Cost of a brick?

[FACTOR]

Anybody know how much one brick costs?

I understand I can get the bricks made by a farmer or by a factory; I'm going with the factory made ones for the sake of quality.

Anybody know how much I should pay per brick?

My location is in Vientiane, Laos. Prices from around Issan, Thailand would satisfy me.

Thanks

[IMHO]

Standard red bricks range from 0.8 Baht to 1.2 Baht/pc (small/large)

19x39x7 cm cement blocks 6 Baht/pc

12.5x25x10 cm interlocking blocks 6 Baht/pc (the kind you don't normally render)

20x60x7.5 cm aerated blocks around 19-20 Baht/pc

Edited November 6, 2013 by IMHO

[FACTOR]

Bad Kitty/IMHO.. thanks for the very good information regarding brick prices.

[JaiLai]

I paid 1 baht per brick ( small orange ones ) recently - central Thailand.

[falang07]

Just out of curiosity, what is the reason for using such a small format for the bricks in Thailand? Must a pain in the ass to work with (slowish).

[JaiLai]

Just out of curiosity, what is the reason for using such a small format for the bricks in Thailand? Must a pain in the ass to work with (slowish).

Everything is 'slowish' here.

Not sure the reason but they're suppose to be very strong, all my houses have been made this way, no issues.

[FACTOR]

What do you reckon the size of the bricks is in this photo? I'm not sure you can see the photo.

I'm not there at the site of the photo, so I cannot measure them. Anybody know what size they are?

Do they look like good bricks? They are factory made, not made by a farmer in the back yard.

thanks,

[khwaibah]

8 baht each..

Edited November 7, 2013 by khwaibah

[David48]

8 baht each..

Ran out of likes.

Nice post ...

[sirineou]

8 baht each..

I wonder what the function of the vertical grooves on the side of the bricks are? I could see if one side was female and the other side was male, then one side would lock with the next brick much in the way the top of the brick locks with the bottom, but in this design they don't seem to have a function other than saving a small percentage of material.

Do the make a brick with male tabs on the side that fit the brick with the grooves?

Why not make a brick with a female groove on one side and a complimenting male tab on the other side so that the bricks interlock in a horizontal plane also?

I understand that a horizontal interlocking affect is accomplished by the staggering of the bricks. Just wondering about the grooves

[planemad]

Sirineou, sorry I cant give you full information as I have deleted the info I had, house now complete! The whole concept of the system is to make everything interlocking, the holes allow rebar (obvious really), but the cement used is not a standard mix, it is a very liquid adhesive, which from the info I had, can be poured from a watercan (or similar) into the all the cutouts and grooves. The outside can then be wiped, rather like laying tiles, to give a smooth clean effect.

I got the original information from a supplier in Wat Sing which in turn might have come from an alternative building website which I believe you are also a contributor to! Maybe ask your wife (assuming she is Thai), to help look at the web as the info was in Thai.

Good luck, it looks interesting, but getting a Thai builder to break from the traditional might be a little difficult.

planemad

[planemad]

OK, found it, not deleted from deep storage! Dont know how to attach, advise please or PM and I can send you demo build pics. However, the grooves you ask about align with the holes allowing rebar support when assembled in a staggered configuration. I hope you can visualise this.

planemad

Edited November 7, 2013 by planemad

[Fookhaht]

8 baht each..

I wonder what the function of the vertical grooves on the side of the bricks are? I could see if one side was female and the other side was male, then one side would lock with the next brick much in the way the top of the brick locks with the bottom, but in this design they don't seem to have a function other than saving a small percentage of material.

Do the make a brick with male tabs on the side that fit the brick with the grooves?

Why not make a brick with a female groove on one side and a complimenting male tab on the other side so that the bricks interlock in a horizontal plane also?

I understand that a horizontal interlocking affect is accomplished by the staggering of the bricks. Just wondering about the grooves

. Some masonry workers choose to use mortar in the vertical joints. Where the mortar is packed into the groove on each brick, it strengthens the bond between the bricks even better than if the bricks were interlocking.

The greater strength is because of the nature of the density of the pressed clay (process used for these type of bricks) versus the density of the cured mortar.

Edited November 7, 2013 by Fookhaht

[Khun Jean]

Those bricks can be made from many kinds of 'dirt'. You need to filter out organics of course and the very course parts.

The clay/sand ratios have to be right for your build. Best to ask a specialist.

You then mix about 5-10% cement add a little water and press it into shape.

There is one shortcoming and that is they are not of the best quality when made with the shown machine. I am not 100% sure but the ones i have seen the press moves a certain distance to have equal height every time. Blocks with varying density and strength is the result.

The height together with density and strength is very difficult to maintain.

This can effect construction. The other option is equal density and strength but varying height. Also undesirable, especially when building staggered.

A better method would be to press everything with equal pressure, then in a second step cut it to size.

While the pressed block is still 'wet' that should no be too big of a problem as only a little bit has to be cut off(1-2mm). It will still be interlocking.

A cheap version of the same press, is a hand operated one. Obviously costs are mostly labor instead of investing in a machine.

As with all cement based products, give it time to cure and make sure it does not dry too quick. The cement needs enough water to make the bonds.

When stacking a thin layer of 'cement glue' (similar viscosity to that used with superblocks) can be added to increase the strength and also to make it more water proof, which is a real problem when you are not going to render the outside.

Edited November 16, 2013 by Khun Jean

[falang07]

from http://www.thai-interlocking.com: LATEST UPDATE :
Dear Visitors from all around the world,
In an effort to be the ultimate Interlocking Brick Machine supplier,
Since March 2012, we are closed for business temporarily for Research and Developments and restructuring our brick construction departments.

We currently stop building manual and semi automatic machine due to very high demand on full automatic machines.

You may still send us inquiries, and come January 2013 we will invite those who sent email to us to see our latest machine.

November 2013 and still no update...