Department of Technical Education

Andhra Pradesh
Name : Y.Venkateswara Rao
Designation : Head of section
Branch : Civil Engineering
Institute : Govt. Polytechnic, Visakhapatnam
Semester : IV Semester
Subject : construction practice
Sub code : C406
Topic : Masonry
Duratio : 50 min
Teaching Aids : Figures & Photographs
Revised by : GVVL Satyanarayana
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 Objectives

On completion of this period, you will be able to

understand about

• English bond

• Principles observed in English bond

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 Recap

• In the last period, we discussed

• Definition of bonding

• Rules for brick bonding

• Types of brick bonding

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 English bond

• In this type of bond alternate courses consist of headers

and stretchers as shown below

Header course
Stretcher course

Fig. 1

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 Features of English Bond

• Alternate courses consist of stretchers & headers

• A course will show only stretcher or header

• Queen closer placed next to quoin header

• Stretcher course does not require any closer

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 Features of English Bond

• Headers in header course placed centrally over

stretchers in stretcher course

• Bricks in same course do not break joints

• If wall thickness is even multiple of half brick, a particular

course will show either headers or stretchers on both
faces of the wall

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 Features of English Bond

• If wall thickness is odd multiple of half brick a course

showing structures on one face will show headers on
other face and vice versa

• Continuous vertical joints are not formed

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Features of English Bond

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 Features of English Bond

• Number of Joints in header course is nearly twice the no.

of joints in structure course

• Joints in header course should be as thin as possible

• For two bricks or more thick walls interior filling is done

with headers

• Bricks on the face are laid as headers or stretcher

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Principles to be observed in brick masonry

• Bricks should confirm with the specifications

• Bricks should be soaked in water for at least one hour
before use
• Broken bricks should not be used

• No continuous vertical joints should be developed

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 Principles to be observed in brick masonry

• Mortar used should be as specifications

• Bricks should be laid on their beds.

• Mortar should completely cover the bed

• Frog of the brick should be upwards

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Principles to be observed in brick masonry

• Brick work should be raised uniformly. Maximum rise is

1.5 meters per day.

• For continuing the fresh work, previous work should be

racked and new work continued

• Wall should be raised vertically

• The verticality should be checked using plumb bob.

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Principles to be observed in brick masonry
• Large wide spaces are to be filled with brick bats and
mortar
• Iron fixtures should be embedded in cement mortar

• Finished brick work should be cured for one to two

weeks
• For adequate bond for plastering to be done later, the
facing mortar joints should racked for a depth 13 mm

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Principles to be observed in brick masonry

• Any new masonry wall to be joined to an old wall at right

angle, bricks of alternate courses of new wall should
penetrate by at least ¼ th of brick

• Masonry at higher level requires scaffolding

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 Summary

In this period, you have learnt

• English bond

• Principles observed in brick masonry

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 Quiz

1. In English bond a course will show ------ or ------

A. Headers

B. Stretchers

C. Both

D. Either of A or B

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2. Queen closer is kept in --------

A. Stretcher course

B. Header course

C. both courses

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3. Number of vertical joints in header course are --
----- the joints in stretcher course .
A. 3times

B. 4 times

C. 2 times

D. None

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4. Continues vertical joints should be avoided in
brick masonry.

A. Yes.

B. No.

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5. Wall should not be raised by more than -------
meters in one day.

A. 2 meters.

B. 3 meters.

C. 1.5 meters.

D. 1 meters.

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 Frequently asked questions

1.Explain the English bond with figures.

2. List principles to be observed in brick masonry .

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