Chapter -2

Masonry Works
 Presentation Outline

2. Introduction
2.1. Stone masonry
2.3. Brick masonry
2.3.1. Bonds in Brick
 2. Introduction
• The term masonry is used to indicate the art of building
structures with stones, brick or concrete.
• A masonry structure (wall) is formed by combining masonry
units, such as stone, blocks, or brick, with mortar.
• There is two types of masonry (based on their load):
– Structured/load-bearing →this is used for exterior walls.
– Non structured/non load-bearing → this is used for
interior walls.

• Common masonry types are:

1. Stone masonry
2. Brick masonry
3. Hollow concrete block masonry
 2.1. Stone Masonry
• The construction of stones bonded together with mortar is
termed as stone masonry.
• Stone masonry is used for the construction of walls, columns,
lintels, arches, beams, etc., of a building.
• Stones are abundantly available in nature and when cut and
dressed to proper shapes, they provide an economical
material for the construction of various parts of building.
• Selection of stone for stone masonry:
– Availability
– Ease of working
– Appearance
– Strength and stability
– Polishing characteristics
– Economy
– Durability
 2.1. Stone Masonry
General Principles
• The stones to be used for stone masonry should be hard,
tough and durable.
• The pressure acting on stones should be vertical.
• The mortar to be used should be good quality and in the
specified faces.
• As far as possible broken stones or small stones chips
should not be used.
 2.1. Stone Masonry
Types of Stone Masonry:
• Based on the arrangement of the stone in the construction, the
stone masonry can be classified broadly in the following two
categories
1. Rubble masonry
2. Ashlar masonry
1. Rubble masonry
• The stone masonry in which either undressed or roughly
dressed stone are laid in a suitable mortar is called rubble
masonry.
• In this masonry the joints are not of uniform thickness.
• Rubble masonry is further sub-divided into the following three
types:
1) Random rubble masonry
2) Squared rubble masonry
3) Dry rubble masonry
 2.1. Stone Masonry
1) Random rubble masonry:
• The rubble masonry in which either undressed or hammer
dressed stones are used is called random rubble masonry.
• Further random rubble masonry is also divided into the
following two types:
A.Un coursed random rubble masonry:
‐ It is a type of random rubble masonry in which stones are laid
without forming courses masonry.
‐ This is the roughest and cheapest type of masonry and is of
varying appearance.
‐ The stones used in this masonry are of different sizes and
shapes.
‐ Suitability: Used for construction of walls of low height in case
of ordinary buildings.
 2.1. Stone Masonry
B. Coursed random rubble masonry:
‐ In this masonry, the stones are laid in somewhat level courses.
‐ Headers of one coursed height are placed at certain intervals.
‐ The stones are hammer dressed.
‐ Suitable for construction of residential buildings, go downs,
boundary walls etc.
2) Squared rubble masonry:
‐ The rubble masonry in which the face stones are squared on all
joints and beds by hammer dressing or chisel dressing before
their actual laying, is called squared rubble masonry.
 2.1. Stone Masonry
There are two types of squared rubble masonry.
A. Coursed Square rubble masonry:
‐ The square rubble masonry in which chisel dressed stones laid in
courses is called coarse square rubble masonry.
‐ It consists of stones, which are squared on all joints and laid in
courses.
‐ The stones are to be laid in courses of equal layers and the joints
should also be uniform.
‐ Suitability: Used for construction of public buildings, hospitals,
schools,
B. Un coursed square rubble masonry:
‐ The squared rubble in masonry which hammer dressed stones
are laid without making courses is called un coursed square
rubble masonry.
‐ All the stones to be laid are of different sizes.
‐ Suitability: Used for construction of ordinary buildings in hilly
areas where a good variety of stones are cheaply available.
 2.1. Stone Masonry
3) Dry rubble masonry
– The rubble masonry in which stones are laid without using any
mortar is called dry rubble masonry or sometimes shortly as "dry
stones".
– It is an ordinary masonry and is recommended for constructing
walls of height not more than 6m.

2. Ashlar masonry
– The stone masonry in which finely dressed stones are laid in
cement or lime mortar is known as ashlars masonry.
– In this masonry, the courses are of uniform height, all the joints
are regular, thin and have uniform thickness.
– This type of masonry is much costly as it requires dressing of
stones.
– Suitability: This masonry is used for heavy structures,
architectural buildings, high piers and abutments of bridges.
 2.1. Stone Masonry
• Ashlars masonry is further sub divided into the following
types:
– Ashlars fine or coarse ashlar masonry
– Rock or quarry faced ashlars masonry
– Chamfered ashlars masonry
– Ashlar facing
 2.2. Brick Masonry
• Brick are obtained by moulding clay in a rectangular of
uniform sizes and then drying and burning of this bricks.
• The art of laying bricks in mortar in a proper systematic
manner gives homogeneous mass which can withstand
forces without disintegration, called brick masonry.
Definition of terms
1. Stretcher: This is a brick laid with its length parallel to the
face or front or direction of a wall.
2. Header: This is a brick laid with its breadth or width
parallel to the face or front or direction of a wall.
3. Course: Each horizontal layer of bricks laid in mortar in any
brick work is called coarse.
 2.2. Brick Masonry
5. Bed: Mortar placed horizontally below or on the top of a
brick is called a bed.
6. Bats: The portions made by cutting standard bricks across
their width are known as brick bats.
7. Closers: The portions made by cutting across their length in
such a manner that their one stretcher face remains uncut or
half cut.
8. Quoins: The external corners of walls are called quoins
 2.2. Brick Masonry
Sizes of brick
• The brick which is not standardized and uniform sizes are
called traditional bricks
• The brick which is standardized and uniform sizes are called
modular bricks
• Therefore, the actual sizes of modular brick is 6 X 12 X 24
cm.
 2.2. Brick Masonry
Bonds in Brick Work
• Bond:- is the method of arranging the brick in courses, so
that the individual units are tied together and the vertical
joints of successive courses do not lie in the same vertical
line.

The following are the types of bonds in brick work:-

1. Stretcher bond
2. Header bond
3. English bond
4. Flemish bond
 2.2. Brick Masonry
1. Stretcher bond
• In this bond all the bricks are laid as stretchers.
• This bond is used for one-brick thick partition walls only.
• It can also be used in the construction of one-brick thick leaf
of cavity wall.
• This bond does not develop proper internal bond.
 2.2. Brick Masonry
2. Header Bond
• In this bond all the bricks are laid as headers on the faces.
• This bond is used for facing of curved surfaces of brick work
or for footing in foundations.
• It doesn’t used for load bearing walls
 2.2. Brick Masonry
3. English Bond
• It is the bond which is most commonly adopted in practice.
• Commonly used bond for all wall thickness
• It is considered to be the strongest of all kinds.
Main features of English bond:
• Alternate courses in this bond show headers and stretchers.
• A course will show either only headers or only stretchers
when seen laterally.
• For breaking the vertical joints in the successive courses, it is
essential to place a queen closer after the first header in each
header course.
• Queen closer will be necessary only in header course.
• Stretcher course does not require any closer.
 2.2. Brick Masonry
3. English Bond
 2.2. Brick Masonry
4. Flemish Bond
– This bond of bricks consists of alternatively headers and
stretchers in each course.
Basic features of this bond are:
– Every course consists of headers and stretchers placed
alternatively.
– For breaking vertical joints in successive courses queen
closers are inserted in alternate courses.
– Every header is centrally supported over a stretcher below it.
– It gives better appearance than the English bond.
– In walls having their thickness equal to odd number of half
bricks, bats are necessary to be used.
 2.2. Brick Masonry
4. Flemish Bond
 2.2. Brick Masonry
4. Flemish Bond
 2.2. Brick Masonry
4. Flemish Bond
This types of bond can be classified as:-
1. Double Flemish Bond
• The facing and backing are the same appearance.
• Alternate headers and stretchers are laid in each course.
• It presents better appearance than English bond.
2. Single Flemish Bond
• Consists of double Flemish bond facing and English bond
backing and hearting in each course.
• The minimum thickness of the 1wall where this types of bond is
used should be one and half( 1 ) brick.
2
• It combines the strength of English bond and appearance of
Flemish bond.
 2.2. Brick Masonry
Comparison between English and Flemish bond
No English bond Flemish bond
Stretcher and header course Each course will be a combination
1
alternate each other of Stretcher and header
More compact and stronger
2 for a wall having more than Less compact and stronger
one and half brick
No pleasing appearance of the pleasing /better appearance of the
3
facing facing
Careful supervision & good
No strict supervision & skill
4 workmanship requires for its
requires for its construction
construction
5 Expensive Cheaper
Mortar requirements are high b/c
6 Mortar requirements are less
brick bats are used