INTRODUCTION

The manner in which bricks are arranged in a wall

is obviously of great importance to the appearance and
strength.
In the fig.1, it represents an angle of a 14-inch brick
wall.
Incorrect way of arranging bricks
Fig1

Correct arrangement of bricks : This

picture shows the correct arrangement of bricks
showing the overlapping of bricks due to
insertion of closer next to the corner brick.
This makes the wall to act as a
homogeneous body
This process of overlapping is called
"BONDING.

DIFFERENT SYSTEMS OF
BONDING

The following are the principal forms of

bonding :
English
Double Flemish
Single Flemish
Heading
Stretching
Rat trap bond
Garden Wall

RULES FOR GOOD BRICK

BONDING

Uniform in size.
Bricks arranged uniformly throughout the wall.
Bats are used as little as possible.
The bricks in the interiors of wall laid as
headers, that is, across the wall.
The lap not more than 2 and one-fourth inches.
The vertical joints in every other course should
be vertically over one another.

Bats
The portions mad by cutting standard
bricks across their width are known
as brick bats.
These are named according their
fraction of full length of a standard
brick.

Closers
The portions made by cutting across
their length in such a manner that
their one strecher face remains uncut
or half cut.
.queen closer
King closer

ENGLISH BOND
The facing bricks are laid in alternate courses

of headers and stretchers.

Queen-closer inserted next to quoin-headers to
produce overlap.
English bond is the strongest.
a. Avoids continuous vertical joints.
DISADVANTAGE:
Penetration of damp through transverse joints.
Appearance not as good as Flemish bond.

FLEMISH BOND
1.Double Flemish bond
2. Single Flemish bond
Double Flemish is shown
in the figure.
The headers and
stretchers alternate in each
course.
The lap is produced by
placing a queen-closer next
to the quoin-header in every
course.
Flemish bond is weaker
than English bond.

Fig.3

Single Flemish Bond: is a species of bond in which

Placement of double Flemish bond on the face of the walls.
The rest of the wall is built in English bond.
Used for walls requiring a good appearance and strength.
Not employed for wall less than 1 and a half bricks thick.
ADVANTAGES OF FLEMISH BOND:
It is highly economical.
Walls one brick in thickness are easier to produce a fair face
on both sides in Flemish than in English bond.
The appearance of Flemish bond is more appealing to eye
than that of English bond.

HEADING OR HEADER
BOND
Heading or Header Bond is laid on headers.
Used for round quick sweeps, as in Fig. 4.
Should never be used in straight work, as it is very
weak
Fig.4

STRETCHING OR
STRETCHER BOND
Bricks are laid in stretchers, as in the figure below.
Used in walls of half-brick in thickness.
Due to its constant occurrence in the last position it is
also called Chimney Bond.

GARDEN-WALL
BOND
Used for 9 inch walls.
Used when a fair face is required on both sides.
Wall is composed of three or four courses of stretchers
alternating with one of headers, as in the figure below.

RAT TRAP BOND

It is made by placing the bricks on their sides having a
cavity of 4 (100 mm)
Alternate course of stretchers and headers.
It is still used in India as an economical bond.

THE ADVANTAGES OF RAT TRAP BOND:

It is highly economical because:
Can make a wall of one brick thickness with fewer
bricks than a solid bond.
Strength is equal to the standard 10 (250 mm) brick
wall, but consumes 20% less bricks.
Cost saving on material is 26% as compared to the
traditional 10 brick wall.
Maintains thermal comfort inside the building due to
air medium.
Bricks aligned on both sides, plastering not required.
It is quite strong as building constructed about 40
years ago still does not show any signs of distress.

Stretcher Bond

HEADER

Stacked Bond - Bricks stacked on top of each

other in vertical rows

Rowlock laid on
face,
end visible

Stretcher - long dimension

horizontal
& face parallel to the wall

Soldier - Laid on its end, face

parallel

CONCLUSION
Therefore we see that 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. Good brick bonds can
ensure the strength of a building and aesthetic
beauty of brick walls, brick pillars and entire
brick works depends on the quality of bonds.
Thus Bond in Brickwork is of utmost
importance.