Bricks contain colour and texture that help create style, but the way bricks are laid also adds to the design outcome.
Whether your project requires a traditional, uniform look or there's a requirement for something more unique, there are many patterns to choose from to bring your brick project to life. It's not just the pattern that affects the overall look of the brick bond pattern; the side of the bricks that is exposed will also contribute to the design. Some patterns use the side, face or end of the brick to create a design.
Proficient brick bonding, with a well-laid pattern, makes brickwork cohesive in both structure and composition, maximising its integrity, strength, and aesthetic appeal. By understanding the visual outcomes the various brick bond patterns create, you will be able to select the one that suits your project best. Below are the most common brick patterns used in bricklaying today.
Stretcher bond
Stack bond A stack bond is the brick bond pattern to choose if you are looking to really show off and make your brick's aesthetic qualities shine. Stack bond is made up of rows of stretchers with each stretcher directly centred on the stretcher below it. All joints run vertically down the wall, with the horizontal edge joints and vertical edge joints being continuous. However, it is not a structural bond, and is usually used as an aesthetic accent for interior or exterior feature walls or splashbacks on non-loadbearing walls.
Stack bond
A stack bond is the brick bond pattern to choose if you are looking to really show off and make your brick’s aesthetic qualities shine. Stack bond is made up of rows of stretchers with each stretcher directly centred on the stretcher below it. All joints run vertically down the wall, with the horizontal edge joints and vertical edge joints being continuous. However, it is not a structural bond, and is usually used as an aesthetic accent for interior or exterior feature walls or splashbacks on non-loadbearing walls.
Common bond
The common bond is also known by some as the American bond and involves a course of full headers being inserted every six courses (one brick and the mortar together is equal to one 'course'. A header is always centred on one of the stretchers, and the joints of each course of headers should always align. This bond is ideal for garden or feature walls.
Flemish bond
Flemish bond is a popular bricklaying pattern that's created by alternately laying headers and stretchers in a single course of brick. After the first course has been laid, the next course is laid so that a header lies in the middle of the original stretcher course. This brick bond pattern tends to be slightly weaker than the English bond when it's one brick thick, however is still commonly used and includes a little more cutting and shaping work.
English cross or dutch bond
An English cross or Dutch bond brick laying pattern is made up of alternating courses between headers and stretchers, producing a solid and sturdy wall that is thick in depth, easy to lay, and highly durable for a wall that's only one brick thick. In this brick laying pattern, the stretcher course is started with a three-quarter brick each time it is laid. English cross or Dutch bond is a common brick laying pattern for viaducts, bridges, embankments, and other civil engineering architecture projects.
Herringbone bond
The herringbone bond is a variety of raking bond in which units are laid at an angle of 45° to the direction of the row, instead of horizontally. Alternate courses lie in opposing directions, resulting in a zigzag pattern.
Garden wall bond
A garden wall brick bond pattern is actually just a Flemish bond in which three stretchers alternate with the header. Alternatively, if there are two stretchers between each header, then it is known as a 'double stretcher garden wall' bond. Depending on the look you are trying to achieve and the purpose of your wall, four or even five stretchers can also be laid between the headers.
Soldier course
A soldier course (with stretcher bond) brick bond pattern involves bricks being laid standing on their ends with the narrow edge facing out (so they look like little ‘soldiers’.) This brick pattern is sometimes used for interior design and decorative effects, such as in fireplaces and to highlight door and window openings.
Brick laying tips
Here are some tips for laying bricks properly and efficiently so they last for decades.
Make a Clean Cut
Mortar, extruded from tapping the brick down to the string line, should be cut off with an upward stroke of the trowel. This way a clean cut is made without smearing the face of the brick.
Take Care of The Joints
Joints should be tooled progressively as the bricks are laid, when the mortar is firm to thumb pressure. High suction bricks require joints to be tooled more frequently than low suction bricks. Tooling too late produces a 'burned' joint, where the surface may not be smooth and dense.
Smooth the Mortar
After allowing the mortar to undergo initial set, within a day, dry brush mortar smears, to remove any dags, and then wet brush any remaining mortar stains. Mortar that is allowed to set on the masonry face may require high pressure water jet cleaning or more costly, risky methods of cleaning. Cavities shall be free from mortar droppings or other materials that might bridge the cavity and allow transmission of moisture.
Mind the Scaffolding
Scaffolding should be kept at a minimum distance from masonry as specified by relevant standards.
Cover It
When bricklaying is interrupted by rain or rain is expected overnight, masonry should be protected by covering it. Saturated masonry may lead to excessive efflorescence or staining with some bricks.
Best Face Forward
Face bricks are supplied with one face and one header suitable for exposing (i.e. to be seen after laying). Face bricks with unwanted marks, chips or cracks on a header should be laid with that header inside a mortared joint. Face bricks with unwanted marks, chips or cracks on the face should be set aside by the bricklayer (or labourer) for use as commons or when brick cuts are required.
Blend the Bricks
PGH bricks are made from clay; a natural, versatile and highly durable material. Variation in both the clay and firing process means textures, composition, size and colour can vary from batch to batch. Poorly blended bricks may show unwanted patches, streaks and bands of colour in the finished masonry. In order to avoid this all bricks required for the project, or as many packs as will fit, should be delivered at one time and stored on site and bricks should be drawn from at least four packs simultaneously, working down from the corners of each pack.
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