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Bonding Patterns
Types of Brick Bonding Patterns
Bonding pertains to the arrangement of bricks in a structure. While the primary goal of bonding is to ensure the strength and stability of brickwork, it also significantly influences the visual appearance. To guide you in the right direction, here's a summary of some of the most commonly used bond patterns below.
Stretcher Bond
In stretcher bond, courses are laid with stretchers, and the joint of one course falls midway between the joints of the courses below. This bond is particularly prevalent in modern construction, where the outer leaf of a building envelope is typically only half a brick thick. Stretcher bond has become the most popular choice due to its time and cost-effectiveness in contemporary construction practices.
Header Bond
During the 18th century, the header bond pattern gained popularity and often utilised contrasting brick colors to achieve a decorative effect. This bond pattern, characterised by headers being the primary face of the wall, requires a significant quantity of bricks and is typically reserved for high-quality buildings. Additionally, the header bond is suitable for radial brickwork, as the faces of the headers can accommodate smaller radii, adding to its versatility.
Flemish Bond
The traditional Flemish brick bond features alternate stretchers and headers on every course, with the headers centered over the stretchers underneath. Beginning in the 18th century, Flemish bond gained prevalence, superseding English bond. This bond can be replicated in the half-brick outer leaf of a cavity wall by using whole bricks as stretchers, while headers are fashioned by half bricks known as bats or snap-headers.
English Bond
The traditional English brick bond follows a pattern of alternating stretcher and header courses, where headers are centered over the stretchers beneath. This is the oldest known pattern and was widely utilised until the late 17th century. English Bond is renowned for its strength, surpassing Flemish bond, and as a result, it remains a preferred choice for civil engineering projects such as bridges, viaducts, and embankments.
Stack Bond
In vertical or horizontal stack bonds, bricks are arranged without overlapping. Due to the inherent weakness of this arrangement, it is commonly employed as a decorative laying pattern, offering a visually striking effect. To address the lack of bonding strength, bed-joint reinforcement is typically incorporated into every third bed-joint as a compensatory measure.
Brick Orientation
The orientation of brick laying plays a crucial role in crafting captivating patterns and enhancing the value of any wall. The widely favored arrangement is the brick on bed, showcasing the stretcher face.
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For distinctive detailing, bricks can be positioned on end in a soldier course orientation. It's important to note that the quoted compressive strength of the brick may decrease in this arrangement.
Another creative option involves placing the brick on edge to fashion features like cappings, commonly referred to as Rowlock. It's essential to be aware that the quoted compressive strength of the brick is likely to decrease in this orientation as well.
Mortar Colour
Mortar plays a significant role, constituting 15-17% of the visible brickwork in a wall, contingent on the bond pattern. Therefore, another crucial aspect in determining the overall appearance of a building is the color of the mortar.
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Even the same brick can exhibit a completely different aesthetic when paired with different mortar colors. It's essential to verify that the chosen mortar complements the surrounding built environment, especially in the case of repointing existing brickwork.
We recommend experimenting with various mortar colors during the selection process to guarantee that the final product achieves the precise look and feel you desire.
