Fly ash vs red brick at a glance
| Fly ash bricks | Red clay bricks (sengal) | |
|---|---|---|
| Made from | Fly ash from thermal power stations, with lime or cement and sand or stone dust | Clay |
| How they are made | Pressed in moulds and cured, not fired | Moulded or wire-cut, then fired in a kiln |
| Indian Standard | IS 12894 (fly ash–lime bricks) | IS 1077 (common burnt clay bricks) |
| Size and edges | Even size, sharp edges | Varies more brick to brick; wire-cut bricks are the most even |
| Mortar and plaster | Thinner joints and plaster, because the faces are flat | Thicker joints and plaster to take up size differences |
| Colour and finish | Grey; normally plastered | Red; wire-cut bricks can be left exposed |
| Common local size | 9 × 4 × 3 inch (about 230 × 110 × 75 mm) | 9 × 4 × 3 inch (about 230 × 110 × 75 mm) |
| Ask the seller for | Strength class and a recent test report | Strength class, water absorption and efflorescence results |
| Our source | Factories in Gummidipoondi SIPCOT | Factories in Gummidipoondi SIPCOT |
| Our price per brick | ₹7.85 per brick | ₹10.35 per brick |
How many bricks per wall: a typical estimate
A 9 × 4 × 3 inch brick (about 230 × 110 × 75 mm) laid with 10 mm joints covers about 240 × 85 mm of wall face. That gives these counts, before openings and breakage.
| Wall | Per m² of wall face | Per 100 sq ft | Per 1,000 sq ft of wall |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.5-inch (half-brick) partition | ≈ 49 | ≈ 455 | ≈ 4,550 |
| 9-inch (one-brick) wall | ≈ 98 | ≈ 910 | ≈ 9,100 |
Typical estimate. Deduct doors and windows, then add about 5% for breakage and cutting.
- Fly ash and red bricks of the same size give the same count; what changes is how much mortar and plaster the wall takes.
- If your bricks are a different size, measure ten of them and send us the figure; we rework the count.
- Brick mortar is usually 1:6 cement mortar with M-Sand or P-Sand.
| Item | Typical quantity | In loads / units |
|---|---|---|
| Results appear here (JavaScript is needed for the calculator). | ||
Typical estimate: for 230 × 110 × 75 mm bricks with 10 mm joints, plus 5% for breakage; the first column of each row is the number to order.
Five checks when bricks are unloaded
These are quick site-practice checks. They do not replace the lab tests in IS 1077 or IS 12894, but they catch a bad load before it goes into a wall.
- Size: lay ten bricks end to end and measure. A wide spread across ten bricks means thicker joints and more plaster.
- Edges and faces: edges should be straight and corners unbroken; count the broken pieces in a stack.
- Sound (red bricks): strike two bricks together; well-burnt bricks give a clear ring, under-burnt ones a dull thud.
- Scratch: a fingernail should not leave a groove on a good brick of either kind.
- Soak (red bricks): soak a brick overnight and let it dry. Heavy white patches (efflorescence) mean soluble salts that can show through plaster.
From our team
Notes, photos and examples added by the M&B Chetty team, with the author and the date.
Price per 1,000 bricks and how we deliver
| Brick | Per brick | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Fly ash, 9 × 4 × 3 inch | ₹7.85 per brick | ₹7,850 per 1,000 bricks |
| Red clay chamber brick | ₹10.35 per brick | ₹10,350 per 1,000 bricks |
Both bricks come direct from factories in Gummidipoondi SIPCOT and are held at our stock yards in Madhavaram, Uthukottai, Vengal Koot Road, Sathyavedu, Kavaraipettai Main Road and Manellore SIPCOT. Your load goes from the nearest yard that has the brick you ordered.
Compare bricks per finished wall, not per piece. An even brick that needs less mortar and thinner plaster can cost less per wall even at a higher price per brick.