There is more to making underpinning calculations than counting bricks.
Mobile home brick underpinning requires several materials. In addition to calculating the amount of brick needed, estimates must be made for mortar, sand and brick waste. The typical do-it-yourselfer can make all of the necessary estimates in one to two hours, depending on the size and scope of the project. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Measure the length and width of the mobile home that will be underpinned. Hook the tape measure to the outermost point of the mobile home's skirting and pull it to the outermost edge of the skirting on the opposite side. Similarly, record the length. Then measure from the ground to the bottom of the skirting. Record all measurements.
2. Add the length and width together and record the sum as total brick length. Multiply the total brick length by the height of the mobile home opening. For example, if the total brick length is 300 feet and the height is 4 feet, multiply the two numbers to get 1,200 square feet. Multiply 1,200 by 7.5, the number of standard bricks in a square foot, to get 9,000. Multiply 9,000 by a waste calculation of 5 percent to get 450. Add 450 to 9,000 to get a total of 9,450 bricks.
3. Calculate the amount of mortar and sand needed. Three 80-pound bags of mortar will bond 500 bricks. Divide 9,450 by 500 to get 18.9. Multiply 18.9 by 3 bags of mortar to get 56.7 and round up to 57, the number of bags of mortar needed. One ton of sand is needed for 10 bags of mortar. Divide 57 bags of mortar by 10 to get 5.7 tons of brick sand.
Tags: bags mortar, brick length, total brick, total brick length, length width, mobile home, mortar sand