2. MASONRYAND WALLS
MASONRY:
Masonry is a construction method that uses individual units, like brick and stone, bound together with mortar. It is
one of the most durable construction techniques in the world, and it has been popular for centuries.
Types of Masonry Construction-:
Brick Masonry Construction.
Stone Masonry Construction.
Concrete Masonry Construction.
Veneer Masonry Construction.
Gabion Masonry Construction.
Composite Masonry Construction
3. Veneer Masonry Construction
This masonry construction is a type mainly used for remodeling and to provide interior finish. It
gives the appearance of a stone or brick wall with a better economy and insulation. Veneer
masonry units can be placed on the existing concrete wall giving a better appearance.
4. Gabion Masonry Construction
Gabions are baskets made out of zin protected steel or so-called galvanized steel that is filled with medium-sized
fractured stones. These gabions act as a single unit. It behaves like a revetment or retaining walls.
These masonry units are well-drained and flexible in nature. Hence have high resistance to horizontal pressure like
water floes, soil flow, frost damage and floods. Commonly used gabions are rectangular in nature. The durability of
gabions depend on the corrosion resistance property of the steel used for gabion baskets.
5. Brick Masonry:
Brick masonry is a highly durable form of construction. It is built by placing bricks in mortar in a systematic
manner to construct solid mass that withstand exerted loads. There are several types of bricks and number of
mortars which can be used to construct brick masonry.
The bond in brick masonry, which adheres bricks together, is produced by filling joints between bricks with
suitable mortar. Special cautions shall be practiced while mortar is mixed and placed since it greatly affect the
performance and durability of masonry structure.
Types of Brick Masonry Work
1. Brick Work in Mud
• The mud is used to fill up various joints brick masonry work.
• Thickness of the mortar joint is 12 mm.
• it is the cheapest type of brick masonry
• employed for construction of walls with maximum height of 4 m.
Fig. 1: Brick work in mud
6. Brickwork in Cement:
•This type of brick is construction done by laying bricks in cement mortar instead of masonry clay used in brickwork
in clay.
•There are three major classes of brickwork in cement which are summarized in the table.
•Quantity of cement, Sand or Mortar Required for Brickwork 1:n ratio of cement mortar is usually used
for brickwork.
• After adding water to the mortar mix, it bulks and reduces the volume by 33% during the wet condition. In order to
calculate the dry volume of cement & sand or Brick mortar add 33% of extra volume to it.
7. Cement mortar are used for high-rise buildings, where strength is of prime importance.
Lime mortar and lime-surkhi mortars are used for all types of construction
Mud mortar is used only for low-rise building which carry light loads.
Lime cement mortar known as guarded mortar or gauged mortar is made by mixing cement and lime. The
advantages are increased water retentivity, workability, bonding properties and frost resistance. The mortar gives
good and smooth plaster finish.
The chief properties of hardened mortar are strength, development of good bond with building units, resistance to
weathering and those of green mortar mixes are mobility, playability and water retention. In addition, the mortar
should be cheap and durable and should not affect the durability of building units in contact. The joint made
with mortar should not develop cracks.
9. Stretcher: It is a brick or a stone which lies with its longest side parallel to the face of the work. The course of brick work in
which all the bricks are laid as stretchers is known as stretcher course
Header: It is a brick or stone which lies with its greatest length at right angles to the face of the work.. in case of stone masonry
header is sometimes known as through stone. The course of brick work in which all the bricks are laid as headers is known as
header course.
Face: The exterior of wall exposed to weather is known as face. The material used in the face of the wall is known as facing.
Back: The inner surface of a wall which is not exposed is called the back. The material forming the back is known as backing.
Course: A course is a horizontal layer of bricks or stones.
Bed: Bed is the lower surface (19cm x 9cm) of the brick when laid flat.
Perpend: A perpend is an imaginary vertical line which includes the vertical joint separating two adjoining bricks.
Lap: Lap is the horizontal distance between the vertical joints of successive brick courses.
10. Closer: It is the portion of the brick cut lengthwise (along the length) in such a manner that its one long face remains uncut.
Closer may be of various types, defined below:
Queen Closer: It is a portion of a brick obtained by cutting a brick lengthwise into two portions. Thus a queen closer
is a brick which is half as wide as full brick. This is also known as queen closer half. When a queen closer is broken into two
pieces, it is known as queen closer quarter. Such as closer is thus a brick piece which is one quarter of the brick size.
A queen closer is often used for the purpose of creating a lap.
King Closer:
• It is the portion of a brick which is so cut that the width of one its end is half that of a full brick, while the width at the other
end is equal to the full width. It is thus obtained by cutting the triangular piece between the centre of one end and the centre of the
other side. It is half header and half stretcher face.
• A king closer is used near door and window opening to get a satisfactory arrangement of the mortar joints.
11. Bevelled Closer:
It is a special form of a king closer in which the whole length of brick (i.e. stretcher
face) is bevelled in such a way that half width is maintained at one end and full
width is maintained at the other end.
Mitred Closer:
• It is a portion of a brick whose one end is cut splayed or mitred for full width. The
angle of splay may vary from 45° to 60°.
• Thus one longer face of the mitred closer is of full length of the brick while the
other longer face is smaller in length.
BAT: When a brick is cut across the width, the resulting piece is called bat. Thus a
bat is smaller in length than the full brick.
HALF BAT: If the length of the bat is equal to half the length of the original
brick, it is known as half bat.
THREE QUARTER BAT: It is a form of brick bat having its length equal to
three quarter of the length of a full brick
12. Arris: It is the edge of a brick.
Quoin: It is a corner or the external angle on the face side of a wall. Generally, quoins
are at right angles. But in some cases, they in be at angles greater than 90° also.
Frog or Kick: A frog is an indentation in the face of a brick to form a key for
holding the mortar. When frog is only on one face, that brick is laid with that face on the
top. Sometimes, frogs are provided on both the faces.
Shiner: a brick laid on the long narrow side with the broad side exposed.
Rowlock or Bull Header: a brick laid on the long, narrow side with the small
or "header" side exposed.
Sailor: a brick laid vertically with the broad side exposed.
Soldier: a brick laid vertically with the narrow ("stretcher") side exposed.
13. Racking Back: It is the termination of a wall in stepped fashion as shown in fig.
Toothing: It is the termination of the wall in such a fashion that each alternate course at the end projects, in order to provide
adequate bond if the wall is continued horizontally at a later stage.
14. Specially shaped Bricks:
Bull nose: It is a special moulded brick with one edge rounded (single bull nose) or with two edges rounded
(double bull nose). These are used in copings or in such positions where rounded corners are preferred to sharp arises.
Single Bull Nose
Double Bull Nose Use of double bull nose bricks
Splays: These are special moulded bricks which are often used to form plinth. Its different types are Splay stretcher
(plinth stretcher) and splay header (plinth header).
Splay stretcher Splay header
Use of Splay header
15. Types of Bonds in Brick Masonry Wall Construction :
The most commonly used types of bonds in brick masonry are:
1. Stretcher bond
2. 2. Header bond
3. 3. English bond and
4. 4. Flemish bond
1. Stretcher bond:
Longer narrow face of the brick is called as stretcher as shown in the elevation of figure below. Stretcher bond, also
called as running bond, is created when bricks are laid with only their stretchers showing, overlapping midway with
the courses of bricks below and above.
In this bond all the bricks are laid as stretchers on the faces of walls. The length of the
bricks are thus along the direction of the wall. This pattern is used only for those walls which have thickness of half
brick, such as those used in partition walls, sleeper walls, division walls or chimney stacks. The bond is not possible if
the thickness of the wall is more
16. 2. Header bond:
Header bond is the one in which all the bricks are laid as headers on the face of walls. The width of the brick are thus
along the direction of the walls. The pattern is used only when the thickness of the wall is equal to one brick. The
overlap is kept equal to half the width of the brick. This is achieved by using three-quarter brick bats in each
alternate courses as quoins. This bond does not have strength to transmit pressure in the direction of the length of the
wall. As such it unsuitable for load bearing walls.
17. 3. English Bond:
An English bond can be constructed for almost all wall thicknesses. This bond is the strongest among all other bonds.
The bond consist of alternate courses of header and stretchers. In this bond, the vertical joints of the header courses
come over each other. Similarly, the vertical joints of the stretcher courses also come over each other. 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 course. Also, only header are used for hearting of thicker wall.
18. Essential Features:
1. Alternative courses will show either headers or stretchers in elevation.
2. Every alternate header comes centrally over the joint between two stretchers in course below.
3. In the stretcher course, the stretchers have a minimum lap of 1/4th their length over headers.
4. There is no continuous joint
5. Wall of even multiple of half bricks (i.e. 1 brick thick wall, 2-brick thick wall, 3- bricks 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.
6. 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 header on the other face.
7. The hearting (middle portion) of each of the thicker walls consist entirely of header.
8. At least every alternate transverse joint is continuous from face to face.
9. A header course should never start with queen’s closer, as it will get displaced. The queen’s closer should be
placed just next to the quoin header. Queen’s closers are not required in stretcher courses.
10. Since the number of vertical joints in the header course are twice the number of vertical joints in the stretcher
course, the joint in the header course are made thinner than the joints in the stretcher course.
22. 4. Flemish Bond: A Flemish bond pattern consists of each course of alternate headers and stretchers. Every alternate
course starts with a quoin header at the corner. To the next of quoin header, quoin closer is placed in alternate courses
to develop face lap. The patterns arrange such that every header is centrally supported over the stretcher below it.
Flemish bonds can be either:
1. Double Flemish Bond
2. Single Flemish Bond
1. Double Flemish Bond
In the double Flemish bond, each course presents the same appearance both in the front face as well as in the back
face. Alternate headers and stretcher are laid in each course. Because of this, double Flemish bond present better
appearance than English bond.
23. Special Features of Double Flemish Bond
1. Every course consists of headers and stretchers placed alternately
2. The facing and backing of the wall, in each course, have the same appearance
3. Quoin closer are used next to quoin headers in every alternate course.
4. In wall having thickness equal to odd multiple of half bricks, half bats and three quarter bats are amply used.
5. For walls having thickness equal to even multiple of half brick, no bats are require. A header or stretcher will come out as
header or stretcher on the same course in front as well as back faces.
24. 2. Single Flemish Bond
Single flemish bond is comprised of double flemish bond facing and English bond backing and hearting in each course. This bond
thus used the strength of English bond and appearance of flemish bond. However this bond can be used for those walls having
thickness at least equal to 1 ½ brick. Double flemish bond facing is done with good quality expensive bricks. However cheaper
bricks can be used for backing and hearting.
25. Difference between English and Flemish Bond
S.No. English Bond Flemish Bond
1
Header and stretcher are laid in alternative
courses.
Header and stretchers are laid alternatively in
each course.
2 Strongest in all types of bonds.
Comparatively less strong for walls more than
1.5 brick.
3 It gives a rough appearance. It provides a pleasant appearance.
4 Absence of vertical joints in the structure.
Partly continuous vertical joints appear in the
structure.
5 Special attention is not required. Special attention is required.
6 Progress of work is more. Progress of work is less.
7 Costly as no brickbats are used. Economical as brickbats are used.
8 It requires less mortar. It requires more mortar.
9 This does not require skilled labour. Skilled labour is required
26. Points to be Observed in Supervising Brick Masonry Constructions
The following points should be observed in the construction of brick masonry:
1. Use bricks of good quality with uniform colour, well burnt, with exact shape and size.
2. Before using the bricks in masonry, they should be soaked in water for 2 hours so that bricks do not absorb water from the
mortar.
3. Bricks should be laid with the frog pointing upward.
4. Construction of brick wall should start from the end or corner.
5. Brick courses should be perfectly horizontal.
6. Verticality of the wall should be ensured by frequently checking with plumb-bob.
7. Mortar used should be as per specification.
8. Whenever work is stopped brick masonry should be left with toothed end.
9. Use of brick bats should be avoided.
10. Walls should be raised uniformly. In no case difference between adjoining walls be more
than 1 m. In a day no wall should be raised by more than 1.5 m.
11. To get proper key for plastering or pointing, the face joints should be raised to a depth of 12 to 20 mm, when the mortar is
green. If plastering or pointing is not to be provided, face joints should be stuck flush and finished neatly.
12. Holdfasts for doors and windows should be embedded in brick masonry with cement mortar or concrete, at the time of
constructing the wall itself.
13. Brick masonry should be regularly cured for 2 weeks.
14. For carrying out brick work at higher levels, only single scaffolding should be used
27. Other Types of bonds are:
1.Facing bond
2.Dutch bond
3.English cross bond
4.Brick on edge bond
5.Raking bond
6.Zigzag bond
7.Garden wall bond
1. Facing bond: This bond is used where bricks of different thickness are to be used in the facing and backing
of the wall. In this bond, a header course is provided after several stretcher course. Since the thickness of bricks
are different in the facing and backing, the vertical distance between the successive header course is kept equal to the
least common multiple of the thickness of backing and facing bricks. Thus, if the nominal thickness of facing
bricks is 10 cm and that of backing bricks is 9 cm, the header course is provided at a vertical interval of 90 cm. this
type of bond is not structurally good and load distribution is not uniform.
2. Dutch bond: It is a modification over the English bond and consists of alternate courses of headers and
stretchers, except that every stretcher course starts with a three-quarter brick and in every alternate stretcher course
in header is placed after the three quarter brick
28. 3. English cross bond: This is a modificationof English bond,
used to improve the appearance of the wall. This bond combines the
requirements of beauty and strength. Special features of the bond are
as follows:
1. Alternate courses of header and stretchers are provided as in
English bond
2. Queen closer are placed next to quoin headers
3. A header is introduced next to the quoin stretcher in every
alternate stretcher course.
29. 4. Brick on edge bond: This type of bond uses stretcher bricks on edges instead of bed. This bond is weak in
strength, but is economical. Hence it is used for garden walls, compound walls etc. Bricks are kept standing
vertically on end. The bricks are arranged as headers and stretchers in such a manner that headers are placed on
bed and stretchers are placed on edge thus forming a continuous cavity. Due to this, the bond consumes less
number of bricks.
5. Raking Bond: The walls which are more than two-brick thick will become weaker in longitudinal strength, as
the headers being used in the interior of the wall to increase the transverse strength. This defect is removed by using
raking bond (rake means inclination). In this bond the bricks are laid at some inclination to the face of the wall.
30. There are two varieties of raking bond, Diagonal bond and Herring bone bond.
(i) Diagonal bond.
This type of bond is employed in walls, which are 2 to 4 thick. In this bond, the face bricks are first laid and then the bricks are laid
diagonally. The inclination of the bricks should be so adjusted that the bricks may be filled without cut ting.
(ii) Herring bone bond.
This bond is best suited for walls which are at least 4 bricks thick. In this case, the bricks are laid at an angle of 45° in both
directions, commencing from the centre line .
Raking bond pattern of laying bricks is also sometimes used for laying bricks on the floors.
6. Zigzag bond: This bond is similar to herring-bone bond, except that the bricks are laid in zig-zag fashion. This
bond is commonly used for making ornamental panels in the brick flooring.
31. 7. Garden wall bond: As the name suggests, this type of bond is used for the construction of garden walls,
boundary walls, compound walls, where the thickness of wall is one brick thick and the height does not exceed two
meters. This type of bond is not so strong as English Bond, but is more attractive. De to this reason, it is sometimes
used in the construction of outer leaves of cavity walls
