Complete Guide Brickwork Calculations. Brick calculations depend on wall area and bond pattern. Formula: Bricks equals Wall Area times Bricks per Square Foot. Standard brick 4×8 inches covers 0.22 sq ft with 1/2 inch mortar equals 4.5 bricks per sq ft. Example 10×8 ft wall equals 80 sq ft times 4.5 equals 360 bricks. Add 10 percent waste equals 396 bricks. Bond patterns affect quantity: Running bond (most common) 4.5 bricks per sq ft. Flemish bond alternating headers 5.5 per sq ft. English bond rows of headers 6.0 per sq ft. Stack bond no overlap 5.0 per sq ft. More complex bonds use more bricks. Mortar calculation: Covers joints between bricks. Formula: Cubic Feet equals Wall Area times 0.3 for standard brick. 80 sq ft wall: 80 times 0.3 equals 24 cubic feet. One 80-pound bag covers 36 bricks. 360 divided by 36 equals 10 bags needed. Costs: Common red brick 0.50-1.00 each. Face brick 1.00-3.00 each. Antique brick 2.00-5.00 each. Installation 10-30 per sq ft depending on pattern. 100 sq ft wall costs 1,500-4,500 installed. Brick types and uses: Common brick structural, rough finish, walls not seen. Face brick smooth attractive, exterior visible walls. Engineering brick dense, high strength, load-bearing. Fire brick withstands high heat, fireplaces. Thin brick veneer 1/2 inch thick, overlay existing walls. Mortar types: Type N general purpose, moderate strength, most residential. Type S high strength, below grade, retaining walls. Type M highest strength, load-bearing and engineered. Type O low strength, interior non-load-bearing, repointing old brick. Choose based on application. Wall thickness: Single wythe 4 inches thick, veneer only. Double wythe 8 inches, structural cavity wall. Triple wythe 12 inches, very strong load-bearing. Thickness affects quantity, double thickness doubles bricks. Common mistakes: Not adding waste factor typically 10-15 percent. Forgetting mortar and other materials focuses only on bricks. Calculating square footage but ordering by piece, bricks sold by count not area. Wrong bond pattern affects quantity significantly. Not checking brick dimensions, sizes vary slightly by manufacturer. Pro tips: Buy 10-15 percent extra bricks for future repairs, color varies by batch. Keep sample brick for matching repairs. Use line string for straight courses. Butter brick ends generously ensures full joints. Check level and plumb frequently. Clean excess mortar while wet, easier than after hardened. Pointing and finishing: Concave joint most common, weather-resistant. Flush joint smooth modern look. Raked joint shadow line, collects water. Struck joint angled, traditional. Beaded joint decorative, labor-intensive. Finish affects appearance and weatherproofing. Efflorescence: White salt deposits appear on new brick, dissolves over time, clean with vinegar solution. Caused by water-soluble salts migrating through brick. Prevent with proper drainage and weep holes. Expansion joints: Required every 20-25 feet vertical and 30 feet horizontal prevents cracking. Fill with flexible caulk not mortar. Accommodate thermal expansion and foundation settling. FAQ: How many bricks for 100 sq ft? Standard brick 450 bricks plus waste approximately 500 total. How much mortar? Type N 15 bags for 100 sq ft. Can I reuse old bricks? Yes if cleaned properly, adds character, may need new mortar. Cost per sq ft? Materials 8-15, labor 10-30, total 18-45 per sq ft.