---
title: "Rate analysis: brickwork 1:6 per m³"
subject: "Estimating and Costing"
chapter: 4
key: "semester_7/estimating_and_costing:rate-brick-1-6-upper-floor"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/estimating_and_costing/rate-brick-1-6-upper-floor
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Rate analysis: brickwork 1:6 per m³

Estimating and Costing · Chapter 4: Analysis of Rates

- Asked in: 2076 Chaitra, 6 marks; 2070 Chaitra, 4 marks (asked 2 times)
- Video: [Rate analysis of First class brickwork](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnfJgM3R5j8) — sustainable Civil Engineering Academy
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/estimating_and_costing/rate-brick-1-6-upper-floor
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/estimating_and_costing/chapter-4

## Question

Prepare an analysis of rate for 1st class brick work in (1:6) cement mortar (in upper floor) per m³.

## Short answer

For 1 m³ 1:6 brickwork in upper floor, use 561 bricks, 1.37 bags cement, 0.286 m³ sand, 2 masons, 3 helpers and scaffolding allowance. Sub-total Rs 15,963 plus 15% overhead gives Rs 18,357.45 per m³.

## Answer

#### Basis
Rate per m³ of **1st class brickwork in 1:6 cement-sand mortar in the upper floor**, standard brick 230 x 110 x 55 mm with 10 mm joints (nominal size 240 x 120 x 65 mm). All rates are **illustrative**.

#### Materials per m³
- Bricks (net) = $\dfrac{1}{0.24 \times 0.12 \times 0.065} = 534.19$ nos.; with 5% breakage = 561 nos.
- Volume of bricks without mortar = 534.19 x 0.23 x 0.11 x 0.055 = 0.7433 m³, so wet mortar = 1 - 0.7433 = 0.2567 m³.
- Dry mortar = 0.2567 x 1.30 = 0.3337 m³ (30% for filling voids and shrinkage).
- Cement = 0.3337/7 = 0.0477 m³ x 1,440 kg/m³ = 68.6 kg = 1.37 bags.
- Sand = 0.3337 x 6/7 = 0.286 m³.

#### Analysis (per m³)
| Description | Qty | Unit | Rate (Rs) | Amount (Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st class bricks (230x110x55), 534.19 net + 5% breakage | 561 | nos. | 15.00 | 8,415.00 |
| Cement (dry mortar 0.3337 m³ x 1/7 = 0.0477 m³) | 1.37 | bag | 900.00 | 1,233.00 |
| Sand (0.3337 x 6/7 = 0.2860 m³) | 0.286 | m³ | 2,500.00 | 715.00 |
| Mason (skilled) | 2 | md | 1,200.00 | 2,400.00 |
| Helper incl. carrying mortar and bricks up | 3 | md | 900.00 | 2,700.00 |
| Scaffolding and lifting allowance (upper floor) | 1 | L.S. | 500.00 | 500.00 |
| **Sub-total (materials + labour)** | | | | **15,963.00** |
| Contractor's overhead and profit | 15% | | | 2,394.45 |
| **Total** | | | | **18,357.45** |

**Answer: Rate of 1:6 brickwork in the upper floor = Rs 18,357.45 per m³** (excluding VAT). The extra labour and scaffolding for the upper floor is the difference from the ground-floor rate.

## Check yourself

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

1. How many nominal bricks per m³ of masonry with 10 mm joints?
   A. 1/(0.23 x 0.11 x 0.055) = 718
   B. 500 fixed
   C. 1/(0.23 x 0.11 x 0.055 x 1.3)
   D. 534.19, from 1/(0.24 x 0.12 x 0.065)
   Answer: D. The brick with mortar is 240 x 120 x 65 mm. (Key point: Bricks per m³)

2. How is wet mortar volume obtained?
   A. 1 m³ minus the volume of bricks alone (0.7433 m³) = 0.2567 m³
   B. 0.2567 x 1.30
   C. 1 - 0.65
   D. Volume of bricks x 0.3
   Answer: A. Bricks without mortar occupy 0.7433 m³; the rest is mortar. (Key point: Wet mortar)

3. How are dry mortar and cement found for 1:6?
   A. Dry = wet x 1.54; cement = dry/6
   B. Dry = wet x 1.30 = 0.3337 m³; cement = dry/7
   C. Dry = wet; cement = dry/6
   D. Dry = wet x 1.30; cement = dry x 6/7
   Answer: B. 1.30 allows voids and shrinkage; the ratio sum is 7, so cement is 1/7. (Key point: Dry mortar and cement)

4. What makes the upper-floor rate different from ground floor?
   A. Different mortar ratio
   B. Different brick size
   C. Extra labour and scaffolding/lifting allowance
   D. Lower VAT
   Answer: C. The extra labour and scaffolding for height is the difference. (Key point: Upper-floor extra)

## Related in Estimating and Costing

- [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
- [Rate analysis: 12.5 mm plaster 1:3, per 100 m²](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Arate-plaster-12-5-1-3-ceiling) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 4
- [Rate analysis: brick masonry 1:5, superstructure](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Arate-brick-1-5-superstructure) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 4
- [Rate analysis: 25 mm 1:2:4 concrete floor](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Arate-cc-floor-25mm) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 4
- [Rate analysis: 12.5 mm plaster 1:5, per m²](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Arate-plaster-12-5-1-5) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 4, asked 3×
- [Rate analysis: 40 mm PCC 1:2:4 floor](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Arate-pcc-1-2-4-floor-40mm) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 4

## Related in other subjects

- [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
- [Detailed specification of brick work in 1:4 mortar](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Adetailed-spec-brick-1-4) — Construction Management, chapter 12, asked 5×
- [Detailed specification of brick work in 1:6 mortar](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Adetailed-spec-brick-1-6) — Construction Management, chapter 12, asked 5×
- [Mortar for 10 m³ brickwork (1:4) numerical](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Amortar-10m3-1to4) — Building Technology, chapter 3