How Many Bricks in a Single Skin Garage

Understanding Single Skin Garages

A single skin garage is one built with a single layer of brickwork, as opposed to a cavity wall where two layers of masonry are separated by an air gap. Single skin garages are very common across the UK, particularly in older properties, as they are cheaper to build and provide adequate strength for a structure primarily used for storage or parking. However, because there is no cavity or insulation, single skin garages are colder and more prone to damp, making them less suitable for conversions without additional work. When estimating how many bricks you will need for a new build or repair, it helps to work from typical garage dimensions and brick sizes.

Standard Brick Sizes in the UK

In the UK, the most common brick size is 215mm long, 102.5mm wide, and 65mm high. When laid with a standard 10mm mortar joint, this gives a modular size of 225mm by 75mm. This means that around sixty bricks are required per square metre of wall for single skin construction. This figure is widely used as the basis for estimating brick quantities for most domestic building projects, including garages.

Typical Dimensions of a Single Garage

A standard single garage in the UK is usually about 2.7 metres wide and 5.5 metres long internally, with an average wall height of 2.2 to 2.4 metres. This gives four walls of differing lengths. The two long walls are around 5.5 metres each, and the two shorter walls are around 2.7 metres each. The total perimeter is therefore about 16.4 metres. Multiplying this by an average wall height of 2.3 metres gives a total wall area of approximately 37.7 square metres.

Adjusting for Openings

Of course, garages have large openings for doors and sometimes windows, which reduce the number of bricks required. A standard up and over garage door is about 2.1 metres wide and 2.1 metres high, giving an area of around 4.4 square metres. If we subtract this from the total wall area, we are left with roughly 33.3 square metres of brickwork.

If a side personnel door is included, this will remove another 2 square metres or so. A small window might take away another 1 square metre. These adjustments depend on the specific design, but they give a good starting point for calculating.

Brick Quantity for a Single Garage

Using the standard figure of sixty bricks per square metre, a single skin garage with a wall area of about 33 square metres will require close to 2,000 bricks. If there are fewer openings, the total could be nearer 2,200, while additional windows and doors will reduce the figure slightly. For most single garages, ordering between 2,000 and 2,500 bricks will allow for waste, breakages, and cuts. Builders typically add around 5 to 10 percent extra for this reason, ensuring that the work can be completed without running short.

Costs and Practical Considerations

The cost of bricks varies depending on the type chosen. Standard facing bricks can range from 50p to £1 each, meaning the brickwork for a single skin garage could cost £1,000 to £2,000 in materials alone. Engineering bricks or decorative finishes will cost more. Mortar, labour, and foundations add significantly to the overall cost of building a garage, with the bricks themselves being just one part of the total budget.

Single skin garages are cheaper to build but are less thermally efficient and not as resistant to damp. For storage and parking, they are perfectly adequate, but if you plan to use the garage as a workshop or convert it in the future, it may be better to consider cavity wall construction or plan for insulation upgrades.

Conclusion

A single skin garage in the UK typically requires around 2,000 to 2,500 bricks, depending on its size and the number of openings for doors and windows. By working out the wall area and applying the standard sixty bricks per square metre, you can estimate requirements with reasonable accuracy. Factoring in extra for waste ensures you will not run short during construction. While single skin walls are cost effective, it is worth considering their limitations in terms of insulation and damp resistance, especially if you want to make your garage more versatile in the future.