CEPE10

CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES &

EQUIPMENTS

Unit 1: BRICK MASONRY

CEPE10 Construction Methods & Equipments, NITT K.Shenbagavalli

BRICK MASONRY:
Brick masonry is better than any other types due to the following
reason
1. Shape – Bricks are of uniform size and shape.
2. Handling is easy because they are light in weight and small
3. Finishing works - Dressing is not required.
4. Workmanship - Unskilled masons are enough
5. Availability – Easily available
Types of Bricks:
1. Traditional Bricks
2. Modular Bricks

CEPE10 Construction Methods & Equipments, NITT

Types of Bricks:
1. Traditional Bricks
 Not in standard size.
Length may vary from 20 – 25 cm
Width 10-12 cm
Height/Thickness 5 – 7.5 cm
2. Modular Bricks
 Confined to the size laid down by BIS
 Nominal size of a modular brick is 20x10x10 cm (includes
the mortar thickness).
 Actual size of the brick is 19x9x9 cm.

CEPE10 Construction Methods & Equipments, NITT

 Terms related to Masonry
1. Course:
Course is a horizontal layer of a masonry unit. In a
stone masonry, the thickness of a course will be equal to
the height of the stone + thickness of one mortar
joint.

CEPE10 Construction Methods & Equipments, NITT

2.Bed:
Bed is the horizontal layer of mortar where brick or
stone units are laid.
3. Joints:
Junction of adjacent units of bricks or stones is known as
joint.
Joints parallel to the bed of the bricks or stones is Bed
Joint.
Joints perpendicular to the face of the wall is known as
cross joint or vertical joint.

CEPE10 Construction Methods & Equipments, NITT

4. Bond:
This is the method of arranging bricks so that the individual
units are tied together.
5. Face:
The exterior surface of a brick wall which is exposed to
weather termed as face.
6. Header:
Header is a full brick which is so laid that its length is
perpendicular to the face of the wall.
7. Stretcher:
Stretcher is a full stone unit or
brick with which is so laid that
its length is along or parallel
to theCEPE10
faceConstruction
of the Methods
wall.& Equipments, NITT
8. Quoins:
Quoins are the stones used for the corners of the walls.
a. If the width is parallel to the face of the wall it is Quoin header.
b. If the length is parallel to the face of the wall it is Quoins
stretcher.

Quoin stones are selected sound and large and their edges are properly
closed

CEPE10 Construction Methods & Equipments, NITT

9. FROG:
An indentation or depression on the top face of the brick made with
the object of forming a key for the mortar is termed as frog. The
depth of frog is usually between 10-20 mm.
10. BAT:
The portion of bricks cut across the width is termed as bat.
Three Quarter Bat: It is the form of brick bat having its length equal
to three quarter of length of a full bricks.
Half Bat: If the length of the bat is equal to half the length of the full
bricks.
Bevelled Bat: A brick bat is called bevelled bat when its width has
bevelled.

CEPE10 Construction Methods & Equipments, NITT

11. CLOSER:
Closer is the small piece of brick cut lengthwise in such a
manner that its one long face remains uncut and used at the end of
masonry wall to maintain bond pattern.
12. QUEEN CLOSER:
When a brick is cut along its length, making it two equal pieces
then it is called queen closer.
13. QUEEN CLOSER QUARTER:
When a queen closer is cut in to two equal pieces then it is called as
queen closer quarter.

CEPE10 Construction Methods & Equipments, NITT

14. KING CLOSER:
King closer are the portion of a brick obtained by cutting off the
triangular piece between center of one end and the center of one
side.
15. BEVELLED CLOSER:
Similar to king closer with the only difference that the whole length
of the brick bevelled for maintaining the half width at one end and
full width at the other.
16. MITRED CLOSER:
It is a brick whose one end is cut splayed or mitred for full width.
The angle of splay vary from 45 to 60 degree.

CEPE10 Construction Methods & Equipments, NITT

17. PERPEND:
A perpend is an imaginary vertical line which includes
the vertical joint separating two adjoining bricks.
18. RACKING BACK:
Termination of wall in a stepped fashion
19. TOOTHING:
Termination of the wall in such a fashion that each alternate course
at the end projects, in order to provide adequate bond if the wall is
continued horizontally at a later stage.

CEPE10 Construction Methods & Equipments, NITT

20. LAP:
The horizontal distance between the vertical joints of the successive
bricks.
MORTARS IN BRICK MASONRY:
Mortar binds the bricks and makes them act as a homogenous mass.
The following types of mortars are used in Brick Masonry

 Mud Mortar

 Lime Mortar

 Cement Mortar

 Cement – Lime Mortar

 Lime – Surkhi mortar

CEPE10 Construction Methods & Equipments, NITT
BONDS IN BRICK MASONRY:
Bond is the method of arranging the bricks in courses so that,
 The individual bricks are joined together
 Vertical joints are broken so as to ensure distribution of load on lower
courses
 An artistic effect is created when the brickwork is left unplastered.
Rules for Bonding:
1. Length of brick ~ twice the width of brick + thickness of mortar joint
2. Uniform in shape and size
3. Lap should be atleat 1/4th brick along the length & ½ brick across the
thickness of wall
4. Use of brick bats should be minimised
5. Vertical joints in alternate course should be along the same perpend
6. In alternate courses, the center line of header should coincide with the
centre of stretcher in the course below it.
7. Stretchers should be used on the facing only & headers for hearting
8. Every sixth course on both faces of the wall should be a header course
CEPE10 Construction Methods & Equipments, NITT
TYPES OF BONDS IN BRICK MASONRY:
There are several methods of securing this interlocking or bond as
mentioned below
 Header bond
 Stretcher bond
 English bond
 Single Flemish bond
 Double Flemish bond
 Garden Bond
 American Bond (Common Bond)

CEPE10 Construction Methods & Equipments, NITT

Header bond:
 The square face of the brick with dimension (9cm x 9cm x 9cm) is
known as “header”.
 When all the bricks are arranged as headers on the faces of the
walls, the bond that is developed is described as “Header Bond”.
 Header bond is applicable for developing the walls with full brick
thickness.
 The overlap is retained the same as half width of the brick.
 To attain this, three quarter brick bats are applied in alternate
courses as quoins.
Situation of use:
 Used for walls curved on plan for better
alignment and
 Preferably in foundation footings of brick
masonry for better transverse distribution
CEPE10 Construction Methods & Equipments, NITT
CEPE10 Construction Methods & Equipments, NITT
Stretcher bond:
 Bricks are placed horizontally like stretchers on the faces of
walls.
 The length of the bricks remains along the
horizontal direction of the wall.
 Effective to build up the walls with half brick thickness.
 i.e The normal size of the brick is 9cmx9cmx18cm. If the wall
having thickness 9cm is to be built up, then stretcher bond will be
ideal for that.
 This bond will be effective for the walls having less thickness
and the bond will not be suitable when the thickness of the walls is
in excess of half of the length of the brick
Situation of use:
 Sleeper walls, Partition walls, Division walls (internal dividers),
Chimney stacks and ½ brick thick cavity walls
CEPE10 Construction Methods & Equipments, NITT
English Bond:
 The bricks in the facing are laid in alternate courses of header and
stretchers
 The header course is commenced with a quoin header followed by a
queen closer and continued with successive header.
 The stretcher course is formed of stretchers having a minimum lap
of one quarter their length over the header
Situation of use:
 The bond contributes substantially
to the strength of brickwork, and
may be particularly suitable for
walls carrying heavy loads.

CEPE10 Construction Methods & Equipments, NITT

CEPE10 Construction Methods & Equipments, NITT
Flemish Bond:
 Flemish bond, also known as Dutch bond, is created by laying
alternate headers and stretchers in a single course.
 The next course of brick is laid such that header lies in the middle of
the stretcher in the course below, i.e. the alternate headers of each
course are centered on the stretcher of course below.
 Every alternate course of Flemish bond starts with header at the
corner.
 For the breaking of vertical joints in the successive courses, closers
are inserted in alternate courses next to the quoin header.
 In walls having their thickness equal to odd number of half bricks,
bats are used to achieve the bond.
 The thickness of Flemish bond is minimum one full brick.

CEPE10 Construction Methods & Equipments, NITT

Disadvantages of Flemish Bond:
 The disadvantage of using Flemish bond is that construction is
difficult and requires greater skill to lay it properly as all
vertical mortar joints need to be aligned vertically for best effects.
 Flemish bonds have better appearance but are weaker than
English bonds for load bearing wall construction.
 Thus, if the pointing has to be done for brick masonry walls, then
Flemish bond may be used for better aesthetic view.
 If the walls have to be plastered, then it is better to use English
bond
Types of Flemish Bond:
1. Single Flemish Bond
2. Double Flemish Bond

CEPE10 Construction Methods & Equipments, NITT

1. Single Flemish Bond:
 This facilitates, the facing of the wall to be in Flemish bond and the
backing in English bond.
 This will entail use of snap headers
 This attempts to combine partially the better appearance of Flemish
bond, with the better strength of English bond.

CEPE10 Construction Methods & Equipments, NITT

2. Double Flemish Bond:
The courses both in the facing and in the backing are formed with alternating
stretcher and header.
In order to obtain the lap ( which is equal to one-quarter the length of the
brick,) a queen Closer is introduced next to the quoin header in alternate
courses.
The intervening ones commencing with a stretcher and every header will
obtain a location that is central with respect to the stretcher above or below.
Advantages over English Bond:
1. Uniform in appearance on the face
2. Requires less number of facing bricks .
3. Hence economical if special facing
bricks are used
#Suitable for single-brick thick walls in
normal house construction with strong
mortar such
CEPE10 as cement
Construction Methodsmortar
& Equipments, NITT
CEPE10 Construction Methods & Equipments, NITT
Garden Wall Bond:
English garden wall bond:
 It consists of a header course with the necessary queen closer next
to quoin header to three or sometimes even five stretcher courses
running in series with overlap of half-brick between stretcher over
stretcher

Advantages:
 One-brick thick walls are easier
to construct
 Economical and save facing bricks
in case of exposed work

CEPE10 Construction Methods & Equipments, NITT

Garden Wall Bond:
Flemish garden wall bond:
 It consists of alternate courses compared of one header to three
sometimes even five stretchers in series throughout the length of
the courses

CEPE10 Construction Methods & Equipments, NITT

American or Common Bond:
 Common or American bond is a variation of running bond with a
course of full length headers at regular intervals.
 These headers provide structural bonding, as well as pattern.
 Header courses usually appear at
every fifth, sixth or seventh course.
 In laying out any bond pattern, it is
important that the corners be started
correctly.
 For common bond, a three quarter
brick should start each way from the corner
at the header course.
 Common bond may be varied by using a
Flemish header course.
CEPE10 Construction Methods & Equipments, NITT
Types of Bricks :
Based on the materials used , there are various types of bricks as
follows
 Burnt clay bricks.
 Sand lime bricks (calcium silicate bricks)
 Concrete bricks.
 Fly ash clay bricks.
 Firebrick.
Types of Clay Bricks:
UNBURNT BRICKS:
 Unburnt bricks are also known as sun-dried bricks. Lower strength
but can be used for constructing temporary structures.
BURNT BRICKS:
 This types of bricks are made by burning in the kilns. Depending upon the
quality, burnt bricks can further be classified into 3 categories which are as
following:
CEPE10 Construction Methods & Equipments, NITT
Types of Bricks :
Properties Class 1 Class 2 Class 3
Molding Table Molded Table Molded Ground molded
Shape & size Uniform Uniform Non uniform
Colour Uniform Red or Brown Red Non uniform and dark

Water absorption 15 % 22% 25%

Crushing strength 10.5 N/mm2 7 N/mm2 3 N/mm2
Making Process Kiln Burnt in kilns and Burnt in kilns and may
sometimes may be be over burnt or
slightly over burnt under burnt
Use Permanent Structures Internal walls – Used in temporary
require plastering structures

CEPE10 Construction Methods & Equipments, NITT

Testing of Bricks :
1. Field Tests:
Uniformity in size -Surface should be plane with sharp and right angled
corners and uniform in size
Uniformity in Colour
Structure – Homogenous and compact structure. Free from holes and
lumps. Can be examined by breaking few bricks
Sound Test –While struck against each other, should produce a metallic
sound
Hardness Test – scratching with a nail, no impression should be there
Strength Test – when dropped from 1m height, the brick should not
break.

CEPE10 Construction Methods & Equipments, NITT

Testing of Bricks :
2. Lab Tests:
1. Compressive Strength: IS 3495 (Part I ) : 1992
The common burnt clay bricks shall be classified on the basis of
average compressive strength
The bricks, when tested in accordance with the procedure laid down in shall
have a minimum average compressive strength of 4 N/mm2.
2. Water Absorption: IS 3495 ( Part 2) : 1992
Oven dried bricks are immersed in cold water for 24 hours. Water
absorption shall not be more than 20 percent by weight up to class
12.5 and 15 percent by weight for higher classes.
3. Efflorescence: IS 3495 ( Part 3 ) : 1992
After immersion in water for 24 hrs, the bricks are examined fro the
presence of any grey or white patches .
The rating of efflorescence shall not be more than 'moderate' up to class 12·5
and 'slight' for higher classes.
CEPE10 Construction Methods & Equipments, NITT
Testing of Bricks :
2. Lab Tests:
4. Shape & Size: IS 1077: 1992
20 bricks are selected at random and stacked lengthwise and the total length
is measured.
Length – 3800 + 80
Breadth – 1800 + 40
Width – 1800 + 40
5. Test for Alkalis:
Nil : No patches
Slight: 10 -50% area covered with
deposits
Moderate: 10-50 %
Heavy: More than 50 %
Serious : Heavy patches along
with flaking of surface
CEPE10 Construction Methods & Equipments, NITT