Page 52 - PH_Masonry_Final_Ver 1_July 2020

Brick Bonds

The manner of overlapping bricks for construction of wall is called brick bond. Many types of
bonds are used in different ways for construction of brick walls or brick pillars.

English Bond
This bond is widely used and is considered as the strongest
bond in brick work. The following are some features of Eng-

lish bond.

 Alternate courses/layers consist of stretcher and header.
 Queen closer is put next to quoin header to develop
face lap.

 Each alternate course/layer of header is centrally sup-
ported over stretcher.

 The number of mortar joints in header course is nearly
double than that made in stretcher course.

 The joints are not continuous and vertical except at the
end of wall in some cases.

 The bricks in alternate courses have straight joints.

Stretcher Bond
All bricks are arranged in stretcher course in this bond.

The following are some features of Stretcher bond.
 All bricks laid in stretcher course create stretcher
bond.

 This bond is useful for half brick wall/partition walls.

 There is no header in such walls.
 This bond does not develop proper internal bond or joint.

 It should not be used for walls having thickness great-
er than half brick wall.

Header Bond

All bricks are arranged in header courses. The following
are some features of header bond.

 This brick bond is used for curved surface in brick work
because if stretcher is used for curved surface, it would
project beyond the face of wall.

 All bricks are arranged in header courses.

Participant Handbook : Masonry 52