How big is your home?

One of the most important factors in determining how many bricks are needed for a home is to determine how big the home is or will be. You will need to find numbers for square footage and square inches. If you have an existing home, consult documentation such as insurance paperwork or appraisal forms to find the square footage. If these documents are not easily accessible, measure the length and width of the outside of the house. The calculation is: (Length of your home x width of your home) / 12 = square footage To find the square inches, simply multiply your square footage by 144. If you are building a new home, consult your house plans or your contractor for the square footage.

Which brick style and pattern will you use?

Once you have determined the square footage of your house, you will need to select a brick style. Since bricks vary in style, they also vary in size. A larger style brick, for example, may only require 10,000 bricks. A smaller brick, however, may require 20,000 bricks. By selecting your style, you will be prepared to determine the number you will need. Also important is the pattern in which your bricks will be laid. Typically, the more complicated the design, the greater the number of bricks needed.

Research your brick calculation

After the brick style has been selected, it's time to research your numbers. Many different websites have brick calculators that will provide an estimate for you. Try entering "brick calculator" into any search engine, and lots of options will be returned. Be sure to choose a website that is credible, such as company websites for builders or major home improvement centers. If you would like a more definite answer, turn to the calculations. Since you have already determined the square inches of your home, use the example below to calculate the number of needed bricks: Square footage: 1,500 Square inches: 216,000 Brick Size (in inches): 4 inches by 8 inches = 32 square inches. Divide the square inches of your home by the square inches of the bricks to determine the quantity of bricks you will need: 216,000 / 32 = 6,750 bricks needed for this home Note: Always remember to add 5 to 10 percent for broken bricks. This will save you the trouble of having to order additional bricks in the middle of your project.

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Calculating the number of required bricks