Practical guide
What Is Brickforce? Uses, Sizes and Roll Length
Brickforce is wire reinforcement laid in masonry mortar joints. Its purpose is to help distribute tensile stresses and control cracking as part of a specified wall system. Strip width, wire diameter, finish and roll length are separate product details.
Updated 15 October 2026
Reviewed by the 99Tools team. Editorial and corrections policy.
What brickforce does
Masonry reinforcement can help distribute stresses in a wall when the correct system is specified and installed. It does not make every wall crack-proof. Ground movement, foundations, joints, openings, materials and workmanship still matter. A quantity estimate cannot determine the reinforcement needed for a retaining wall or replace a structural assessment.
Read the product measurements
Width describes the strip across the bed joint. Wire diameter describes the steel wire itself. Roll length describes how far the complete reinforcement strip runs along the wall. A 20 m roll is 20 m of strip, not twice that length because the product contains more than one longitudinal wire. Keep these units separate when preparing an order.
75 mm, 150 mm and 230 mm brickforce
These width descriptions occur in South African supplier ranges. They are not a complete list of all available products and do not automatically match every wall. Different wire sizes, finishes and reinforcement arrangements may share a width label. Obtain the specified width and product rather than choosing solely by a familiar size name. Confirm actual stock with the chosen supplier.
How long is a brickforce roll?
20 m rolls are listed by South African suppliers, but always check the exact product label. Some reinforcement products use other lengths or straight strips. The calculator accepts an entered roll length so it can count the product actually being purchased. Do not reuse a roll count from a different stock length without recalculating.
How to measure brickforce for an order
Start from the approved reinforcement schedule. Record each run length, layer count and product. Add the required detail lengths and lap quantities, allowing for cuts without counting the same loss twice. Keep unlike widths or coatings in separate calculations. A nominal total length does not prove every offcut can be reused efficiently.
How to use it on site
Have the required positions, bedding, cover, laps, corners, openings and movement details confirmed by the responsible professional and product instructions. The calculator deliberately does not prescribe a universal every-third-course or every-fourth-course rule. Use the specified layer input when the wall has a detailed schedule and check the final purchasing quantity before ordering.
Use the related calculators
Apply the explanation above with your own figures. Open a calculator below, check every input and review the result assumptions before making a decision.
Frequently asked questions
What is brickforce?
Brickforce is steel wire reinforcement installed in masonry mortar bed joints. It helps distribute tensile stresses and control cracking within a specified wall system.
How do I calculate brickforce?
Multiply run length by identical runs and specified layers, then add required laps, detail lengths and a cutting allowance. Divide by roll length and round up full rolls.
How long is a roll of brickforce?
20 m rolls are common in South African listings, but use the actual labelled length of your selected product. Width in mm is a separate measurement.
How much is brickforce wire?
Price depends on the product, width, wire diameter, coating, supplier and date. Enter a current price per roll to calculate your material and delivery budget.
What do 75 mm, 150 mm and 230 mm mean?
They describe strip width. They do not state the roll length or prove suitability for a particular wall; use the specified product.
How should I use brickforce in a wall?
Follow the project and manufacturer instructions for the product, positions, mortar bedding, cover, laps and detailing. This calculator counts an entered schedule and does not set those requirements.
Does the calculator set reinforcement spacing or laps?
No. Enter the specified layers and lap information. The optional course-interval calculation is a geometric estimate only.