Mix Details
Area of brickwork or blockwork
Typical: 10mm for brickwork
General purpose masonry
Add 10% for wastage
Results
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UKUK Building Regulations
References & Sources
Standards Cited
- BS EN 998-2 — Specification for mortar for masonry — Masonry mortar
Defines mortar classifications, mix designations, and performance requirements used in ratio selection - BS 5628-3 — Code of practice for the use of masonry — Materials and components, design and workmanship
Guidance on mortar mix ratios (1:3, 1:4, 1:5, 1:6, 1:1:6) and their applications
Formulas Used
- Mortar volume:
baseVolume = wallArea x mortarRate x (mortarThickness / 10)
Source: BS 5628-3 — Empirical rate: brickwork 0.025 m3/m2, blockwork 0.015 m3/m2 at 10mm joints, scaled linearly with joint thickness - Dry volume from wet volume:
dryVolume = wetVolume x 1.33
Source: BS EN 998-2 — More dry material is needed than wet volume because loose dry materials compact when mixed - Material weights:
weight = volume x density (cement: 1440 kg/m3, sand: 1600 kg/m3, lime: 640 kg/m3)
Source: BS EN 998-2 / industry standard densities - Water requirement:
waterLitres = cementKg x 0.5
Source: BS 5628-3 — Approximate water-cement ratio of 0.5 by weight (typical mortar range 0.4-0.6)
Key Assumptions
- Cement density: 1440 kg/m3, sand density: 1600 kg/m3, hydrated lime density: 640 kg/m3 — BS EN 998-2
- Dry volume factor of 1.33 (more dry material needed than placed wet volume, as loose dry materials compact when mixed) — BS EN 998-2
- Typical mortar joint width: 10mm — BS 5628-3
- Standard wastage allowance of 10% for mortar — Industry standard practice