---
title: "Types of bonds in brick masonry"
subject: "Building Technology"
chapter: 3
key: "semester_6/building_technology:brick-bonds-types"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/building_technology/brick-bonds-types
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Types of bonds in brick masonry

Building Technology · Chapter 3: Mortars & Masonry works

- Asked in: 2078 Baisakh, 5 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 Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/building_technology/brick-bonds-types
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_6/building_technology/chapter-3

## Question

Write the most commonly used types of bonds in brick masonry with neat sketch.

## Short answer

Common bonds: stretcher bond (all stretchers, half-brick walls), header bond (all headers, curved walls), English bond (alternate header and stretcher courses, strongest), Flemish bond (alternate headers and stretchers in each course, attractive). Garden-wall, raking and rat-trap bonds are also used.

## Answer

A **bond** is the arrangement of bricks in courses so that the vertical joints of successive courses do not coincide (no continuous vertical joint). This distributes the load and gives strength. Common bonds:

#### 1. Stretcher bond
All bricks are laid as stretchers, and each course is shifted by half a brick. Used for half-brick thick partitions and boundary walls.
```text
 +-----+-----+-----+
 +--+-----+-----+--+
 +-----+-----+-----+
```
#### 2. Header bond
All bricks are laid as headers, and courses are shifted by a quarter brick (using three-quarter bats at the quoins). Used for curved walls and one-brick thick walls.
```text
 +--+--+--+--+--+
 +-+--+--+--+--+-+
```
#### 3. English bond
Alternate courses of headers and stretchers, with a queen closer after the first (quoin) header in each header course. It is the strongest and most commonly used bond.
```text
 H H H H H H     header course
 S S S S S       stretcher course
```
#### 4. Flemish bond
Each course has alternate headers and stretchers, with a queen closer next to the quoin header. It looks attractive but is a little weaker than English bond.
```text
 H S H S H S
 S H S H S H     (header centred over stretcher)
```
#### 5. Others
- **Garden-wall bond:** for boundary walls; English garden-wall bond has one header course after every three to five stretcher courses, and Flemish garden-wall bond has one header after every three (or more) stretchers in each course.
- **Raking bond:** bricks laid at an angle (diagonal or herring-bone) inside thick walls.
- **Dutch bond** (a modified English bond, strong at corners) and **rat-trap bond** (bricks on edge with a cavity; economical).

Rules: use whole bricks as far as possible, break vertical joints, keep 10 mm joints, and give a lap of at least 1/4 brick.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What is the main rule of a brick bond?
   A. Mortar is omitted from vertical joints
   B. All bricks must be headers
   C. Joints must be 25 mm
   D. Vertical joints of successive courses must not coincide
   Answer: D. Breaking vertical joints spreads load and avoids weak continuous lines. (Key point: Purpose of bond)

2. Which describes English bond?
   A. Alternate courses of headers and stretchers
   B. Alternate headers and stretchers in every course
   C. Three stretchers between headers
   D. All stretchers
   Answer: A. English bond alternates whole header and stretcher courses and is the strongest. (Key point: English bond)

3. Flemish bond differs from English because?
   A. Each course has alternate headers and stretchers
   B. It has only stretcher courses
   C. It uses no closers
   D. It is stronger
   Answer: A. In Flemish bond headers and stretchers alternate within every course; it looks attractive but is slightly weaker. (Key point: Flemish bond)

4. Where is stretcher bond used?
   A. Thick load-bearing walls
   B. Curved walls
   C. Foundations
   D. Half-brick thick partitions and boundary walls
   Answer: D. Stretcher bond gives half-brick walls only. (Key point: Stretcher bond use)

## Related in Building Technology

- [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×
- [Making brick masonry earthquake resistant](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Aeq-brick-masonry) — Building Technology, chapter 11
- [Retrofitting a brick masonry building](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Aretrofit-brick-masonry) — Building Technology, chapter 11
- [Masonry work, materials for 20 cum brickwork](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Abrickwork-20cum-1to6) — Building Technology, chapter 3
- [Types of bands in masonry structures](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Abands-masonry) — Building Technology, chapter 11

## Related in other subjects

- [Brick masonry infill walls in RC frames](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Amasonry-infill-walls) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 7, asked 3×
- [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×
- [Flat-jack test for brick masonry wall](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Aflat-jack-test) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 10, asked 2×
- [Materials for 10 m³ brick masonry 1:3](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Amaterials-brick-10m3-1-3-old-size) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 4