BRICK

• Brick is a basic building unit which is in the form of rectangular block in

which length to breadth ratio is 2 but height can be different.
• Normal size (nominal size)
• 9''×4½" ×3"
• Architectural size (Working size)
• 81⅟16" x 4⁵⁄₁₆" x 21⅟16"
 Terminology:

The surfaces of a brick have names:

 Top and bottom surfaces are beds.
 Ends are headers and header faces.
 Sides are stretchers or stretcher faces.

.
POSITION OF BRICKS
 (a) The position of brick, when laid with its Frog upward in the horizontal
plane, is termed as "Brick on bed".
 (b) The position of the brick when laid on its side "9 in x 3 in", with frog in
the vertical plane is called "Brick on edge".
 (c) The position of brick when laid on its side "4 1/2 in x 3 in", with frog in the
vertical plane is called " Brick on end".
FROG
 The depression provided in the face of a brick is called a "Frog".
 It is provided in the brick to achieve the following purposes:
(a) To form a key of mortar in between any two adjacent courses of brick work,
so as to increase the lateral strength of the structure.
(b) To reduce the weight of the bricks, so that the bricks can be laid with
convenience.
(c) To provide a place for putting the impression of trade-mark or the year of
manufacturing of the bricks.
COURSE
Each horizontal layer of bricks laid in mortar in a
brick work is called a "course".
STRETCHER
Brick, laid with its length horizontal and parallel
with the face of the wall or other masonry
member is called a "Stretcher" and a course, in
which, all the bricks are laid as Stretchers is called
a “Stretching course" or "Stretcher course".
 HEADER
A brick laid, so that only its end shows on the face of a wall is called a
"Header" and a course, in which all the bricks are laid as headers, is known as
"Heading Course" or "Header course".

Closer
Portion of brick cut in such a manner that one long face remains uncut.
King closer
Brick is cut in such a way that the width of its end is half of full brick.
Queen closer
Brick is half as wide as a full brick.
Half Bat
Portion of brick cut half across the width.
Bevelled closer
It is similar to king closer with the only difference that the whole length
of The brick is bevelled.
 BONDS
Bond is the arrangement of bricks or stones in each course, so as to ensure
the greatest possible interlocking and to avoid the continuity of vertical joints
in two successive courses, both on the face and in the body of a wall.

OBJECTIVES OF BONDS

A bond is provided to achieve the following objectives:

(a) The primary objective of providing a bond is to break the continuity of the
vertical joints in the successive courses both in the length and thickness of
masonry structure. As a result, the structure will act as a bounded mass and
its load will be transmitted uniformly to the foundations.

(b) To ensure longitudinal and lateral strength of the structure.

(c) To provide pleasing appearance by laying bricks symmetrically.

English bond

•In general practice this type of bond is used.

•It consists of alternate courses of headers and stretchers .
•Considered as strongest bond in brick work
•For breaking vertical joints queen closer is placed after first header
•Considered as strongest bond in brick work

Header course

Stretchers course

Queen closer

ISOMETRIC VIEW OF ENGLISH BOND

ENGLISH BOND IN ELEVATION

DISADVANTAGE:
 Penetration of damp through transverse joints.

 Appearance not as good as Flemish bond

L-Joints:
1.English Bond
FLEMISH BOND
•Each course consists alternate headers and stretchers.
•Not as strong as English bond.
•Alternate course starts with a header at the corner.
•For breaking of vertical joints , closers are inserted in alternate courses
next to the quoin header.

Header

Stretcher
TYPES OF FLEMISH BOND
DOUBLE FLEMISH BOND
SINGLE FLEMISH BOND

 In Double Flemish Bond, each course presents the same appearance

both in the front and back elevations.
 Every course consists of headers and stretchers laid alternately.
 This type of bond is best suited from considerations of economy and
appearance.
 It enables the one brick wall to uniform faces on both the sides.
SINGLE FLEMISH BOND:
 It is a species of bond in which placement of 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.
FLEMISH BOND IN ELEVATION
Double Flemish Bond
3. Single Flemish Bond
 Comparison of English Bond and Flemish bond
Sr English Bonds
No
.
1 This bond consists of headers and stretchers
laid in alternative courses.
2 It is strongest of all the bonds.
3 It provides rough appearance especially for
one brick thick walls.
4 There are no noticeable continuous vertical
joints in the structure built in this bond.
5 Much attention is not required in providing
this bond.
6 Progress of work is more.
7 It is costly because the use of brick bats is
not allowed.
Flemish bond
This bond consists of headers and
stretchers laid alternatively in each
course.
It is less strong for walls having
thickness more than 13 ½ inches.
It provides good appearance for all
thickness of walls.
There are partly continuous vertical
joints in the structure built in this bond.
Special attention is required in providing
this bond.
Progress of work is less.
It is economical because brick bats are
allowed for forming this bond.
RAT TRAP BOND
•It is made by placing the bricks on their sides having a cavity of 3″
•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 9″ (230 mm) brick wall, but
consumes 20% less bricks.
Maintains thermal comfort inside the building due to air
medium.