Types of bonds generally used in brick masonry.

Brick masonry is built with bricks bonded together with mortar. For temporary sheds mud mortar may be used but for all permanent buildings lime or cement mortars are used.

The various types of bonds generally used in brick masonry are

1. Stretcher bond

2. Header bond

3. English bond and

4. Flemish bond.

Stretcher Bond:

 A stretcher is the longer face of the brick as seen in the elevation. In the brick of size 190 mm × 90 mm × 90 mm, 190 mm × 90 mm face is the stretcher. However care should be taken to break vertical joints. This type of construction is useful for the construction half brick thick partition wall.This bond is sometimes known as running bond. This bond is the simplest bond that is used today, this bond is not suitable as a stand alone structural wall and a structural wall built directly behind it, fixed with wall ties would be needed.

Header Bond

A header is the shorter face of the brick as seen in the elevation. In a standard brick it is 90 mm × 90 mm face. In header bond brick masonry all the bricks are arranged in the header courses as shown in Fig. 8.5. This type of bond is useful for the construction of one brick thick walls.

English Bond

In this alternate courses consist of headers and stretchers. This is considered to be the strongest bond. Hence it is commonly used the bond for the walls of all thicknesses. To break the continuity of vertical joints a brick is cut lengthwise into two halves and used in the beginning and end of a wall after the first header. This is called queen closer. [Ref. Fig. 8.6]. Figure 8.6 shows typical one brick and one and a half brick thick wall with English bond.

Flemish Bond

In this type of bond each course comprises of alternate header and stretcher . Alternate courses start with stretcher and header. To break the vertical joints queen closers are required, if a course starts with header. Every header is centrally supported on the stretcher below it.

Flemish bonds may be further classified as

(a) Double Flemish Bond

(b) Single Flemish Bond. in case of  double flemish bond, both faces of wall have flemish look , i.e. each course consist of alternate header and strether , whereas single flemish bond outer face of walls have flemish look whereas inner faces have look of english bondConstruction of flemish bond needs greater skill. It gives more pleasing appearance. But it is not as strong as English bond. If only pointing is to be used for finished wall, flemish bond may be used to get good aesthetic view. If plastering is going to be used, it is better to use English bond.