Estimating Practice Exam

When calculating the volume of mortar per square foot of wall area, what is considered?

1. The total weight of the bricks

2. The volume of brick plus joints

3. Only the volume of bricks

4. The type of mortar used

The correct answer is: The volume of brick plus joints

When calculating the volume of mortar per square foot of wall area, it is important to consider the volume of both the bricks and the joints between them. The brick itself does not fill the entire space of the wall since there are gaps that need to be filled with mortar. The volume of mortar required is determined by the amount of space occupied by the bricks as well as the space consumed by the joints. Including the volume of the bricks plus the joints ensures an accurate calculation of how much mortar is actually needed to fill the gaps and create a structurally sound wall. This method recognizes that the mortar must bridge the spaces between bricks, thereby influencing the total volume needed for the wall's construction. Other options, like focusing solely on the weight of the bricks or the type of mortar used, do not provide a comprehensive measure for mortar volume, as they overlook the crucial aspect of how the bricks interact with the mortar within the wall assembly.