---
title: "Mortar for 10 m³ brickwork (1:4) numerical"
subject: "Building Technology"
chapter: 3
key: "semester_6/building_technology:mortar-10m3-1to4"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/building_technology/mortar-10m3-1to4
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Mortar for 10 m³ brickwork (1:4) numerical

Building Technology · Chapter 3: Mortars & Masonry works

- Asked in: 2079 Jestha, 6 marks
- Video: [How to calculate bricks and mortar | quantity of bricks calculation | quantity of bricks in 1m3 |](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBzr6pZ4XBM) — Civil Tutor
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/building_technology/mortar-10m3-1to4
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_6/building_technology/chapter-3

## Question

Calculate mortar required for construction of 10 m³ first class brickwork using 1:4 cement sand mortar. (Size of brick = 57 mm × 115 mm × 240 mm and thickness of mortar = 10 mm)

## Short answer

For 10 m³ brickwork, compute brick count (4777 nos.) and subtract dry brick volume (7.515 m³) to get wet mortar 2.485 m³; dry volume is 3.156 m³ (×1.27). For 1:4 mortar, cement = 1/5 × 3.156 = 0.631 m³ (18.2 bags) and sand = 2.525 m³.

## Answer

**Given:** brickwork volume $= 10\ \text{m}^3$; brick size 57 mm x 115 mm x 240 mm (actual size, without mortar); mortar joint $= 10$ mm; mortar 1:4 (cement : sand).

**Step 1: Size of brick with mortar**

$$
(0.25 \times 0.125 \times 0.067) = 0.002094\ \text{m}^3
$$

**Step 2: Number of bricks**

$$
N = \frac{10}{0.002094} = 4776.1 \approx 4777\ \text{bricks}
$$

**Step 3: Volume of bricks without mortar**

$$
4777 \times 0.24 \times 0.115 \times 0.057 = 7.515\ \text{m}^3
$$

**Step 4: Wet volume of mortar**

$$
10 - 7.515 = 2.485\ \text{m}^3
$$

**Step 5: Dry volume of mortar** (add 27% for dry bulk, voids in sand, wastage and shrinkage)

$$
2.485 \times 1.27 = 3.156\ \text{m}^3
$$

**Step 6: Cement and sand** for 1:4 (sum of ratio $= 5$)

$$
\text{Cement} = \frac{1}{5} \times 3.156 = 0.631\ \text{m}^3 = 909\ \text{kg} \approx 18.2\ \text{bags (50 kg, 0.0347 m}^3\text{ each)}
$$

$$
\text{Sand} = \frac{4}{5} \times 3.156 = 2.525\ \text{m}^3
$$

**Answer: Mortar required for 10 m³ brickwork = 2.49 m³ (wet) or 3.16 m³ (dry); this needs about 0.631 m³ cement (18.2 bags) and 2.53 m³ sand; bricks = 4777 nos.**

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Volume of one brick with mortar (0.25 x 0.125 x 0.067) is:
   A. 0.002094 m^3
   B. 0.0005 m^3
   C. 0.02 m^3
   D. 0.0066 m^3
   Answer: A. Nominal brick plus 10 mm mortar on each dimension: 0.25 x 0.125 x 0.067 = 0.002094. (Key point: Brick with mortar)

2. Wet volume of mortar equals:
   A. Equal to brick volume
   B. Brickwork volume minus volume of bricks (10 - 7.515 = 2.485 m^3)
   C. 10 + 7.515
   D. Number of bricks times 10
   Answer: B. Mortar fills the space not occupied by bricks. (Key point: Wet mortar)

3. Dry volume is obtained by multiplying wet volume by:
   A. 1.27
   B. 1.0
   C. 0.5
   D. 2
   Answer: A. 27% extra for dry bulk, voids, wastage and shrinkage: 3.156 m^3. (Key point: Dry volume factor)

4. For 1:4 mortar with dry volume 3.156 m^3, cement volume is:
   A. 0.789 m^3
   B. 0.631 m^3
   C. 3.156 m^3
   D. 2.525 m^3
   Answer: B. Cement = 1/5 x 3.156 = 0.631 m^3. (Key point: Cement quantity)

## Related in Building Technology

- [First class brickwork in 1:6 mortar numerical](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Amortar-first-class-1to6) — Building Technology, chapter 3
- [Mortar properties; cement and sand for 10 cum](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Amortar-quantity-10cum) — Building Technology, chapter 3
- [Mortar for 1.5 m³ brickwork numerical](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Amortar-1p5m3-1to4) — Building Technology, chapter 3
- [Materials for 10 m³ brickwork (1:6) numerical](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Amortar-10m3-1to6) — Building Technology, chapter 3
- [Cement and sand for 100 m² plastering numerical](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Aplaster-100m2-1to6) — Building Technology, chapter 3, asked 2×
- [Cement and sand for 200 m² plastering numerical](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Aplaster-200m2-1to5) — Building Technology, chapter 3, asked 2×

## Related in other subjects

- [Materials for 115 m³ brick masonry 1:3](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Amaterials-brick-115m3-1-3) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 4
- [Rate analysis: brickwork 1:4, 10 m³](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Arate-brick-1-4-superstructure) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 4
- [Detailed specification of cement sand mortar 1:4](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Adetailed-spec-cs-mortar-1-4) — Construction Management, chapter 12, asked 2×
- [Detailed specification of cement sand mortar 1:6](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Adetailed-spec-cs-mortar-1-6) — Construction Management, chapter 12, asked 2×