--- title: "English and Flemish bond" subject: "Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure" chapter: 7 key: "semester_5/concrete_technology_and_masonry_structure:english-flemish-bond" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/concrete_technology_and_masonry_structure/english-flemish-bond site: BCT Engineering --- # English and Flemish bond Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure · Chapter 7: Introduction to masonry structures - Asked in: 2074 Ashwin, 4 marks; 2071 Shrawan, 6 marks (asked 2 times) - Video: [Type of Brick Bond || Difference between English Bond and Flemish Bond in Building Construction](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VustJYm7I0) — My Engineering Support - Answer checked by Claude Sonnet 5.5 on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/concrete_technology_and_masonry_structure/english-flemish-bond - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_5/concrete_technology_and_masonry_structure/chapter-7 ## Question Explain with neat sketches English bond and Flemish bond of brick masonry work. ## Short answer English bond alternates complete courses of stretchers and headers; a queen closer is placed beside each quoin header in heading courses to offset vertical joints, making it the strongest bond. Flemish bond alternates headers and stretchers within each course, with queen closers in alternate courses, giving a neat chequered face but slightly lower strength. ## Answer #### English bond English bond has **alternate courses of stretchers and headers**. A stretcher is a brick laid along the length of the wall (long face visible); a header is laid across the wall (short face visible). It is the strongest bond for walls thicker than one brick. **Rules** - Heading and stretching courses alternate. Each header sits centrally over the joint (perpend) between two stretchers in the course below. - A **queen closer** (a brick cut lengthwise to half its width) is placed next to the quoin header in each heading course. It moves the perpends of the heading course a quarter brick away from those of the stretching courses, so vertical joints do not run through successive courses. - In walls thicker than one brick, the headers run across the thickness and tie the faces together. - Joints are about 10 mm thick. ```text Elevation (English bond, 1 brick thick) +-------+-------+-------+-------+ | S | S | S | S | stretcher course +---+-+-+-+---+-+-+---+-+-+-+---+ | H |Q| H | H | H | H | H |Q| H | header course +---+-+-+-+---+-+-+---+-+-+-+---+ | S | S | S | S | stretcher course +-------+-------+-------+-------+ S = stretcher, H = header, Q = queen closer ``` #### Flemish bond In Flemish bond **each course has headers and stretchers alternating**, and each header is centred over a stretcher in the course below. The face looks neat, with a regular chequered pattern. A queen closer is placed next to the quoin header in alternate courses to complete the bond. **Features** - It gives a good appearance, so it is used for facing brickwork of thin walls (it is slightly weaker than English bond, as there are fewer through-headers). - In a one-brick wall, each course shows alternate headers and stretchers on both faces. - It needs greater skill and care in laying, and the bricks must be of uniform size. - It uses fewer full bricks for the facing, and it is economical where the brickwork is face-pointed. ```text Elevation (Flemish bond, 1 brick thick) +-------+---+-------+---+-------+ | S | H | S | H | S | course 1 +---+-+-+---+-+---+-+---+-+-+---+ | H |Q| S | H | S |Q| H | course 2 +---+-+-+---+-+---+-+---+-+-+---+ | S | H | S | H | S | course 3 +-------+---+-------+---+-------+ S = stretcher, H = header, Q = queen closer ``` | Point | English bond | Flemish bond | |---|---|---| | Courses | Alternate header and stretcher courses | Each course has alternate headers and stretchers | | Strength | Strongest | Slightly less for thick walls | | Appearance | Plain | Better, chequered | | Skill | Normal | Higher | | Use | Load-bearing and thick walls | Facing brickwork, thin walls | ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. How is English bond arranged? A. Alternate headers and stretchers in every course B. Alternate courses of stretchers and headers C. All stretchers in every course D. All headers in every course Answer: B. English bond is strongest for walls thicker than one brick. (Key point: English bond) 2. What is a queen closer and its purpose? A. A brick cut across its length used as the quoin B. A full brick laid on edge C. A brick cut lengthwise to half width, placed next to the quoin header to maintain the lap D. A header used in the centre of the wall Answer: C. It keeps the vertical joints broken at the end of the heading course. (Key point: Queen closer) 3. How is Flemish bond arranged? A. Alternate courses of headers and stretchers B. Only stretchers in every course C. All headers on edge with hollow space D. Each course has headers and stretchers alternating, with a header centred over a stretcher below Answer: D. This gives a chequered pattern and good appearance. (Key point: Flemish bond) 4. Which comparison between English and Flemish bond is correct? A. English is stronger for thick walls; Flemish looks better and needs more skill, used for facing and thin walls B. Flemish is stronger and plainer; English needs more skill C. Both are identical in strength and appearance D. English is used for facing and Flemish for thick walls Answer: A. Flemish has fewer through-headers so is slightly weaker for thick walls. (Key point: English vs Flemish) ## Related in Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure - [Closers in brick masonry; English and Flemish bond](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Aclosers-english-flemish-bond) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 7 - [Use of masonry; English and Flemish bond](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Amasonry-use-english-flemish) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 7 - [Use of masonry; types of brick bond](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Amasonry-uses-bond-types) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 7, asked 2× - [Plan and elevation of English bond wall](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Aenglish-bond-plan-elevation) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 7, asked 2× - [Brick bond types; rat-trap bond merits and demerits](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Abond-types-rat-trap-pros-cons) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 7 ## Related in other subjects - [English and Flemish bond corner wall](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Aenglish-flemish-corner) — Building Technology, chapter 3 - [Specifications of brick masonry work](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Abrick-masonry-specs) — Building Technology, chapter 3, asked 2×