Brick Masonry

Defination :
Brick masonry is a unified mass obtained by systematic arrangement of laying bricks
and bonding together with mortar. Brick is a building unit of hard inorganic clay
material of size which can be conveniently handled . Brick masonry means brick
work using brick, mortar etc. This is a handicraft which has long history.

Brick
Bricks are obtained by moulding clay in rectangular blocks of uniform
size and then by drying and burning these blocks.
Mortar
Mortar is a mixture of cement, sand and water . Mortars provide a level and full
bearing surface for masonry units, and thereby carry the units irregular surfaces on
a cushion of high strength material.
Size of a brick
The size of brick is variable. The standard brick, adopted by several associations of
builders and makers, is 9.5" X 4.5" X 2.75" for common brick, and 8 3/8' X 4 1/8" X 2
1/4" for face brick.
Bricklaying
Bricklaying is the technique or practice of laying bricks.

Bricklaying tools
Hammer
kurni)

Plumb rule

Rupsha (local name )

patta(local name)

Trowel(local name

Pins

Thai and

Bond
Bonding is a process of arranging bricks and mortars to tie
them
together in a mass of brickwork . The bond is the method by
which masonry "units" -- or bricks -- are interlocked or joined
and the adhesion of mortar to the bricks.

Types
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)

of Brick Bonding
Stretcher bond .
Basket weave bond.
Header bond .
English bond .
Flemish bond .
Herringbone bond .

(i)

Stretcher bond

A stretcher is the longer face of the brick . In this

type of bond all the bricks are laid with their
lengths in the direction of the wall . In stretcher
bond masonry all the bricks are arranged in
stretcher courses as shown in Figure.
However care should be taken to break
vertical joints.
This type of construction is useful for
the construction half brick thick partition wall.

(ii) Basket weave bond

Basket weave is a purely decorative
Bond . It is used in floor and wall
Panels . The thickness is half-brick

(iii) Header bond

A header is the shorter face of the brick .
In this type of bond all the bricks are laid
with their ends towards the face of the wall.
This arrangement is suitable for one
Brick wall of curved wall and footings for
better load distribution.

(iv) English bond

Walls built in English bond are very strong
because no straight joints occur in any part
of the wall. In this type of bond alternate
course of headers and stretchers are laid.
The joins between the stretchers are centred
on the headers in the row below. All the
stretchers are centred above the stretchers
below, and all the headers are centred on

(v) Flemish bond

In this type of bond each course comprises of
alternate header and stretcher . Alternate
courses start with stretcher and header.
Every header is centrally supported on the
stretcher below it.
Flemish bonds may be further classified as
(a) Double Flemish Bond
(b) Single Flemish Bond.

(vi) Herringbone bond

A brickwork bond in which the exposed
brickwork is bonded to the heart of the
wall by concealed courses of bricks laid
diagonally to the faces of the wall in
a herringbone pattern. , with the end of
each brick butting against the side of the
adjoining brick; a form of raking bond.

Some experiments done over brick

Water absortion
without water
water
Dry brick--------3.162 kg
brick------3.323 kg

sinking brick in
Watered

Water absorbtion =[ (3.323-3.162) /3.162] * 100% =

5%
So it can be said that it is a good brick.
Effect of size
The standard brick, adopted by several associations of builders
and makers, is 9.5" X 4.5" X 2.75" for common brick wheareas the