To understand the principles of brick bonds it is necessary to be familiar with some common names given to bricks based on their position. Stretchers are laid lengthwise along the wall. Headers are laid with the short end at the face of the wall. Courses are horizontal rows of brick.
Bonds vary widely in their look and strength. The strength of the bond must be carefully considered, particularly when load-bearing walls are being built. Load-bearing walls, which support the weight of the structure, are commonly used for freestanding structures such as brick signs or garden walls. Today most home building is constructed with brick veneer. This type of brick wall is attached to a wood frame which supports the weight of the structure.
The look of any bond can be altered by recessing or projecting certain bricks. By doing so, features such as windows or doors are highlighted.
The Running Bond consists of stretchers only. Full bricks are used with the exception of brick pieces necessary at windows, doors or other openings. The bond is usually constructed with a half lap, though a one-third lap is often used when laying 12-inch Norman brick.
The majority of brick veneer homes use the running bond, the simplest of all bonds to lay.
The Common Bond, also called the American Bond, is laid with several courses of stretchers only and header courses every fifth, sixth, or seventh course depending on the size of the masonry unit and the strength needed.
Each header course starts its corner with a three quarter or six-inch piece of brick. Each header is centered with the head joint of the stretchers above and below it. This half-lap bond is the strongest structural bond and is the most for solid walls.
The Flemish Bond consists of alternate headers and stretchers on the same course. The header of one course is centered with the stretcher of the course above and below it. The corner is started as a Dutch corner, with a three-quarter brick, or as an English corner, with a two inch piece of brick. Laying the bond with an English corner is more traditional, though many masons prefer not to use pieces smaller than half brick. The bond is considered weak along the face of the wall since it is a one-quarter lap bond.
The English Bond consists of alternate courses of running headers and running stretchers with the headers centered on stretchers above and below them.
Many masons use full headers every sixth course only. To carry out the effect, the other courses are laid with snap headers or half bats. The corners are usually started with a three quarter or a whole brick on the stretcher courses. The bond's joints form a series of overlapping diamonds.
It is an exceptionally strong bond across the width of the wall though somewhat weak the length of the wall, since the bricks overlaps them selves by one-quarter only. It is seldom used today because of the expense of laying such an intricate pattern, though it is preferred when restoring or reproducing a true colonial style.
The Stack Bond is created by using either all stretchers or all headers with joints aligned vertically. This bond is very weak structurally because the bricks do not overlap at all. The bond is primarily used for decorative purposes.To maintain the vertical alignment of the bond, all bricks must be of near identical length. The mortar joints can be adjusted to carry out the effect.
In overlapping brick construction, most building codes require...
No less than 4 percent of wall surface consist of headers
The distance between headers be no less than 24 inches vertically or horizontally
One steel tie for each 4 1/2 square feet of surface
Always refer to local requirements.
Bon Tool Co. has made a serious effort to provide exact and current information, but does not guarantee the accuracy of the data. Bon Tool Co. cannot assume responsibility for the application of information nor guarantee results.
