Types of bonds

There are a great number of possible bond arrangements, some used more commonly than
others. Here are some or the more common types of bonding arrangements.
Stretcher bond
Stretcher bond consists of all bricks laid as stretchers on every course with subsequent
courses laid half bond to each other, except at return angles and stopped ends.
In a plain wall with stopped ends, this bonding arrangement can be brought about by
introducing a half bat as the starting brick on alternate courses.
This type of bond is used in walls half a brick in thickness.
Half Bond
Front elevation
Plan of course 2
Plan of course 1
Brick corner or quoin Return angle
TYPES OF BONDS
Brickwork Bonding
S E C T I O N
1
MODULE 3
SHEET 10
S E C T I O N
9
Stretcher bond
The following drawings show alternative bonding arrangements for forming a right angled
junction in stretcher bond.
This method is more complicated and involves cutting bricks to form mitres
so that the half bond can be maintained
This method is the simplest and uses three-quarter bats to maintain the bond
Three-quarter bats
Mitred bricks
Three-quarter bats
TYPES OF BONDS
Brickwork Bonding
S E C T I O N
9
MODULE 3
SHEET 11
Brickwork Bonding
S E C T I O N
1
S E C T I O N
9
TYPES OF BONDS
MODULE 3
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English bond
Solid brick walls
Walls built in English bond are very strong because no straight joints occur in any part
of the wall.
Alternate courses of headers and stretchers produce quarter bond, and because of
its somewhat monotonous appearance, it is used where strength is more important
than appearance.
To achieve and maintain quarter bond, a queen closer must be laid next to the
quoin header.
1-brick walls have two faces and a line should be used on both sides.
Attention to the following points helps to maintain a good standard of work.
Cut queen closers neatly and keep them regular in size.
Keep perpends uniform and plumb because large cross joints soon lose quarter bond
and can bring straight joints on the face.
Remove mortar from the back of the bricks against the collar joint as it can prevent the
backing up from being laid level.
When backing up, avoid the use of too much mortar near the collar joint; when backing
up it could cause the face bricks to move out in front of the line.
Brickwork Bonding
S E C T I O N
9
TYPES OF BONDS
MODULE 3
SHEET 13
English bond
Straight walls
Brickwork Bonding
S E C T I O N
1
S E C T I O N
9
TYPES OF BONDS
MODULE 3
SHEET 14
English bond
Junctions
Brickwork Bonding
S E C T I O N
9
TYPES OF BONDS
MODULE 3
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Flemish bond
Flemish bond consists of courses of alternate headers and stretchers with the headers in
one course placed centrally over the stretchers in the course below.
A closer is placed next to the quoin header to form the correct quarter bond.
Straight walls
Brickwork Bonding
S E C T I O N
1
S E C T I O N
9
TYPES OF BONDS
MODULE 3
SHEET 16
Flemish bond
Quoins
Brickwork Bonding
S E C T I O N
9
TYPES OF BONDS
MODULE 3
SHEET 17
Flemish bond
Junctions