What is the thickness of one and half brick wall made up of standard modular brick?
Try it first: pick an option, then read the explanation.
Understanding Brick Wall Thickness
The thickness of a brick wall is determined by the way the bricks are laid. It is based on the dimensions of a standard modular brick and the mortar joints between them. For calculation purposes, we use the "nominal" size of a brick.
- Standard Brick Size: 19 cm × 9 cm × 9 cm
- Standard Mortar Joint: 1 cm
- Nominal Brick Size: 20 cm × 10 cm × 10 cm
Detailed Analysis of the Options
B. 30 cm
This is the correct answer. A "one and a half brick wall" is constructed with a thickness equal to the length of one brick plus the width of one brick, separated by one vertical mortar joint.
Calculation: (Length of one brick) + (Width of one brick) + (Mortar Joint)
Using nominal sizes for simplicity: 20 cm (one brick thick) + 10 cm (half brick thick) = 30 cm.
Using actual sizes: 19 cm (length) + 9 cm (width) + 1 cm (mortar) = 29 cm, which is nominally referred to as 30 cm.
A. 20 cm
This is incorrect. A thickness of 20 cm represents a "one-brick wall," which is equal to the nominal length of a single brick.
C. 40 cm
This is incorrect. A thickness of 40 cm would represent a "two-brick wall" (20 cm + 20 cm).
D. 50 cm
This is incorrect. A thickness of 50 cm would represent a "two and a half brick wall" (20 cm + 20 cm + 10 cm).
Summary: Standard Brick Wall Thicknesses
| Wall Type | Nominal Thickness | Composition |
|---|---|---|
| Half Brick Wall | 10 cm | Width of one brick |
| One Brick Wall | 20 cm | Length of one brick |
| One and a Half Brick Wall | 30 cm | One brick length + One brick width |
| Two Brick Wall | 40 cm | Two brick lengths |
Study Tips
- Memorize the Basics: Know that a half-brick wall is 10 cm and a one-brick wall is 20 cm.
- Build from the Basics: Understand that thicker walls are simple combinations of these basic units. A 1.5 brick wall is just a 1-brick section plus a half-brick section (20 cm + 10 cm = 30 cm).
- Nominal is Key: Always use the nominal dimensions (20x10x10 cm) for these calculations, as they already account for the mortar joint.