Masonry work includes construction with clay brick, concrete brick and block, clay tile, and natural and manufactured stone. Today it is typically performed by subcontractors who supply the labor, materials, and equipment.
Masonry using products other than standard brick and concrete block is usually specialist work. Either way, a thorough knowledge of masonry construction is essential to good estimating. Pay particular attention to the masonry bond and mortar joint treatment, which have a big effect on material usage, waste, and mortar consumption. You also need a working knowledge of masonry terminology to interpret the specifications correctly — the type of units required, their features, and the many accessories that go with masonry work.
Masonry is generally measured by the number of units — concrete blocks, or bricks by the thousand. Counting units is a two-step process:
- Measure the area of masonry.
- Apply a standard factor to convert that area into the number of units required.
Estimators should know how the masonry trade's scope is defined in their area. Local masonry associations and construction associations often publish a trade scope that lists what is included in, and excluded from, masonry work.
That scope matters to the masonry contractor's estimator, and it is just as valuable to a general contractor's estimator who is receiving and comparing masonry prices alongside the other trades.
Brick masonry
Bricks are made from different materials, by different methods, and used in many ways — all of which affect price. For measurement, the main factors are the size of the brick, the width of the joints, the wall thickness, and the bond pattern.
Bricks come in many sizes. A common "standard" brick has nominal dimensions of about 2-1/4 × 3-3/4 × 8 inches (57 × 95 × 203 mm), but always confirm the specified unit size before you count.
Concrete masonry
Concrete masonry covers all molded concrete units used in a building, including concrete brick, hollow and solid block, and decorative block. Many units are made by local manufacturers, so shapes and sizes vary considerably from one region to another.
General rules for measuring masonry work
- Measure quantities net in place, without deducting openings smaller than 10 square feet.
- Measure curved (circular-on-plan) masonry separately.
- Include scaffolding and hoisting with the masonry work.
- Keep separate quantities for facings, backing, walls and partitions, furring, and fire protection.
- Measure cleaning of exposed masonry in square feet.
- Measure water-repellent treatments in square feet, noting the number of coats.
- Measure expansion and control joints in linear feet, with a full description and any joint filler or sealant.
- Measure mortar in cubic feet or cubic meters, noting any admixtures.
- Measure colored mortar separately where required.
- Measure joint reinforcement in linear feet or meters, specifying ladder or truss type.
- Count anchor bolts, sleeves, brackets, and similar built-in items, and describe each. Some may be supplied by the miscellaneous metals trade and only installed by the mason.
- Measure built-in lintels, sills, copings, and flashings in linear feet or meters, noting the material — both material and installation costs vary by type.
- Count weep holes where they are formed with inserts.
- Measure rigid insulation in masonry in square feet or square meters, noting type and thickness.
- Measure brick by the thousand, describing the type and size.
- Measure face brick separately.
- Measure brick laid in patterns other than running bond — soldier or rowlock courses, for example — in linear feet or meters.
- Count and describe brick ties.
- Count concrete block by type and size.
- Count special units at corners, jambs, heads, sills, and similar locations separately.
- Measure loose-fill or foam insulation in block cores in cubic yards or cubic meters.
- Measure bond beams in linear feet.
- Measure grout or concrete for core fills and bond beams in cubic yards or cubic meters, stating strength and type.
- Measure reinforcing steel in core fills and bond beams in linear feet or meters, stating bar size and type.