Mortar Quantities

[tflda29]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction to work out the amount of sand and cement i need for mortar to build a wall 9m long by 1m high.

I am going to be using concrete blocks (215mmx100mmx440mm) laid flat so the wall will be 215mm wide. I have worked out i will need around 189 blocks using 10mm mortar joins.

Even a rough idea would be very helpfull. I have tried doing a search but could not find anything for blocks laid flat.

Two calculators i found online gave hugely different results also.

thanks
Trevor

 

[chessspy]

Hi, trevor,
the quants for mortar are only a rough guide because the bricks/blocks in use vary so much,
for example if you were using flettons (common bricks with a frog,) laid as they should be frog up, you would use more than if you were using 3 hole bricks.
the general rule of thumb is that a ton of sand lays a thousand bricks and the blocks to back them up 20m2 (as I recall)
So if your wall was a cavity wall of 20m2 then a ton, or 20 bags of sand would be more than enough.
however you are building (the equivalent of) two skins of 4" blockwork. and only 18m2, so I would expect 10 cwt. of sand and 5 1/2cwt cement will be enough.

 

[tflda29]

Thanks for the quick responce Chessspy.

I will go with that plus a bit extra for spare.

cheers
Trevor

 

[chessspy]

Good idea Trev,
sand doesn't go off, and you can always slip out for an extra bag of dust.

 

[Shytalkz]

...sand doesn't go off...

Unless the local cat population gets to use it as one vast dump-and-píss pile!

 

[noseall]

then a ton, or 20 bags of sand would be more than enough.

20 bags, that's old money chesss!

the lilly livered, interfering h&s brigade have insisted bags be no heavier than 25kg's. 1cwt bags are sooooo, not allowed.

so it is 40 now!

mind you i,m not complaining.

 

[tflda29]

thanks for all replies...have ordred 1.25 tonnes of sand and 12 bags cement so will see how far i get with that.

cheers
Trevor