How many bricks per square metre?

A single-skin (half-brick) wall uses about 60 standard UK bricks per square metre, and a one-brick-thick wall about 120, assuming 215 × 102.5 × 65 mm bricks and 10 mm mortar joints.

Building sand vs sharp sand: which do you need?

Use soft building sand for bricklaying and blocklaying mortar because its fine, rounded grains make a smooth, sticky mix; use sharp sand for concrete, floor screeds and paving beds where strength and drainage matter.

Mortar mix ratios explained

Mortar mixes are written as cement to sand by volume: 1:4 is a strong general mix, 1:5 suits most above-ground brick and blockwork, and 1:6 is a softer mix for less exposed work, often with a plasticiser or lime added.

Concrete mix ratios for site-mixed concrete

For general site-mixed concrete, 1 part cement to 5 parts all-in ballast is the common mix, using roughly 15 bags of cement and just over 2 tonnes of ballast per cubic metre; structural concrete should follow the mix your engineer or building control specifies.

C16 vs C24 timber: what is the difference?

C16 and C24 are strength classes under BS EN 338: C24 timber is stronger and stiffer than C16, so it can span further or use a smaller section, which is why it is chosen for longer joists and rafters.

Guides to Ordering Building Materials

How many bricks per square metre?
About 60 standard bricks per m² of single-skin wall and 120 for a one-brick wall. How to work out bricks, mortar, sand and cement for your wall.
Building sand vs sharp sand: which do you need?
Soft building sand makes smooth bricklaying mortar; sharp sand is coarser for concrete, screeds and paving. How to choose and how much to order.
Mortar mix ratios explained
1:4, 1:5 and 1:6 mortar mixes, what they are used for, and how much sand and cement each needs per cubic metre.
Concrete mix ratios for site-mixed concrete
1:5 cement to all-in ballast for general work, 1:6 for bases, and when to use ready-mixed concrete instead. With quantities per cubic metre.
C16 vs C24 timber: what is the difference?
C16 and C24 are strength classes for structural softwood. What they mean, when to use each, and how span tables decide the size.
Plasterboard types, sizes and thicknesses
Standard, moisture-resistant, fire, acoustic and thermal laminate plasterboard explained, with sizes, thicknesses and how many boards you need.
PIR boards vs mineral wool insulation
When to use rigid PIR boards and when to use mineral wool rolls and slabs: thermal performance, fire, sound and cost compared.
How much MOT Type 1 do I need?
Work out MOT Type 1 sub-base for a drive, patio or slab: area × depth × about 2.1 tonnes per m³. Typical depths and a worked example.
Bulk bags: sizes, weights and delivery
What a bulk bag of sand, gravel or sub-base weighs, how much it covers, and what you need to know about crane offloading.
How to choose a lintel
Steel cavity lintels, box lintels and concrete lintels: how to size one from the opening, end bearings and load, and when you need an engineer.
Treated timber use classes explained
Use classes 1 to 5 under BS 8417 tell you where treated timber can go. What each class means for joists, battens, fencing and posts.
Crane offload deliveries: what to expect
How builders' merchant deliveries with a lorry-mounted crane work, what we need to know about your site, and how to prepare a drop point.
Plywood or OSB?
OSB3 and structural plywood compared for floors, roofs and sheathing: strength, moisture, cost and fixing.
How much loft insulation do I need?
The common recommendation is 270 mm of mineral wool. How to work out rolls for two layers and keep the loft ventilated.

Guides to ordering materials

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