--- title: "Use of masonry; English and Flemish bond" subject: "Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure" chapter: 7 key: "semester_5/concrete_technology_and_masonry_structure:masonry-use-english-flemish" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/concrete_technology_and_masonry_structure/masonry-use-english-flemish site: BCT Engineering --- # Use of masonry; English and Flemish bond Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure · Chapter 7: Introduction to masonry structures - Asked in: 2069 Chaitra, 2+4 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/masonry-use-english-flemish - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_5/concrete_technology_and_masonry_structure/chapter-7 ## Question Explain the use of masonry structures in civil engineering. Describe English bond and Flemish bond of brick masonry with neat sketches. ## Short answer Masonry is used for load-bearing walls, infill panels, foundations, retaining walls, arches, and cladding. English bond has alternate stretcher and header courses with a queen closer beside each quoin header; Flemish bond alternates headers and stretchers within each course, queen closer in alternate courses. ## Answer Masonry is the construction of units (clay brick, stone, concrete or hollow block, compressed earth block) bound by mortar. It is the oldest and the most widely used building system in Nepal and South Asia, especially for low and medium-rise buildings. #### Uses 1. **Load-bearing walls** in houses, schools and hospitals (up to 2 to 3 storeys in Nepal, NBC 202 and NBC 109), which carry floor and roof loads to the foundation. 2. **Infill and partition walls** in RC frames, for enclosure, privacy, and sound and fire separation. 3. **Foundations, plinth and retaining walls**, boundary walls, parapets and compound walls. 4. **Special structures:** arches, domes, chimneys, culverts, bridge piers and abutments, dams, water tanks and monuments. 5. **Cladding and finishing:** exposed brick facades and flooring. #### 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. Which is a use of masonry listed in the answer? A. Tension members in bridges B. Infill and partition walls in RC frames C. Prestressed girders D. Steel column bases Answer: B. Masonry is used for load-bearing walls, infill and partitions, foundations, special structures and cladding. (Key point: Uses of masonry) 2. What is English bond? A. Alternate headers and stretchers in every course B. All bricks laid as stretchers C. Alternate courses of stretchers and headers D. Bricks laid on edge forming a cavity Answer: C. English bond has whole courses of stretchers alternating with whole courses of headers. (Key point: English bond) 3. What does a queen closer do in English bond? A. Maintains the lap next to the quoin header by staggering perpends B. Provides damp proofing C. Increases the wall thickness D. Replaces all headers Answer: A. It is a brick cut lengthwise to half width placed beside the quoin header to keep the lap. (Key point: Queen closer role) 4. How does Flemish bond differ from English bond? A. Each course is entirely headers B. It is stronger than English bond for thick walls C. It needs less skilled labour D. Each course has alternate headers and stretchers, giving a better appearance but slightly lower strength for thick walls Answer: D. Flemish bond alternates headers and stretchers in every course, looks neater, has fewer through headers and needs more skill. 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