1

Bricklaying
Bonds and Techniques
2
Bonds
A bond is the order
bricks are laid to
achieve maximum
linking and
overlapping

3
Header and Stretcher
The brick laid
across the
wall is called
a header
If the brick is
laid in a long
way it is
called a
stretcher
4
General Rule
Never allow a vertical
joint on top of another
Half stone
overlapping
Half
stone
starter
5
Minimum overlapping :
A quarter stone
This is the header bond
The joints are centred
6
Minimum Overlapping
1. Header Course
2. Stretcher Course
7
The Proportions of the
Wire Cut Brick
Length 22 cm
Width 10.5 cm
Height 6.5 cm
22 cm
10.5 10.5
1 cm
8
Hand Made Bricks
Hand made bricks do not conform to these
standards
They vary in size and are out of proportion
17.8cm
19cm
9cm
4.7cm
9
Hand Made Bricks
They are too short
Headers are recessed
Stretchers stick out
Sticking out
17.8cm
19cm
9cm
4.7cm
10
Problems with Handmade Bricks
Joints are too wide
11
Wrong
This results in too little overlapping and
more mortar to fill the space
12
Short Headers require
additional
work and
material to
equalize
surface

higher cost
Side
View
13
Filling up Headers is bad!
This is
not a
correct
standard

Side
View
14
These Stretchers are wrong
If no
stretchers
are used
the wall
surface
will be
even

Side
View
15
Adopt a better Bond
And the
problem
is
resolved

Mortar Is More Expensive Than
Bricks
Sand and cement are
much more
expensive than
bricks
Keeping large gaps
between bricks
makes the brickwork
expensive
17
Header Bond for Handmade
Bricks
Adopt an appropriate bond for
handmade bricks
18
Header Bond
for Hand Made Bricks
Start off with headers
19
Header Bond
for Hand Made Bricks
A three-quarter stretcher provides an
ideal starter with maximum overlapping
20
Header Bond
for Hand Made Bricks
Continue again with headers
21
Header Bond
for Hand Made Bricks
Centre the brick always on the joint below
22
Header
Stretcher
Close the gap if
stones are too wide
and leave them dry
without mortar. The
headers below and
on top bond these
stretchers.

23
Bonding
Apply mortar correctly and see to
good bonding
24
Trowels
25
Use a large Trowel
You can handle more mortar at once
26
Mortar must be soft and not dry !
When you put the
mortar use a very soft
one to allow the brick
to sink into the mortar
Press the brick until it
levels correctly with
the others and the
string guide
27
Spaces are not required if
the bricks are too wide.
The next header on top
will bond the two
stretchers.
Spaces are not required if
the bricks are too wide.
The next header on top
will bond the two
stretchers.
Only here is
mortar required.
Do not fill the
entire void!
28
Put mortar on the side first and
then turn it
29
And then press the brick into
position
30
Level the brick along the guide
line
31
Do not fill the entire void. This
is a waste of time and material.
32
This Method will ensure fast
Brick Laying
33
The Standard is 600 Bricks per
Day!!!
34
Corners
The Header Bond is ideal for corners
35
Corners with hand made bricks
Start with two stones at the corner
3/4 3/4
36
Corners with hand made bricks
Continue with headers
3/4 3/4
37
Corners with hand made bricks
3/4 3/4
Continue with headers
38
The second Course
Start again with stretchers but in the
other direction!
3/4
39
The second Course
Continue with headers
40
The second Course
Continue with headers
41
Half-Stone Corner
42
Half-Stone T-Joint
3/4 3/4
43
1/2
Half-Stone T-Joint with Header
Bond
Half-Stone
Bonds for Wire Cut Bricks
45
Corners with wire cut bricks

Start with stretchers and continue with
headers like the header bond
3/4 3/4
46
Corners with wire cut bricks

Start with stretchers and continue with
headers like the header bond
3/4 3/4
47
Second Course
Start with stretchers
3/4
48
Second Course
and continue with stretchers in both
directions
3/4
3/4
49
Second Course
and continue with stretchers in both
directions
3/4
3/4
How to apply Mortar
Always put mortar first on the brick
and then lay it. Never the other way
about!
51
Put mortar on the joint before
laying !
Only here is mortar
required to close the joint
52
Do not put mortar between the
stretchers. It would press them in
outward direction.

53
They get filled when you lay the next
course
54
And the Header bonds them anyway
55
Guide Lines
The guide line
is a string
that is fixed
in the level of
the upper
outer edge of
the brick wall.
outside
Guide
line
56
Guide
Build first the corners accurately
Then draw the guide line from one corner to the other
57
Next the bricks are laid between the
corners along the guide line

58
Verticality
The
verticality
of corners
are checked
with the
help of a
plum bob
59
Take always the
lowest brick as
reference to align
the top
60
Junctions
For Wire Cut Bricks and Handmade
Ones
61
Header Bond T-Junction
3/4
62
Header Bond T-Junction
63
Second Course
64
Second Course
65
Bonding Material: Mortar
Mortar is usually a mixture of
Sand
Cement
Lime
Water
But clay can be used as well !
Sand is the basic material to fill the
space between the bricks.
Sand is broken from stones by friction in
the river.
Do not use sand from the beach since the
salt content destroys the cement.
Clay
Clay bonds very well with bricks.
Both lime and cement protect the clay
from being washed away by rain.
Clay insulates very well and creates a
good living climate in the house.

Lime
Lime is a good bonding material
It dries slowly which is useful for brick
laying and plastering
It reacts well with sand and clay
It makes the mortar much smoother and
softer and easier to handle than a sand-
cement mixture
70
Mortar Mixture Ratio 1:1:6:2
Cement
Sand
Water
Lime
71
How does Cement bond with Sand ?
See how cement particles grow
Water has just been added

72
Cement grows needles in all
directions
The first stage of
growth

Final stage with
needles
interlocked

73
Estimation of Quantities
Calculate how much materials you
need
74
10
5.5
First we calculate the head area
including mortar joint
1
sq.m
How many bricks are needed for a
header bond wall ?
75
Area = 10x5.5
= 55 sq.cm

Calculate the header area
10
5.5
76
How many bricks go in to
1 sq. m ?
= 1 sq.m / area
= 100cm x100cm / 55sq.cm
= 181.8 bricks
say 182 bricks

77
How much mortar is needed for
1 sq.m of header bond brick
work ?
Estimate mortar
78
What is the volume of 182
bricks without mortar ?
Brick volume = 17.5 x 9 x 4.5
= 708.75 cu.Cm


182 bricks = 0.1289925 cu.M
79
Mortar is the difference between
two volumes

Volume of bricks with mortar volume of
bricks
= Volume of mortar
Volume of mortar in 1 sq. M brick wall

= 0.060277m
3
80
How much sand is required for
mortar ?
Assumption:
Sand volume is approximately equal to
the volume of mortar.
Mortar = cement + sand + water.
Cement particles go into the voids of
sand and fills them.


81
How much sand is required for a
sq. m brick wall ?
Volume of Mortar l
Volume of Sand


0.060m
3

82
How many cement bags are
required ?
By volume cement is 1/6
th
of the sand
volume

= 0.06 m
3
/ 6
= 0.01 x 28 bags
(Because 1m
3
=28 bags)
= 0.28 bags

83
Cement, Lime, Sand Ratio
We can add lime to cement

Recommended Ratio 1:1:6
84
How much lime is required ?
The same volume as cement !

= 0.01m
3

85
Density of Cement = 1440 Kg/m3

Density of Lime = 864 Kg/m3


86
How much lime is required ?
By weight :
Volume x density of lime

= 0.01x 864 kg
= 8.64 kg

MATERIAL ORDER LIST
for 1 sq.m header bond brick work
182 Bricks
0.060 cu.m Sand
0.28 bags Cement
0.01 cu.m or 8.64 Kg Lime
88
Material for a Half-Stone Wall
Estimate your requirements
89
How many Bricks are needed for
a 4 wall ?
Surface area of a brick with
mortar = 18.5 x 5.5 sq.cm

18.5 cm
5.5 cm
stretcher
=101.75 sq.cm
90
No. of bricks per 1 sq.m

area of one square metre (sq.cm)
stretcher area with mortar
100cm x100cm
101.75
= 99 say 100 bricks

=
=
91
How much mortar is required ?
= 0.0289m
3
92
How much sand is required ?
It is equal to the volume of mortar

That is = 0.0289m
3
93
How many Cement bags are
required for 1sq.m brickwork?
By volume it is 1/6
th
of the sand volume

= 0.029/6 m
3


= 0.00483 x 28 bags
= 0.135 bags




94
How much Lime is required ?
Since it is equal to the cement volume

= 0.00483 m
3
By weight = 0.00483 x 864 kg
= 4.17 kg
Material Order List
for 1 sq.m half-stone brick wall
100 Bricks
0.0289 cu.m Sand
0.135 bags of Cement
0.00483 cu.m or 4.17 Kg Lime

96
Quantity of Mortar required for
5000 bricks:

Sand 3cu.M
Lime 9 bags
Cement 14 bags
97
Mortar Mixing Tray
Be a professional. Work with proper
tools.
98
Make yourself a tray
80
100
42
140
99
You need two boards
Thickness 20 mm
100
You need two of this as well
42
60
40
Thickness 20 mm
101
And a Bottom Board
76
36
Thickness 20 mm
102
And prepare your mortar
103
Door Openings
104
Openings
Start on both sides with headers
Continue on both sides with Starter
Stretchers
Levelled
105
Window Sills
Prevent the rain from seeping into the
room

106
Granite Sills
Stone
plate
Silicon
sealer
107
Brick Sills
A nice sill can be
made of bricks if
they are placed
vertically.
Cut the brick to
shape
108
Brick Sills
The outer sill is slanted for
the rainwater to drain off.
109
Arches
110
Arch Construction
Build the door or window opening up to the
level where the arch begins
Keep the two sides horizontally levelled
111
Make a Temporary Arch
Support
Use thick timber for the weight will be heavy
112
Build a Semicircular Form
Use clay and bricks to
build the form and fill the
corners
Draw the semicircle with
string and nail into the
clay front and scrape the
form until the top surface
is evenly shaped
113
Build up the Arch from both
Sides
Place the headers and stretchers on the form to
determine the correct angle and fill the space well with
soft mortar
114
Distribute the bricks equally
Equalise
spaces
No
spaces
115
Notes
Keep the arch
supported for a week
until the mortar is
matured
In the meanwhile you
can fill up the
brickwork on both
sides up to the arch

116
Wooden Formwork for Arches ?
Instead of the
temporary clay-brick
formwork you can
make a wooden one if
there are more arches
to be made over a
long period of time
But if it cannot be
reused later the
timber is wasted

Brick Columns
For the beauty of it
118
A Simple One
Do not put heavy loads on this.
It is just for decoration..
119
First Course
120
Second Course
121
Watch the verticality
else it may collapse
122
If there is a load
Reinforced brickwork is better
It can take a load
and it can withstand lateral forces
like wind that puts a pressure on
one side of a roof
123
Start with lean concrete
124
Then a Footing with starter bars
125
Here is the First Course
126
Bond
127
And Concrete
128
Horizontal Levelling
Water in Tubes
129
Water levels equal in connected
tubes
130
On Site we use a plastic hose
filled with water to mark levels
131
Close the ends with your thumbs
when you carry it around
132
Wait until the level settles.
It may first jump up and down
133
Hold the hose against the wall
134
If the mark is higher raise the
ends
135
And the water level will follow
136
Repeat
137
Until the water levels with the
mark
138
Then mark the other column
139
Portable Scaffolding
Be a professional
140
Make yourself a Donkey
130
150
50
12
30
75
o
141
Draw the Shape on the Floor
130
150
50
12
30
75
o
142
Put the Planks in Position
130
153.5
50
30
75
o
143
Mark the lengths and angle
130
150
50
12
30
75
o
144
Cut the planks and position them
130
150
50
12
30
75
o
145
Add Gussets
130
150
50
12
30
75
o
146
Nail all gussets on the frame
130
150
50
12
30
75
o
147
Make another Frame but of
different Size
130
150
50
18
75
o
12
148
Cut the Pieces
130
153.5
50
18
75
o
12
149
Nail the gussets on one side only
130
150
50
18
75
o
12
150
Insert the element into the
other frame crosswise
First
Frame
151
Add the other leg
152
Nail the gussets
153
Secure it with another cross
brace
154
See how the two frames are
interlocked
1
2
155
As next we need the braces
150
90
30
34cm
58cm
80cm
Length
156
Cut the braces 45
o
34cm
58cm
80cm
Length
You need 4 Nos. of each length
Nail the Braces into Position
158
50X50
Braces and Legs form a Leg
Frame
The inner
cross
braces are
not shown
159
With 2 Donkeys and a Plank
40mm Plank
It will be safe to climb
Fair Face Brickwork
Wire cut bricks especially the ones
made of white clay can form a very
beautiful surface without any
plastering and painting.
161
Fair face techniques
Fair face brickwork cannot be made in the
usual manner since the face of the bricks
would be spoiled by cement and the spaces
would not be neat
The face brickwork must not come in
touch with the mortar since cement cannot
be washed away
The spaces need to be very accurate
162
Strips of wood are required for accurate spacing.
1cm
2cm
2cm
Put the strips on both sides
163
Fill the space in between with mortar
Level the mortar accurately

164
Remove the strips and you will have an
even layer of mortar to place the bricks on


165
Put some mortar on the
brick exactly on the spots
as shown




166
And put the brick into
position along the
guideline

167
Level the vertical spaces with a 10mm narrow trowel

168
Do not fill the spaces. They fill up when you do
the next layer and some air is good as well: it
insulates!

169
Notes
Fair face brickwork can be used
inside the building as well.

It is an interesting feature, enhances the
beauty and what is more, since no
painting is involved, maintenance is
easy,
for the fair face brick wall can be washed.
170
However, there is one
detail one has to give
attention to:
Electrical conduits and
water pipes need to be
buried in the wall
invisibly.
There is one way to do it:
The cavity wall.

171
Cavity Wall
35cm
Conduits
Wall plug
point
The void works as a
insulation. Water and
heat is kept in the
outer wall.
The two half stone walls
are joint with mild
steel bars every 50cm.
172
Sewerage Brickwork
Septic Tank and Soakage Pit
173
Septic Tank Construction
Lid
Marking
Bricks
Ground
Level
3m
1.50 1.50
Manho
le
Concret
e slab
2
nd

Sedimen
tation
1
st
Sedime
ntation
174
Two Chamber Purification
Access
in case
of
blockag
e
1
st
stage 2
nd
stage
175
Safety
Keep the size
large enough to
work in the pit!
Slope the sides
if there is weak
soil to prevent
them from
collapsing
176
Two Chamber Construction
First Course
Interlinke
d by a
quarter
177
Two Chamber Construction
Second Course
178
Soakage Pit
The soakage pit is designed to disperse the
sewage in the soil
It must therefore provide ample openings
to enter the soil from all sides

179
Sewage dispersed in soil
Sewage from Septic
Tank
180
If the pit were just a hole it
would collapse in time
Pressure
from the
Soil
181
Brickwork in cylindrical shape
provides maximum Stability
Pressure
from the
Soil
3m
2m
182
Open spaces allow the sewage to
seep through
No
Mortar!!
Sewag
e
183
Soakage through the Floor Soil
Mortar
Open
Spaces
Soil
184
Ventilation Pipe
From
septic
Tank
Methan
ol Gas
and
Pressur
e
release
for
incomin
g
sewage
Soakage
Pit