BRIC

MAS
K
ONRY

OVERVIEW :
Introduction
Technical terms
Tools used
Types
Bond
Joints
Advantages
Defects

INTRODUCTION
Masonry
Construction of building units bonded
together with mortar.

Brick masonry
Construction of brick units bonded
together with mortar.

Header

Technical terms used in

brick masonry

Brick which is laid with its length perpendicular to the face of the
wall.

Stretcher
Full brick which is laid with its length parallel to the face of the wall.

Course
Horizontal layer of brick.

Header course
Course of brick work fully composed of header

Stretcher course
Course of brick work fully composed of stretchers.

Header
Row lock

Stretcher

Soldier
5

Basic Brickwork Terminology

Head
Joint
Bed
Joint

Course - horizontal layer of brick

6

Closer
Portion of brick cut in such a manner that one long face
remains uncut.

King closer
Brick is cut in such a way that the width of its end is half
of full brick.

Queen closer
Brick is half as wide as a full brick.

Half Bat
Portion of brick cut half across the width.

Bevelled closer
It is similar to king closer with the only difference that the
whole length of he brick is bevelled.

Half bat

King closer

Full

bric
k

Queen
closer

Tools used
Trowel
Plumb bob
Hammer
Spirit level
Mason square
Steel tape

k
c
i
r
B

er
m
Ha m

l
e
w
o
Tr

Mason Square

Plumb Bob

Steel tape

Types of
brick
masonry
Brick work in mud.
Brick work in cement.

Brick work in
mud
The mud is used to fill up the
joints
Thickness of the mortar joint is
12 mm.
cheapest.
Maximum height of wall is 4 m.

Brick work in
cement
I class
Cement or lime mortar is used.
The surfaces and edges of bricks are sharp.
The thickness of mortar joints doesnt exceed 10 mm.

II class

Ground moulded bricks are used .

Bricks are rough and shape is slightly irregular.
The thickness of mortar joint is 12 mm.

III class

Bricks are not hard , rough surface with distorted

shape.
Used for temporary structures.
Used in places where rainfall is not heavy.

Mortar Functions
Provides for full bearing
Seals between masonry units
bonds masonry units

16

Brick Masonry Uniqueness

Fire Resistance

Size

Durability

17

BOND
English bond
S
In general practice this type of bond is
used.
It consists of alternate courses of
headers and stretchers .
Considered as strongest bond in brick
work
For breaking vertical joints queen closer
is placed after first header

Header course
Stretchers course
Queen closer

ISOMETRIC VIEW OF
ENGLISH BOND

Flemish bond
Each course consists alternate
headers and stretchers.
Not as strong as English bond.
Alternate course starts with a
header at the corner.
For breaking of vertical joints ,
closers are inserted in alternate
courses next to the quoin header.

Head
er
Stretch
er

ISOMETRIC VIEW OF
FLEMISH BOND

JOINTS IN BRICK MASONRY

Joint

Weathered Joint: Mortar joint has sloped (downwards) edge.

Concave joint: Joint concave inwards.

Vee joint: mortar joint is in the form of a V.

Flush Joint: Mortar joint is flush with the brick surfaces.

Raked Joint: A large portion of the mortar joint is raked out Not a safe, impermeable joint.

Struck Joint: Mortar joint has a sloped (upwards) edge.

Masonry Joints
Weathered

Concave

Vee

Flush

Racked
Struck
23

Advantages of brick masonry

The brick masonry is cheaper as
compared to stone masonry.
Bonding strength is very good.
In brick work , the mortar joints are thin
and hence
the structure becomes more
durable.
No complicated lifting devices are
necessary in brick work.
Brick work can be done by the less skilled
labours also.
In Brick work good quality of bricks posses
good fire resistance.
Due to regular size of bricks they are easy

Defects in brick masonry

Sulphate attack
Sulphate salts present in bricks work react with alumina
content of cement .
It occur in boundary walls

Crystallization of salts from bricks

Occur in masonry made out of brick which contain
excessive soluble salts
This phenomenon is also known as efflorescence.

Corrosion of embedded iron or steel

Iron or steel embedded in brick work gets corroded in the
presence of dampness
On corrosion the metal expands in volume and tends to
crack the brick work.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
by Rangwala.
BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
by Sushil Kumar.
Civil Engineering - Building
materials and Construction by
Dr. B. Bhattacharjee( IIT Delhi )
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