Rarely does brick as a material fail. The challenge is making sure it's supported properly, that it’s securely tied to the structural wall, and that the measures have been taken to ensure that moisture won’t affect the wood framing behind brick veneer.
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Estimating Brick
Brick sizes vary widely, and so do the costs. When estimating and pricing brick, keep in mind that larger brick may cost more per unit, but it takes far fewer units to complete a job, and the job will require less sand and mortar.
To estimate the number of brick per 100 sq. ft. of wall, refer to Brick Veneer Coverage, below. Or use the following formula (for standard 8x21/4x33/4 brick with a standard 3/8-in. mortar joint):
1 Square Foot of Wall = 6.8 Brick
Wall Height (ft.) x Wall Length (ft.) x 6.8 = Total Brick Needed
Figure: Brick Veneer Coverage (per 100 sq. ft.)
Mortar Joint (in.)
Brick
Wall Ties
Mortar Required (cu. ft.)
1/4
698
23
4.48
3/8
680
22
6.56
1/2
635
21
8.34
5/8
590
19
10.52
3/4
549
18
12.60
"Mortar Required" assumes 20% waste for all head and bed joints. The brick size assumed is 8 x 2 1/4 x 3 3/4 in. No waste is included for the brick.
