This document provides information on solid walling and arches constructed from brick. It discusses different types of solid walls such as boundary walls and retaining walls. It describes various brick bonds used for solid walls including English bond and Flemish bond. It also discusses garden wall bonds. The document provides guidance on protecting walls from weather damage using methods such as brick on edge copings. It covers reinforced brickwork and constructing arches using different arch types and building techniques.

1. Solid Walling and
Arches

2. TUTOR
COPY

3. SOLID WALLS
What is a solid wall? - generally a wall having a thickness
of 215mm (1 brick) or greater.
What are solid walls used for?
-generally for strength.
State 3 examples where solid walls would be used.
1 Boundary / garden wall
2 Retaining wall
3 Inspection chambers or manholes
Solid walls can be formed by constructing a series of walls laid in Stretcher Bond,
however unless these ‘skins’ are ‘tied’ together, problems could occur, such
as separation or crushing together, so for strength reasons solid walls are
generally constructed laying the bricks positioned as headers and
stretchers, creating a wide variety of bonds.
Even though each bond has its own name they are all classed as being Quarter
Bonds.
Remember, a half-bat placed at the end of a wall, creates Half Bond. Therefore
what size bat would you need to place in a wall to create Quarter Bond?
A. Quarter bat
The name given to this brick bat is a:
A. Queen Closure

4. QUOIN
HEADER
QUEEN
CLOSURE
COLLAR
JOINT
Bonding arrangement at a Quoin (English Bond)
The 2 most common solid wall bonds are:
ENGLISH BOND
FLEMISH BOND
ENGLISH BOND – consists of alternate courses of
HEADERS and STRETCHERS.
It makes no difference whether you begin the walling by
laying Headers or Stretchers.
Ideally used for walls requiring strength to resist vertical and
lateral stresses.

5. On the elevation below, draw in the bonding arrangement for an
English Bond wall 7 bricks in length.
Use a PENCIL and a RULER
English Bond

6. Plan of course 1
Plan of course 2
Remember - change direction, change bond
QUOIN IN
ENGLISH BOND

7. Plan of course 1
JUNCTION IN
ENGLISH
BOND
Plan of course 2

8. FLEMISH BOND – consists of alternate HEADERS
and STRETCHERS, on the same course.
The same arrangement is created on each course.
Not as ‘strong’ as English Bond but has a more
‘pleasing appearance.
Because bricks vary in length the rear side of an
English bond wall can become very ‘bumpy’
The headers in Flemish bond are dispersed more
giving a ‘smoother’ finish to the rear of the wall.
Because of this it is recommended that Flemish
Bond is used in preference to English Bond for
walls requiring a ‘face’ both sides and where
‘strength’ is not as important.

9. On the elevation below, draw in the bonding
arrangement for Flemish Bond.
Use a PENCIL and a RULER
Flemish Bond

10. If you have bonded this wall correctly you should notice
that the positions of the Stretchers and Headers are
symmetrical. Because of this symmetry Flemish Bond is
ideal for creating ‘patterns’. (Polychromatic and
Photochromatic brickwork)
Decorative patterns can be formed by :
1 Using specially Cut / patterned bricks
2 Using contrasting coloured bricks
3 Use projecting bricks
4 Use contrasting, coloured or different joint finish
Use your pencil and shade in a ‘pattern’ on the front elevation,
above

11. Plan of course 1
Plan of course 2
QUOIN IN
FLEMISH BOND
Stopped end

12. Wall
continues
Wall
continues
Plan of course 1
JUNCTION IN
FLEMISH BOND
Plan of course 2Wall
continues
Wall
continues

13. CALCULATIONS
A half brick thick wall requires 60 bricks for every square
metre.
A one brick thick wall, therefore requires 120 bricks per m ²
WALL THICKNESS BRICKS PER M²
1½ 180
2 240
2½ 300
Sometimes a solid wall, built in either English or Flemish
bond, may only need one ‘fair face’ side – possibly built up
to a garden banking. The Stretcher bricks, used in the rear
of the wall, could be a different brick to the face – possibly a
cheaper brick.
Solid wall bonds can therefore have a different ratio of facing
bricks and common bricks, depending on the bond to be
used. If this ratio is calculated it can affect the cost of the
bricks for a project.
WALL 1 BRICK THICK FACING BRICKS
COMMON
BRICKS TOTAL PER M²
ENGLISH 90 30 120
FLEMISH 80 40 120

14. TASK 1
You have been asked, by a neighbour, to work a price
out for the construction of a wall around their garden.
The wall is to be built in Flemish bond, one brick thick,
15.800m in length and 750mm high.
1.Calculate the cost of the bricks, Old World Rustics,
costing £327.50 per 1,000.
Add 5% for breakage and wastage and also VAT @
17.5%
Use the following page for this task – you must show
all your working out.

15. 2. When you visit the site you notice that due to their
being an existing wall on the adjoining property
only one side of the new wall will be seen.
This now means that you will be able to use
common bricks, instead of facings, to the rear of
the wall. Calculate a revised price for the same
wall, substituting the stretcher bricks to the rear for
concrete commons @ £ 119.00 per 1,000. Add 5%
for breakage and wastage and also VAT @ 17.5%
TASK 2
The wall is to be built in Flemish bond, one brick thick,
15.800m in length and 750mm high
Use the following page for this task – you must show
all your working out.

16. These bonds are a variation of
English Bond and Flemish Bond and not as the
name suggests necessarily to be used for work in
or round gardens.
The 2 main Garden Wall bonds
are :-
ENGLISH GARDEN WALL
FLEMISH GARDEN WALL
GARDEN WALL BONDS

17. English Garden Wall Bond
Draw in the arrangement for this brick bonds, on the
elevation below :-
Describe the arrangement of the bricks for ENGLISH GARDEN WALL

18. Flemish Garden Wall Bond
Draw in the arrangement for this brick bonds, on the
elevation below :-
Describe the arrangement of the bricks for FLEMISH GARDEN WALL

19. These 2 bonds use less headers than English Bond and
Flemish Bond and are therefore a weaker type of
construction.
WALL 1 BRICK
THICK
FACING
BRICKS
COMMON
BRICKS
TOTAL
PER M²
ENGLISH
GARDEN WALL 73 47 120
FLEMISH
GARDEN WALL 67 53 120
Refer to your calculations on Page 12 and produce a price,
for the same wall, using the two Garden Wall Bonds.
YOUR CALCULATIONS

20. Using research techniques find TWO other bonds that can be
used for solid walling.
Show these bonds on the elevations, below :-
BOND

21. Using research techniques find TWO other bonds that can be
used for solid walling.
Show these bonds on the elevations, below :-
BOND

22. PROTECTING SOLID WALLS FROM
DAMAGE BY THE EFFECTS OF THE
WEATHER
Builders are required to minimise the ingress of water
into a wall and any subsequent damage caused
especially from the effects of frost and ice.
Rising damp is prevented by the insertion of a
horizontal damp proof course (D.P.C.), placed ideally
at 150mm above the finished ground level.
The ideal material to use on an external solid wall for a
horizontal D.P.C would be :
2 course of Staffordshire Blue Brick
External walls must also be protected from dampness
from above, such as rain. There are a variety of
methods used to do this, such as :-
Brick on edge (B.O.E)
Coping
Capping

23. A BRICK ON EDGE (B.0.E.)
Bricks for this should be hard-burnt, dense, engineering quality.
An ideal type of this brick would be a: Staffordshire Blue Brick
To minimise the ingress of water, mortar joints must be Solid
A well-constructed B.O.E. will prevent rainwater entering the top of
the wall. However the rainwater will run down the wall and cause
the wall faces to become excessively damp.
To prevent this action, details are formed, such as :-
A TILE CREASING-
consists of 2 courses of roofing tiles (ideally Rosemary tiles),
bedded in mortar, bonded and projecting over both sides of the
walls face.
OVERSAILING COURSE/S-
Same as for Tile Creasing, only using bricks.
Neatly sketch and label end elevations showing the above 2
details.

24. Sketch / label and describe 3 methods to help stop the end brick, on
a B.O.E. being loosened, over time.
METHOD 1 METHOD 2 METHOD 3
DESCRIPTION DESCRIPTION DESCRIPTION
DRAWING DRAWING DRAWING
COPINGS-Units designed for the purpose of shedding water from
the top of a wall – an alternative to a B.O.E.
Can be made from :-
A. Concrete Coping
B. Stone Coping
C. Bull nosed Brick
D. Cant Brick

25. Copings can be flat (paving slab) but are more efficient at
shedding water if the upper surface is inclined.
There are 2 distinct shapes used :-
1. SINGLE WEATHERED
2. DOUBLE WEATHERED
Draw and label both types, laid in position on top of a solid
wall.
SINGLE WEATHERED DOUBLE WEATHERED

26. REINFORCED BRICKWORK
Masonry is strong in compression but weak in tension.
The interaction of different materials such as brick, mortar,
renders and settlement of foundations can all induce stresses
in masonry, which can result in cracking. The changes in
weather and temperatures also can have an effect on walling.
Sometimes it may be necessary to design a wall for a specific
purpose e.g. a retaining wall to hold back large amounts of
ground. A cheaper way than just thickening the walls width
could be to insert reinforcement in between the brickwork
courses.
Expamet type brick reinforcement (mesh)

27. Steel Welded Rod type (Bricktor / Brickforce)
Both these types of reinforcement offer an effective
method for resisting both horizontal and vertical stresses
than can be placed on masonry.
Any joints / laps must comply with the manufacturer’s
recommendations - usually 225 mm
WELDED FABRIC

28. QUETTA BOND (also known as Earthquake Bond)
For maximum
efficiency the vertical
reinforcement bars
should be cast into the
concrete foundation
Reinforced Blockwork

29. The simplest method of spanning an opening is to use some form
of flat lintel. An alternative method is to construct an arch in
brickwork or stone.
Arches have been used throughout history and over the years
many shapes and types have been developed. For your course
of study you are required to understand the terminology and have
the skill to construct two different types.
1.SEMI-CIRCULAR - using half a circle as the shape.
2. SEGMENTAL - using a part of a circle (segment) as the Shape.
ARCHES

30. The axed arch is formed by cutting and bedding wedge
shaped bricks that are formed from ordinary facing bricks.
These are usually cut and built on site but it is becoming
common practice to order pre-cut and formed axed arches
from a brick manufacturer.
Arches constructed of specially made tapered bricks, and
built with thin lime mortar joints, are called ‘gauged’ arches.
The arch may be built in the same bricks as the main walling,
or alternatively, a contrasting brick can be used to make the
arch shape stand out from the main walling.
The tools used for cutting and trimming the arch bricks or
voussoirs are the usual bricklayer’s, tools i.e. a brick hammer,
a scutch and lump hammer and bolster chisel.
A carborundum block is also very useful to help in smoothing
out the rougher cuts.
In axed arches the bricks are cut to wedge shape, and the
mortar joints are maintained virtually parallel. This ensures all
the lines of the arrises of the voussoirs radiate from the
centre of the arch curve. The mortar joints usually range from
5mm to a normal 10mm joint.
It is quite common to see axed and gauged arches bonded
on their face.
Axed and gauged arches

31. Rough segmental brick arch with tapered joints
Gauged or axed arch with tapered voussoirs and
parallel joints

32. 1.SEMI-CIRCULAR - using half a circle as the shape.
Centre…… Point that is the centre of the semi-circle.
Springing Line....Horizontal line where the arch
begins.
Abutment…Point (on either side) where the arch
‘springs from’.
Span……...Distance the arch spans
Rise……….Distance the arch rises.
Voussoirs…Term used for the bricks forming the
arch ring/s.
Crown……..Highest point of an arch.
Intrados…..The inner arris of the arch ring.
Extrados…..The outer arris of the arch ring.

33. 2. SEGMENTAL - using a part of a circle (segment) as the
Shape.
(ideally the Rise should be no greater than 1/6th
of the span)
Key brick… The last, central brick (voussoir), placed in the arch.
Soffit.….…..The under surface of the arch (tunnel).
Abutment….The supporting masonry built up at the sides of the
arch.
Skewback…The angle cut to the masonry. This angle is a
continuation of an imaginary line
passing through the Striking Point to the Stringing Point.
This term does not apply to a Semi-circular arch
All the previous terminology also applies to this arch.
Can you approximately determine whereabouts the Striking
Point for this type of arch would be?

34. How is an arch constructed?
During the construction of an arch the voussoirs must be
supported. This is achieved by using a structure known as a
CENTRE. The Centre, usually made of timber, but can be of
steel, is formed to the size and shape of the arch required.
The centre must be adequately supported and positioned to
the correct height. A pair of timber folding wedges (identical
in shape, ideally cut from one piece of timber) are used for
the final adjustment.
Open lagged segmental arch centre
Closed lagged semi circular arch centre

35. Calculate that the arch ring works full size voussoirs and
even cross-joints, then carefully construct the arch from
both sides taking care to keep the face in line. The final
voussoir is called the……………
DEAD MAN
LINE
Making use of a
‘Dead Man’ to
maintain
accuracy to the
face line of the
wall.
Upon completion of the arch construction the folding wedges
are loosened, slightly. This action causes the centre to drop
slightly, tightening up the cross joints between each
voussoir.
This action is known as ‘EASING’ the centre.
When the mortar has set the folding wedges can be
removed. The centre can now be lowered and removed
without causing disturbance to the arch brickwork.
This action is known as ‘STRIKING’ the centre.
Pointing to the arch soffit can now be completed.
Arches with small spans, may be supported during
construction, by using a ‘TURNING PIECE’

36. The arch former shown below is a plastic arch former resting
upon the flange of a steel lintel. The former can be removed
when the arch is formed and the mortar is set, or it can be left
in as a feature and is ideal when fl at topped windows or
doors are to be fitted into the structure.
A turning piece is usually produced from a solid piece of
timber and is more often used for segmental arches with a
small rise and limited spans. The size of the turning piece
is restricted to the size of timber available, usually timber
with a width of 225mm and a thickness of 75–100mm.
A Turning Piece
Proprietary arch formers

37. A modern innovation used to form arch shapes are custom-
made arch formers. These formers are made of steel or
plastic and are incorporated into the structure as a
permanent fixture. They can serve two purposes:
Arch Former
• To act as an arch former.
• To act as a lintel over an opening.

38. A cavity tray must be installed above every arch. This is
achieved in the usual manner when constructing flat or low
rise segmental arches.
Semi circular arches will require a preformed and shaped
cavity tray. These are available from all specialist cavity
tray manufacturers. They are often supplied as a combined
DPC and arch support former.
All cavity trays must have stopped ends and weep holes
formed in the mortar joints to release any trapped water.
DPC and proprietary formwork for arches

39. A soldier arch is not strictly and arch but the head of an opening.
It is a non-structural arch form constructed of bricks on end and
supported by a proprietary steel lintel.
Visually it portrays the supporting action of an arch hence its
classification as an arch type.
Soldier Arch
This arch is so called because the top of the arch is fl at and the
ends are sloping or skewback to form a supporting wedge. Each
voussoir has its own unique shape, and special drawings and
templates are required for their construction. The voussoirs can
be ordered from a manufacture or they can be cut from a
template taken from the main drawing. It is usual practice to
make a template of the angle of skewback, and the bricks
adjacent to the first voussoir are cut to the correct angle.
Skewback or Flat Arch

40. Domestic applications will usually be a single ring format
consisting of bricks laid so that the 215mm brick dimension will
be the face of the arch, and because of the curvature of
the arch the mortar joints will be slightly tapered.
Double ring format arches use the end or header face as the
face of the arch. When arches are constructed in this way the
tapered mortar joints are more visible but this is acceptable,
especially when the arch is of a small radius or curvature.
Bonded arch faces are more acceptable to large span, deep
face applications; they also have the added advantage of having
a more aesthetic appeal than a double ring construction.
Terminology and classification of brick
arches
Single Ring Arch
Double Ring
Arch
Bonded Face Arch

41. Using research techniques find the names of the arches,
shown below :-