--- title: "Closers in brick masonry; English and Flemish bond" subject: "Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure" chapter: 7 key: "semester_5/concrete_technology_and_masonry_structure:closers-english-flemish-bond" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/concrete_technology_and_masonry_structure/closers-english-flemish-bond site: BCT Engineering --- # Closers in brick masonry; English and Flemish bond Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure · Chapter 7: Introduction to masonry structures - Asked in: 2073 Shrawan, 6 marks - Video: [Types of Brick Bonds || Brick Masonry Types || Brick Construction || English Bond || Flemish Bond](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyLCRO5MOWk) — Civiconcepts - Bhushan Mahajan - Answer checked by Claude Sonnet 5.5 on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/concrete_technology_and_masonry_structure/closers-english-flemish-bond - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_5/concrete_technology_and_masonry_structure/chapter-7 ## Question Explain the use of different types of closers in brick masonry works. Describe the key points of English bond and Flemish bond. ## Short answer Closers like queen closer (brick cut lengthwise to half width) and king closer (corner cut diagonally) break vertical joints near wall ends. English bond alternates stretcher and header courses with a queen closer after the quoin header; it is the strongest. Flemish bond places headers and stretchers alternately in every course, giving better appearance but slightly weaker strength. ## Answer #### Closers A **closer** is a brick or part of a brick used to complete a course and to break the continuity of vertical joints (perpends) near the end of a wall, quoin, jamb or opening. Without it the bond cannot be completed. - **Queen closer:** a brick cut lengthwise to half the width. It is placed next to the quoin header in a heading course (and at reveals) to keep the perpends a quarter brick out of line. - **King closer:** a brick with one corner cut diagonally (half-width at one end), used at quoins or splayed ends and for square reveals. - **Bevelled closer:** a brick bevelled lengthwise over its whole length (half of the face), used where the end of a wall must show a splayed face. - **Mitred closer:** a brick cut at $45^\circ$, used at angles of walls and in splayed or obtuse corners. - **Bat:** a brick cut across its length (half bat, three-quarter bat), used to fill the gap and set out the perpends. #### English bond: key points - Alternate courses of **headers** and **stretchers**; each header is placed centrally over the joint between two stretchers in the course below. - A queen closer is placed after the first quoin header in each header course, so that the vertical joints of successive courses are staggered by a quarter brick. - It is the strongest brick bond for walls of 1 brick and thicker; the heart is filled with headers and stretchers, so there is a good transverse bond. - The perpends of the stretcher courses lie in the same vertical line in alternate courses. #### Flemish bond: key points - Each course has **headers and stretchers alternately**; each header is centred over a stretcher in the course below. - Closers (queen closer or a bat) are needed after the quoin header to start the bond. - It looks better than English bond and needs fewer whole bricks on the face, but it is slightly weaker for thick walls and needs more skilled labour. It is used where the facework is exposed. ```text English bond (face) +-------+-------+-------+-------+ | S | S | S | S | +---+-+-+-+---+-+-+---+-+-+-+---+ | H |Q| H | H | H | H | H |Q| H | +---+-+-+-+---+-+-+---+-+-+-+---+ | S | S | S | S | +-------+-------+-------+-------+ Flemish bond (face) +-------+---+-------+---+-------+ | S | H | S | H | S | +---+-+-+---+-+---+-+---+-+-+---+ | H |Q| S | H | S |Q| H | +---+-+-+---+-+---+-+---+-+-+---+ | S | H | S | H | S | +-------+---+-------+---+-------+ ``` (S = stretcher, H = header, Q = queen closer, placed after the quoin header.) ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. What is the purpose of a closer? A. To increase brick strength B. To complete a course and break continuity of vertical joints near the end C. To act as damp proofing D. To make the wall thicker Answer: B. Closers finish the course and stagger perpends near quoins and openings. (Key point: Purpose of closer) 2. What is a queen closer? A. A brick cut lengthwise to half its width B. A brick cut across its length C. A brick cut at 45 degrees D. A brick bevelled over its whole length Answer: A. A queen closer is half width and is placed next to the quoin header. (Key point: Queen closer) 3. Where is a mitred closer used? A. For filling gaps with half bricks B. At the plinth only C. At angles of walls and in splayed or obtuse corners, cut at 45° D. In stretcher bond partitions only Answer: C. A mitred closer is cut at 45° for angled corners. (Key point: Mitred closer) 4. Which is true of English bond? A. Each course has alternate headers and stretchers B. It is weaker than Flemish bond C. It needs no closers D. Alternate header and stretcher courses, and it is the strongest bond for walls of 1 brick and thicker Answer: D. English bond uses alternate courses and gives good transverse bond. (Key point: English bond key point) 5. Which is true of Flemish bond? A. Strongest bond for thick walls B. Better appearance, slightly weaker for thick walls and needs more skilled labour C. Courses are all headers D. Needs no closers Answer: B. Flemish bond is used where facework is exposed. 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