Basics of Building Construction

Basics in Building Construction 4(2+2)

Lesson 11 : Bonds In Brick Work

English Bond

This is the most commonly used bond for all wall thickness. This bond is considered to be the strongest. The bond consists of alternate courses of headers and stretchers. In this bond, the vertical joints of the header courses come over each others; similarly, the vertical joints of the stretchers courses also come over each others. In order to break the vertical joints in the successive courses, it is essential to place queen closer after the first header (quoin header) in each heading courses. Also, only headers are used for the hearting of thicker wall.

The essential features of English bond are

• Alternative courses will show either headers or stretchers in elevation.
• Every alternative header comes centrally over the joint between two stretchers in courses below.
• In the stretcher courses, the stretchers have a minimum lap of ¼th of their length over headers.
• There is no continuous vertical joint.
• Walls of even multiple of half bricks (i.e 1 brick thick wall, 2 – brick thick wall, 3-Brick thick wall) present the same appearance on both faces. Thus a course showing stretchers on the front face will also show stretchers on the back face.
• Wall of odd multiple of half bricks (i.e. 1 ½ Brick thick wall, 2 ½ Brick thick wall etc.) will show stretchers on one face and headers on the other face.
• The hearting (middle portion) of each of the thicker walls consists entirely of headers.
• At least every alternate transverse joint is continuous form face to face.
• A header course should never start with queens closer, as it will get displaced. The queens closer should be placed just next to the quoin header. Queens closers are not required in stretchers courses.
• Since the number of vertical joints in the header courses are twice the number of vertical joints in the stretchers course, the joint in the header course are made thinner than the joints in the stretcher course.