BUILT UP RATE

BRICKWORK

© NURUL ASRA ABD RAHMAN, UiTM MALAYSIA.

 INTRODUCTION
 Construction of brick wall is an integral part of construction
and often contributes to the highest of the construction cost of
a building.

 The standard brick size is 215mm x 102.5mm x 65mm

Type of brick Mortar (m³) No. of brick (no)

½ brickwall 0.025 63
1 brickwall 0.050 125
1 ½ brickwall 0.075 188

Table: Material for 1 square meter (m²) brick wall.

 MORTAR
 Usually contains a mixture of cement mortar and sand in the
ratio of 1:3 or 1:4 for brickwall below ground level and mix of 1:6
to brickwall on the ground.

 The ratio of cement, lime and sand mortar is often used is

1:1:6.

 The additional of about 33.33% or 1/3 of the cost of materials

is necessary to take account of wastage, shrinkage and
compression.
 STEEL BRICK
 Steel brick is usually required or half brickwalls.

 For the purpose of calculating the rate, 1 square metre 1 wall

require a 3:50 brick.
 LABOUR
 For mixing the mortar, output force by using ordinary workers /
unskilled workers is 2.00hour/m³.

 For build up the brickwall, it will carried out by the skilled

workers with the help of unskilled worker.

Type of brick Bricklayer / skilled Unskilled workers

workers (hour/m²) ( hour/m²)
½ brickwall (common brick) 1.00 0.35
1 brickwall (common brick) 1.75 0.70
1 ½ brickwall (facing brick) 2.00 0.50
1 brickwall (facing brick) 3.5 1.00

Table; Output force to bond brick.

 DAMP PROOF COURSE (DPC)
 Must take some allowance for overlapping and wastage – 5%

 Output force by using bricklayers / skilled workers is

0.20hour/m² and unskilled workers is 0.01hour/m².
Example 1: Mixed by Hand
Built up rate for cement mortar and sand (1:3) – m² (by hand)

DATA: Cement : RM 10.50/bag

Sand : RM 30.00/m³
Unskilled labour : RM 40.00/day
Wastage and shrinkage : RM 1/3
Labour constant : Labour output (for mixing( - 2.00hour/m³

TOTAL COST = MATERIAL COST + LABOUR COST

Answer 1: Mixed by Hand
A) MATERIAL COST
1m³ cement = 28 bags x RM 10.50 = RM 294.00
3m³ sand = 3m³ x RM 30.00 = RM 90.00
4m³ RM 384.00
Allow 1/3 for wastage and shrinkage = RM 128.00
RM 512.00/4m³
Therefore,
Cost/m³ = RM 512.00/4m³ = RM 128.00m³
B) LABOUR COST
Cost of mixing = RM 10.00
Unskilled worker = 2 hours x RM40.00/8hours

So, cost of mortar

= cost of material (A) + cost of labour (B)
= RM 128.00 + RM 10.00 = RM 138.00/m³
Example 2: Brickwall
Built up rate for One brickwall in common bricks in cement mortar (1:3) laid in
English bond – m²

DATA: Cement : RM 14.00/bag

Sand : RM 16.00/m³
Common bricks : RM 0.30/piece
Bricklayer : RM 55.00/day
Unskilled labour : RM 30.00/day
Wastage and shrinkage : RM 1/3
Labour constant
- mixing mortar (manually): 2.00 hour/m³
- Brick laying (unskilled) : 0.70 hour/m²
- Brick laying (skilled) : 1.75 hour/m²
1m² of wall required 0.050m³ of mortar
1m² of wall required 125pieces of brick.

TOTAL COST = MATERIAL COST + LABOUR COST

+ PROFIT & OVERHEAD
Answer 2: Brickwall
A) MATERIAL COST
i. Mortar
1m³ cement = 28 bags x RM 14.00 = RM 392.00
3m³ sand = 3m³ x RM 16.00 = RM 48.00
4m³ RM 440.00
Allow 1/3 for wastage and shrinkage = RM 146.67
RM 586.67/4m³
Therefore,
Cost/m³ = RM 586.67/4m³ = RM 146.67m³
Add: Labour for mixing 2.00hrs/m³ x RM30.00/8hrs = RM 7.50/m³
RM 154.17/m³
ii. Bricks
125pcs/m² @RM0.30/piece = RM 37.50/m²
Material = mortar + bricks
= Mortar 0.050m³/m² x RM154.17/m³ = RM 7.70/m²
= cost of bricks = RM 37.50/m²
Cost of material = RM 45.21/m²
 Answer 2: Brickwall (cont’)
B) LABOUR COST
Bricklayer: 1.75hrs/m² @ RM 55.00/8hours = RM 12.03/m²
Unskilled worker = 0.70hours/m² x RM30.00/8hours = RM 2.63/m²
Cost of labour = RM 14.66/m²

Total cost
Material cost (A) + labour cost (B)
= RM45.21 + RM14.66 = RM 59.87/m²
Add: 15% for profit & overhead = RM 8.98/m²
= RM 68.85/m²
Exercise 1: Mixed by Hand
Built up rate for cement mortar and sand (1:3) – m² (by hand)

DATA: Cement : RM 16.00/bag

Sand : RM 45.00/m³
Unskilled labour : RM 50.00/day
Wastage and shrinkage : RM 1/3
Labour constant : Labour output (for mixing( - 2.00hour/m³
Exercise 2: Brickwall
Built up rate for half brickwall in common bricks in cement mortar (1:3) laid in
English bond – m²

DATA: Cement : RM 16.00/bag

Sand : RM 45.00/m³
Common bricks : RM 0.30/piece
Bricklayer : RM 60.00/day
Unskilled labour : RM 45.00/day
Wastage and shrinkage : RM 1/3
Labour constant
- mixing mortar (manually): 2.00 hour/m³
- Brick laying (unskilled) : 0.35 hour/m²
- Brick laying (skilled) : 1.00 hour/m²