Essentials of
Masonry

TYPES OF BRICK BONDS

By varying the ways in which you lay individual bricks in a wall, you can form a variety of patterns or bonds (Figure 3-2). Different bonds use different combinations of stretchers (bricks laid flat with the long face parallel to the wall) and header (brick laid flat, perpendicular to the face of the wall). A course made up entirely of stretchers is called a stretcher course; a course formed entirely of headers is a header course. The different types of bonds are listed below:

• Running Bond. This is the simplest bond. It consists entirely of stretchers.
• Common or American Bond. A common or American bond is a variation of a running bond with a full course of headers at regular intervals.
• Flemish Bond. In a Flemish bond, each course of bricks is made up of alternate stretchers and headers. The headers in alternate courses are centered over the stretchers in the intervening courses.
• English Bond. The English bond is composed of alternating courses of headers and stretchers.
• Stack Bond. In a stack bond, there is no overlapping of the units; all vertical joints are aligned.
• English Cross Bond. This bond is a variation of the English bond and is different only in that the vertical joints between the stretchers in alternate courses do not line up vertically.

Figure 3-2. Types of brick bonds

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