WEEK 4:
Walls
Introduction
The measurement of structural walls may be carried out by a variety of methods,
depending on the format of the bills of quantities to be adopted, e.g. elemental, trade,
etc., although the approach for each is similar. However, before measurement can
commence, plans of all floors, roof level, elevations, sections and all necessary details
will be required.
Approach
Measurement should be divided into manageable portions for each individual building
or parts of a building and then further divided into:
1. external walls 3. chimney breasts
2. internal walls 4. chimney stack
The measurement of fire surrounds, flue liners, chimney pots and cappings would
normally be measured as a separate section and thus could be measured by a different
taker-off.
Working from the whole to the part, measure walls over all openings and projections
and then adjusts for blank openings (not window or door openings which will be
adjusted in that particular section), recesses, different types of facing bricks,
projections and similar features.
All types of facing applied to he external walls, e.g. rendering, tile hanging, etc., are
measured in this section.
Generally
Brickwork and blockwork are generally measured as complete items on the centre line
of the wall with the nominal thickness stated, see SMM F10-M1 and D1. every
description must include the supplementary information requirements (see SMM F10-
S1-S5) as necessary, in addition to the usual classification terms. Depending on the
complexities of the project, these requirements may be more conveniently covered by
a heading or preamble clause in the bills of quantities.
S1 - Kind, quality and size of bricks, etc., usually covered by stating a
manufacturer’s name and size of bricks.
S2 - Type of bond, e.g. stretcher, English or Flemish bond; this may affect
the number of facing bricks used.
S3 - Composition of bricks and mortar, e.g. cement mortar 1:3 (one part
cement and three parts fine aggregate) or gauged mortar 1:1:6 (one part
cement, one part lime and six parts fine aggregate).
S4 - Type of pointing; this is the treatment of the face of the mortar joints.
There are different finishes, e.g. weather struck joint, flush joint,
bucket handle joint, etc., but irrespective of the type of finish, they are
executed by one of the two following methods:
1. ‘As work proceeds’. The bricklayer will complete the face of the
mortar joints to the required finish at some convenient time before the
mortar has set. This is a relatively cheap process. The code of practice
relating to brickwork describes this process as ‘jointing’, but as SMM7
F10-S4 refers to ‘pointing’ only, it is described in the following
examples as ‘pointing with a . . . joint as work proceeds’.
2. ‘As a separate operation’. The bricklayer will rake out the mortar
joints to a depth of approximately 12mm while the mortar is still green
and then, after the brickwork is finished, but before the scaffolding is
dismantled, the joints will be filled with mortar and the face treated.
This gives the brickwork a uniform appearance but is a very much
more expensive method of pointing.
SMM F10.1-4 Classified brickwork and blockwork in to four separate
heading, i.e. walls, isolated piers, isolated casings, and chimney stacks. Also, different
thicknesses of brickwork or blockwork are kept separate and are each measured in
m2. Furthermore, work built against or bonded to other work, used as formwork or
built overhand shall be kept separate because of the extra cost involved (BESMM
F10.[Link]-4). There is also separate provision for battering walls and those tapering
on one of both sides (SMM F10.1.1.2-4.0) and forming and closing cavities in hollow
walls (SMM F30.[Link] and F10.[Link]). All blockwork and brickwork are deemed
vertical unless otherwise described (SMM F10.D3).
Projection
It will be noted that projections are measured in metres stating the width and
depth of projection (SMM F10.5.1.1-3.0). Projections consist of attached piers (whose
length on plan is less than or equal four time their thickness), plinths, oversailing
courses and the like (SMM F10.D9).
The term ‘facework’ all includes any work in bricks and block finished fair
see SMM F10-D2. and is included in the walling item, stating whether it is on one or
both sides and giving the thickness of the wall (SMM F10.1.2-3.1.0). Full particulars
of the blocks or bricks, bond, mortar and pointing must be given (SMM F10.S1-4)
Thus, facework not only includes work built in facing bricks and pointed but
also walls built in common bricks, fair faced and pointed. The term ‘fair faced’
means providing a good finished appearance to the face of common brickwork. The
bricklayer will select the common bricks, choose the best face of the brick, and take
extra care in laying and pointing.
Measurement
Measurement the walls up to a general level, e.g. roof plate level, overall opening,
recesses, etc., and add for gable walls, all adjustments being made later. The taker-off
must decide whether or not to measure the walls over openings. Generally the
decision depends on whether the wall is to be supported on a lintel over the opening
(with adjustments being made with the doors or windows sections), or if the doors
have storey height frames, i.e. floor to ceiling, in which case there is no need to
measure the wall over only to be deducted in full at a later stage. These openings are
termed nett openings and they should be noted on the drawing and the taking-off.
Deductions for lintels, etc., are made as regards height to the extent only of full brick
or block courses displaced and as regards depth to the extent only of full half brick
beds displaced, see SMM F10-M3.
For example, with regard to Figure W.1, blockwork is not deducted as the
lintel does not displace a full course. If the lintel was 225 mm high a full block would
be displaced and an appropriate deduction would be made.
Block course
150 mm Lintel 225 mm
Opening
When measuring chimney breasts and chimney stack, the brickwork is
measured as if it is solid unless the flue exceeds 0.25m 2, see SMM F10-M2, and
Figure W.1.
Measure stack as if
built in solid brickwork
Only deduct brickwork
If each flue exceeds 0.25m2
Figure W.2 Plan of chimney stack
Isolated piers are measured as such only if dimensions are as shown in Figure
W.3, see SMM F10.2 D8, otherwise are measured as a wall if it exceed 4x 225
215
If length is
less than 4 x 225
measure as isolated pier
Figure W.3 Plan
Flow chart for structural walls
SMM ref & unit Measurement
Start
External wall to bungalow – brick out
Skin in facing bricks
F.[Link].0 Area of brick outerskin of hollow wall to
m2 bungalow including gable (measured as if
garage were not attached – adjustment
made later) viz. centre line of
outerskin x height of wall plus width of
gable x height of gable x ½ (area of
triangle base x height divided by 2), plus
width of gable x height to raise brickwork
above roof plate level.
Ditto – forming cavity including insulation
F.[Link].1 Area of cavity of hollow wall including
m2 gable, viz. centre line of cavity x height
of wall plus area of gable and raising as
above.
Ditto – block inner skin
F.[Link].0 Area of block inner skin of hollow wall
M2 including gable, viz. centre line of inner
skin x height of wall plus area of gable
and raising as above.
Adjustment for gable wall built fair face in roof space
F.[Link].0 Deduct area of block inner skin to gable
m2 in roof space, viz. triangular area of gable
as above.
Ditto
F.[Link].0 Add area of block inner skin facework
2
m one side to gable in roof space, viz. same
area as last item.
Adjustment for outerskin built in common bricks behind enclosed eaves
F.[Link].0 Deduct area of brick outerskin in facing
2
m bricks behind enclosed eaves, viz. centre
line girth of outerskin less gable end x
height of outerskin from soffit board to
plate level.
Ditto
F.[Link].0 Add area of brick outerskin in common
2
m bricks behind enclosed eaves, viz. same
as last item
Attached pier to bungalow
F.[Link].0 Length of attached pier, viz. height from
m2 dpc to soffit board level.
Adjustment of brick outerskin built in facing bricks but not pointed behind
attached pier
F.[Link].0 Deduct area of outerskin built in facing
2
m bricks and pointed behind attached pier,
viz. width of pier x height of pier as last
item.
Ditto
F.[Link].0 Add area of outerskin built in facing
m2 bricks but not pointed behind attached
pier, viz. same area as last item.
Internal structural brick walls
F.[Link].0 Area of 1B wall measured over blank
m2 opening, viz. length of wall x height of
wall, plus width of gable x height to raise
brickwork above roof plate level as
before.
Ditto in roof space faced both sides
F.[Link].0 Area of 1B wall in roof space, viz. width
m2 of gable x height of gable x ½.
Adjustment for blank opening in one brick wall
F.[Link].0 Deduct area of 1B wall for blank
2
m opening, viz. length of opening x height
of opening.
Lintel over blank opening
F.[Link].0 Number lintel
nr
Adjustment of one brick wall for lintel
F.[Link].0 Deduct at area of one brick wall displaced
m2 by lintel, viz. length of lintel
Chimney breast ground floor
F.[Link].0 Area of chimney breast – described as
2
m brick wall 2½ B thick, viz. length of
breast x height of breast (ground floor).
Adjustment of one brick wall for chimney breast
F.[Link].0 Deduct area of one brick wall displaced
2
m by chimney breast, viz. same area as last
item.
Chimney breast roof space
F.[Link].0 Length of chimney breast in roof space.
m2 Viz. average height of chimney breast
attached to one brick wall in roof space.
Adjustment of one brick wall pointed both
sides in roof space behind chimney breast
F.[Link].0 Deduct area of one brick wall facework
2
m both sides, viz. width of chimney breast
in roof space x average height of chimney
breast.
Ditto
F.[Link].0 Add area of one brick wall facework one
m2 side, viz. same area as above item.
Chimney stack
F.[Link].0 Area of chimney stack above roof level,
m2 viz. width of stack x average height of
chimney stack.
Damp proof course in chimney stack
F.[Link].0 Plan area of stack, viz. width of
m2 stack x depth of stack
Chimney capping flue linings etc
To take note measure with fires and vents Not measured in this example
section
External brick wall in facing bricks to garage
F.[Link].0 Area of half brick wall to garage, viz.
m2 girth of garage wall x height of garage
wall
Attached piers to garage
F.[Link].0 Length of attached piers, viz. same height
m2 as garage x 2
Adjustment of garage wall not pointed
both sides behind attached pier
F.[Link].0 Deduct area of garage wall facework both
m2 sides behind attached piers, viz. width of
pier x height of pier as last item x 2
Ditto
F.[Link].0 Add area of garage wall facework one
m2 side behind attached piers, viz. same as
area last item.
Brick screen wall
F.[Link].0 Area of half brick screen wall, viz. length
m2 of screen wall x height of screen wall.
Attached pier to screen wall
F.[Link].0 Length of attached pier, viz. same height
m2 as screen wall.
Adjustment of screen wall not pointed
both sides behind attached pier
F.[Link].0 Deduct area of screen wall facework both
m2 sides behind attached pier, viz. width of
pier x height of pier as last item
Ditto
F.[Link].0 Add area of screen wall facework one
m2 sides behind attached pier, viz. same as
area as last item.
Adjustment for outerskin of bungalow
built in common bricks next attached
F.[Link].0 Add area of outerskin built in common
m2 bricks next attached garage, viz. same
area as last item.