Bricks rates and vendor

[ngupta]

I need to purchase bulk bricks. Any suggestion for a good vendor and rates ?
-ng

[blrguy]

Clay bricks or cement / concrete bricks?

I think clay bricks are good for houses (correct me if I am wrong) compared to concrete bricks.

For clay bricks, there are many companies. But I think Anjanya or some such company was good (near KR puram or somewhere). But now, there are many other companies I guess. MTB is a standard company from what I've heard. They take orders & deliver after sometime because of suppy/demand. There are many others too who put MTB symbol on their bricks. Original MTB clay bricks would cost around 3.50/4Rs I guess. The other ordinary ones would be around 2.75/3rs depending on your bargaining power & volumes.

For concrete bricks, its better to stick to reputed companies since esp for the load bearing walls - I would suggest to look at APCO. They have differnt varieties for it (depending on the use). I dont know the prices though.

Hope this helps.

[drk]

Hi,

We are using VKB Chamber bricks, table mould. This company is in anekal.. It is costing us Rs 3.50 . ABW bricks cost around Rs. 4.90 per brick.

Thanks and Regards,
drk

[ngupta]

Last time, contractor got some "SCB" for Rs 4.70, now was quoting Rs 4.90 for same.
I felt it is expensive or he is bluffing. Bricks are good red cherry and uniform and sharp edges.
But clapping 2 bricks, breaks atleast one of them. In side many are uniformly red baked, but
few are slightly yellowish core.

There is one MBW, behind Purva fountain square, marathahalli, chinnapahalli.
he was not having stock, but was quoting Rs 4 plus taxes.

Any feedback about his products. Though have decent setup, lorry and am seeing this
place for few many years.

[ngupta]

DRK,

Could you give me contact details of VKB and also ABW.

thanks,
- ng

[blrguy]

Good quality bricks should not disintegrate / defigure / lose edges / crack up etc when soaked in water for an elongated period of time.
Test the brick by soaking in water - completely soaked - for 24 hrs (or is it 48 hours) and check it breaks or not. It shouldnt crumple or break easily (like breaking a biscuit) after remaining in water for that period.

Also, what I know is :
Even when building the wall, the bricks should soaked completely in water so that it has absorbed suffienct water & wont absorb any more. Else, it would absorb the water in teh cement mortar quickly & make it brittle/weak. The construction guys are lazy & they wont wet the bricks enough just because its extra work & adds to the weight if they have to move it around. Praveen, comment on this

Reg. the prices: I think we get good quality (if not those branded companies like Anjanaya or MBT) bricks for close to 3.00 or 3.25 rs / brick esp when buying in 1000s. A 1 floor normal designed house on a 60x40 plot would eat up atleast 25k bricks I think. You dont one of you guys drive down to some stand where brick lorries are standing and inquire once? (Eg. near Kanteerva studio in Nandini Layout. Not sure of other places).

[msn1270]

you are right Blrguy,

the bricks has to be soaked in water atleast for 8 hrs before using it for construction, so that it should not absorb moisture on the plastering. In recent days all builders/masons just put a bucket of water on the bricks stock before using them. it results in cracks appearance on the walls before even the building completes one cycle of all seasons(I mean 1 full year having all 3 seasons).

good practice is to dip the bricks in the sump(built for using water for construction activities) on the previous evening and use them on the next day for construction activity.