standard bricks. You might be surprised to know that there are actually a number of different types of bricks that could be used, and each of these has its own size and its own calculation.
Burnt Clay Bricks – These are the standard type of bricks that typically come to mind. They are made by putting molded clay into kilns. They are usually red in color.
Sun-Dried Bricks – These are not often used in the United States but they have been a popular form of brick used worldwide for thousands of years. They are made by drying clay in the sun rather than in a kiln.
Sand Lime Bricks -This type of brick is not often used. It uses lime rather than cement and tends to be expensive.
Engineering Bricks – If you need to build something with exceptional strength or to allow water to flow through, then engineering bricks may be selected.
Fire Bricks – This is a type of brick made from ceramic that lines the inside of fireplaces and kilns. It is able to withstand a considerable amount of heat and does not have a lot of thermal conductivity.
Fly Ash Bricks – These bricks are made from fly ash and water. They are not commonly used for a façade.
As you can see, you do have a number of options available when it comes to bricks, so you need to make sure you use a brick cost estimator that is specific to the bricks you are using.
Brick Cost Estimator / Calculator
Beyond the general estimation of how much you are going to need and spend, you also need to consider a number of other factors. These will also impact the amount you pay for the project.
One of the factors is the contractor that is being used. Provided you’re doing this as a DIY project, you will have to pay a contractor and they may make a difference in how much you paper brick.
Contractors often work with the Brickyards to ensure that they are getting the lowest price possible. They then charge you per brick at a lower rate than what you would pay direct, although they still make a profit and they also get the work.
If you are doing this as a DIY project, you need to make sure that you are doing it safely. This would include wearing the necessary PPE, such as safety glasses, gloves, and work boots.
When cutting bricks, make sure that you wear the proper respiratory protection. At a minimum, you would want an N95 respirator but you may want to increase your safety by using a half-mask respirator.
We will now consider a number of different factors that will help you to get started. This will include how many bricks are needed, what you will spend on the project, and how much you will pay for installation.
How To Calculate How Much Bricks Are Needed
As we discussed, estimating the number of bricks needed is not a straightforward process. There are a number of factors that need to be considered, so make sure the cost estimator you are using has those in mind.
To estimate the number of bricks needed, you need to measure the square footage of the area being finished. Also measure the length and height of the brick, adding 1/2 inch for mortar. You can then do the calculation of how many bricks are needed per square foot.
It gets a little tricky because you have to figure out how many square inches are in a brick. This is done by multiplying the length of the brick by the height of the brick in inches and dividing by 144. The resulting number is the square feet.
As an example, if the brick comes out to be 36 in.², then you know that you have four bricks for every square foot. That includes the mortar, which is an average of 1/2 inch in most cases.
The formula after measuring the brick is: L x H / 144
You can then figure out how many bricks you need because you can multiply the square footage of the area being worked by the number of bricks per square foot. As long as you add 10% for overage and breakage, you should have a general idea of how much you will need.
How To Calculate the Cost Of Bricks
Now is the time when you will calculate the cost of bricks. This is not difficult, but you do need to be comparing apples to apples when it comes to what the Brickyard is charging.
When you contact the brickyard, they will likely sell you the bricks by pallet or by a lot of bricks, such as 500 or 1000 bricks. For average bricks, you will have just over 500 bricks per pallet. It’s best to confirm this with the Brickyard.
To make the math simple, you divide the price of the pallet by the number of bricks in the pallet. For example, if you have 500 bricks per pallet and you pay $500 for a pallet, then the average cost of the brick is one dollar.
Of course, there are going to be variations in how much you spend on the brick, depending upon the type of brick that is being purchased and the size of the brick you are purchasing. Some bricks may cost up to $10, especially if they are antique or have some other specialty type of brick available.
Bricks can be sold by pallet, ton, or individually. It’s a good idea to contact the Brickyard and find out how much they are charging and then do the math to see how much you are being charged per brick.
How To Calculate Cost Of Bricks Installation (Labor, Incidentals, Etc)
It’s not only the cost of the brick that needs to be considered, you also need to pay a contractor if you are having them do the work. How do you calculate the cost of brick installation?
On average, you will pay about $8 per square foot for the installation of a brick veneer. If you are paying for a Mason to install solid brick, you will pay a little more, with an average of approximately $12.
Although those are the averages, there are some factors to consider when it comes to how much you will be spending. Here are some of the things that will have an impact on the price you will pay for installation.
Experience – If you are going with a new contractor or someone that is good with brick but not necessarily a Mason, you will pay less. If you are hiring a seasoned contractor, which is recommended, you will pay more but you get a lot with it.
Additional Work – It is possible that there is additional work that must be done before the brick is installed. This type of work will also be included in the estimate but you can request that it is separated.
Additional work may include repairing or cleaning the walls that are being bricked. It may also include travel or a premium if you have a small project or if you are a considerable distance from the contractor’s home location.
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on January 3, 2023.
Season – Even the season can impact the cost of installing brick. You might pay more during the peak of the building season because the contractors will be busier and they will charge more since they don’t need the work.
Other Things To Consider When Estimating Bricks Installation Project
As is the case with any type of work, there are specific considerations that go along with a brick installation project. These will have an impact on how much you spend and even how much you can expect to wait before the project is complete.
Additional Materials – There is the possibility that you will have additional materials associated with the project. These are things that will be discussed with you by the contractor, but they could come in the way of specialty bricks or even a specific type of mortar.
When you put a brick wall in place, you are doing something permanent. You should not expect to have to redo the wall at any time in the near future. Make sure that you are happy with everything and of the cost ahead of time.
Planning and Zoning – Depending on your municipality, there may be specific regulations for planning and zoning. This could include getting a building permit or perhaps having the work inspected. Your contractor will be able to take care of this for you.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on January 3, 2023.
To estimate the cost of brick, calculate the square footage of the area being worked and then multiply that number by 66. This will give you the average number of bricks needed per standard brick along with overage for the mortar joints.
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on January 3, 2023.