Brickwork Bonds Overview:
Stretcher Bond:
The most common method, with vertical joints staggered by half a brick. It requires minimal cutting and is cost-effective.
Stack Bond:
Bricks are stacked directly on top of each other, emphasizing the vertical lines. It requires additional reinforcement, often stainless steel, due to lack of bonding, and can raise costs with extensive cutting.
Raking Stretcher Bond:
A variation of stretcher bond, where vertical joints stagger by a quarter or three-quarters of the brick length, creating a descending zigzag effect.
English Bond:
Alternates between courses of headers and stretchers. Known for strength, it’s used in civil engineering structures like viaducts and embankments.
Block Bond:
A combination of stretcher and stack bond. Two courses of stack bond alternate with two staggered courses of stretcher bond.
English Cross Bond:
Forms a cross pattern, alternating headers and stretchers. Two variations:
- King-Cloaser: The king-closer is placed at the end of the stretcher course.
- Queen Closer: The king-closer is placed in the header course, staggered differently.
Irregular Bond:
No fixed pattern, with varied brick lengths. Used for low-dimensional stability bricks or recycled bricks, with vertical joints staggered in each course.
Monk Bond:
An elegant, simpler pattern of alternating headers and two stretchers per course. Popular historically in the Baltic region.
Header Bond:
Only headers are used, staggered by half a brick. Ideal for curved brickwork and high-quality structures.
Flemish Bond:
Alternates headers and stretchers in each course. More cutting work is required, but it’s still a commonly used bond.
French Bond:
Courses alternate between one stretcher and two headers.
No Vertical Head Joints:
Bricks are laid edge-to-edge, removing vertical head joints. This emphasizes the horizontal lines and visually elongates the structure.
