The closures for horizontal tile are figured separately. A full and a half closure are respectively 12 and 6 inches in length and amount to about one foot in height, and hence cover an area of 3/4 sq. ft. on each side or 11/2 sq. ft. on both sides of the opening. As the height of our five window openings is approximately 25 feet, we have 25 × 11/2 = 371/2 sq. ft. to be deducted from area of regular tile surface, giving 442 - 371/2 or 4041/2 sq. ft.
| As per coefficient table, [page 106], we have 404.5 × 2.15 = | 870 |
| Deduct 1/5 of tile for brick bond | 174 |
| 696 | |
| Add 3% for wastage or | 21 |
| Total number of tile to be ordered | 717 |
| Requiring 4 closures, 2 full and 2 half, for each foot of height (both sides), we need 25 × 4 or 100 closures | |
| Add 3% for wastage or 3 | |
| Total number of closures needed | 103 |
| Order 52 of each size. | |
| Brick-size tile, 12 to every 16 sq. ft. >needed. Hence, 442 ÷ 16 gives about 28, and 12 × 28 = | 336 |
| Add 3% for wastage or | 10 |
| Total brick-size tile to be ordered | 346 |
Estimating Labor Required
Placing Brick and Tile
The usual method of estimating the labor bill for brickwork or tile is to reduce it to the amount per thousand brick or tile placed, which not only covers the bricklayers' time, but the mortar, the necessary labor for mixing it, and the labor tending the bricklayers. This, of course, varies in different localities and with the different kinds of brick or tile, mortar, and joints. The contractor is urged to keep an accurate record of the number of brick or tile laid per day, the amount of mortar of various kinds used, and the number of bricklayers for which one laborer is necessary, so that he may determine for himself, from the total, the unit costs per thousand for placing brick or tile according to different specifications.
It must be carefully noted that such items as arches, piers, panels, special bond patterns, etc., require additional time for execution, depending upon their nature. The contractor will have to be guided by his own experiences in making allowances for the additional labor necessary for this work.
Building a Fireplace
It is difficult to estimate the labor required for building a fireplace, due to the variety of designs and the necessary amount of cutting and fitting required. Therefore many masons estimate this work at so much per fireplace or at a unit price per thousand brick. It may be said that a bricklayer should lay the face of a fireplace 5 to 6 feet wide and 4 to 5 feet high in ten hours, and the fire brick lining in from 4 to 6 hours. It will take about 4 hours' time to lay the entire hearth. One-half hour of laborer's time should be allowed for every hour of bricklayers' time.
Cleaning Brickwork