Types of Bonds in Brick

           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

Stretcher bond
Header bond
Facing bond
English bond
Flemish bond
Dutch bond
English cross bond
Brick on edge bond
Raking bond
Zigzag bond
Garden wall bond

1. 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. In stretcher bond masonry all the bricks are arranged in stretcher courses. However care should be taken to break vertical joints. This type of construction is useful for the construction half brick thick partition wall.

2. 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. This type of bond is useful for the construction of one brick thick walls.

3. ENGLISH BOND

In this alternate courses consist of headers and stretchers. This is considered to be the strongest bond. Hence it is commonly used bond for the walls of all thicknesses. To break continuity of vertical joints a brick is cut lengthwise into two halves and used in the beginning and end of a wall after first header. This is called queen closer.

4. 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

*Double Flemish Bond
*Single Flemish Bond.

In case of double flemish bond, both faces of the wall have flemish look, i.e. each course consist of alternate header and stretcher, whereas single flemish bond outer faces of walls have flemish look whereas inner faces have look of English bond .

        Construction 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.

5.ENGLISH GARDEN WALL BOND

An alternative version of English bond with header courses being inserted at every fourth or sixth course. This is a correspondingly weaker bond.

6.FLEMISH GARDEN WALL BOND

Like English Garden Wall bond, this was originally intended for use in solid walls which were required to be
fair faced both sides.
The number of stretchers is increased and three stretchers are laid to one header in each course.

7.RAKING BOND

Herringbone and diagonal bonds can be effective within an exposed framed construction, or contained within restraining brick courses.