As part of the RICS competency on construction technology, bricks are used today. Technical and illustration is needed to explain the different bonds and bricks.
As part of the RICS competency on construction technology, bricks are used today. Technical and illustration is needed to explain the different bonds and bricks.
Bricks in general
The size of bricks and blocks can make a big difference to the construction process because they are important materials. There are many types of bricks and blocks that could be used in construction, but there’s one size that affects how everything else will be built.
The size of bricks and blocks can make a big difference to the construction process because they are important materials. There are many types of bricks and blocks that could be used in construction, but there’s one size that affects how everything else will be built.
Bricks and blocks are man-made concrete building materials that can be used to build anything. They are made of a variety of materials, such as terra cotta, travertine or clay bricks.
Bricks and blocks are man-made concrete building materials that can be used to build anything. They are made of a variety of materials, such as terra cotta, travertine or clay bricks.
Stone is quarried and shaped, but it also often occurs naturally. Additionally, it was often used as it was found below cliffs or outcrops or on beaches, or from the general stones on or in the ground.
Stone is quarried and shaped, but it also often occurs naturally. Additionally, it was often used as it was found below cliffs or outcrops or on beaches, or from the general stones on or in the ground.
Mortar is a type of material used to bind bricks and blocks together.
Bricks are made in different sizes, but in this text we’ll only focus on the standard metric brick.
Brick manufacture is complicated, because the final size of a brick can be slightly different from what you expect.
The nominal size of a brick is the difference between the working and coordinating dimensions.
The nominal size of a brick is the difference between the working and coordinating dimensions. The usual nominal size is 10 mm, with a layer of mortar into which the bricks are pressed when laid. Most often this nominal size is the thickness of six bricks or one inch- American units.
Our content is sized according to importance, rather than just by time.
Our content is sized according to importance, rather than just by time.
The term nominal sizing refers to the size given by a manufacturer that allows for slight variation. The variations in size – larger or smaller – are generally given in British Standards. Variations on individual bricks may vary, as they’re allowed an extra few millimeters as they are pressed into the mortar, but they will fall between the dimensions width of 225mm and thickness of 75mm.
The term nominal sizing refers to the size given by a manufacturer that allows for slight variation. The variations in size – larger or smaller – are generally given in British Standards. Variations on individual bricks may vary, as they’re allowed an extra few millimeters as they are pressed into the mortar, but they will fall between the dimensions width of 225mm and thickness of 75mm.
Durability of bricks
Durability is an important consideration when building in areas with freezing temperatures or high levels of salt. For a classification of durability, see BS 3921.
Durability is an important consideration when building in areas with freezing temperatures or high levels of salt. For a classification of durability, see BS 3921.
The durability of brickwork is dependent on two factors: resistance to frost and soluble salt content. Frost resistance falls into three classes: frost resistant (F), moderately frost resistant (M) or not frost resistant (O). Soluble salt content is classed as either low (L) or normal (N). So, one could have a brick that is frost resistant with normal soluble salts content and this would be classified as FN. Likewise, a brick that had no frost resistance and had low soluble salt content would be classified as OL.
Mortar joints
Mortar placed below or on top of bricks is called a bed. Mortar placed vertically in between bricks is called a perpend.
Mortar placed below or on top of bricks is called a bed. Mortar placed vertically in between bricks is called a perpend.
Mortar placed below or on top of bricks is called a bed. Mortar placed vertically in between bricks is called a perpend.
Coordinating sizes
Regularly spaced, matching sizes allow these bricks to be pieced together in a number of different ways. Building brickwork to the specific coordinate size is important for achieving the desired appearance.
Other elements like bits, lints, and window halves are manufactured to fit openings that are calibrated in whole or cut bricks.
When creating a brickwork design, you should make sure that the bricks are all the same size so they will fit properly.
The height of the lintel is 176 mm, or 3 x 65 mm.
The height of the lintel is 176 mm, or 3 x 65 mm.
The durability of brickwork is dependent on two factors: resistance to frost and soluble salt content. Frost resistance falls into three classes: frost resistant (F), moderately frost resistant (M) or not frost resistant (O). Soluble salt content is classed as either low (L) or normal (N). So, one could have a brick that is frost resistant with normal soluble salts content and this would be classified as FN. Likewise, a brick that had no frost resistance and had low soluble salt content would be classified as OL.
cellular bricks
Bricks can be manufactured to fulfill many different functions, such as adding structural support, resisting moisture absorption, or being used as decoration.
The majority of bricks used are from the ‘All other’ category, but don’t have a problem resisting the weight of most buildings. That being said, it’s important to remember that there are limits for bricks when it comes to absorbing water. If bricks will be used for an external wall and you want them to resist weather, it would be foolish to use extremely absorbent bricks or let the absorption level for engineering bricks fall below those required by DPC. At the same time, if a DPC is not in place and you’re using less than average water-absorbing bricks, this might not be necessary and could actually end up causing problems down the road.
The majority of bricks used are from the ‘all other’ category, but don’t have a problem resisting the weight of most buildings.
However, it’s essential to remember that there are limits for bricks when it comes to absorbing water.
If bricks will be used for an external wall and you want them to resist weather, it would be foolish to use extremely absorbent bricks or let the absorption level for engineering bricks fall below those required by DPC.
At the same time, if a DPC is not in place and you’re using less than average water-absorbing bricks, this might not be necessary and could actually end up causing problems down the road.
The vast majority of bricks used are in the “all other” category, but this compressive strength is perfectly adequate for all but the most severe loadings.
However, the water absorption should be limited if you need your external walls to resist weather conditions.
It would be foolish to build a wall that has bricks that can absorb lots of water if these bricks were going to become damaged from weather conditions.
On the other hand, if the brick is low on water absorption and you’re required to use drying agents, it might be an unnecessary expense.
Testing of bricks
Brick must be tested to comply with British Standards.
The tests typically include dimensions, soluble salt content, efflorescence, compressive strength, and water absorption.
Bonding of Bricks to form walls (types of bonds)
One of the first building concepts ever developed–bonding bricks together–is still being used today. This quality of a wall is created with layers and various patterns that change from course to course. You can mold your bonding pattern by changing the cut and whole bricks in these layers, or even by using bricks that are shaped differently than standard rectangles.
Cutting a brick in half can be tricky. It’s easy to draw out the lines correctly, but it’s not so easy to cut along the lines with precision. Fortunately, there is a simple solution that will work for any type of brick – even one that has been damaged or deteriorated. By cutting the brick along its half height, you create the perfect surface against which to rest other bricks. You could call this cut a ‘half batt’.
Building walls with straight vertical ends is possible because of the simple cut at the end of the brick.
English bond is a complex pattern used in situations where the wall has a thickness of 215 mm or one brick.
For walls thicker than one brick, a further development for bonding comes into play.
Wall Thickness
What are the thickness of walls
Stretcher or common bond
Before we begin, you should know that this is not a complete list of bonds or situations. When reading other texts, you’ll find variations on the bonds discussed here and many other types of intersections and thicknesses.
Before we begin, you should know that this is not a complete list of bonds or situations. When reading other texts, you’ll find variations on the bonds discussed here and many other types of intersections and thicknesses.
Stretcher or common bond
The first and most basic form of bond is illustrated here.
The first and most basic form of bond is illustrated here.
- This bond is not so strong as English bond
- It is used on walls made of one brick width.
- Noting how the width of a secant varies in direct proportion to the wall thickness, one can see that
The decorative pattern on the face of walls shows alternate headers and stretchers in each course, with the headers centered under and over the stretchers in adjacent courses.
Quetta bond
Quetta bond
This drawing is the sectional bond. The hatched portion is a void, not the actual sectional bond. This is an attempt to produce a more weather-resistant form of wall than the one brick, solid wall commonly used in housing at the time without using any more bricks or splitting the wall into two layers joined with wall ties. This idea never took off because, although it does provide a way for moisture from outside to travel onto the inside surface of the wall, it adds another step to production and slows down construction.
This drawing is the sectional bond. The hatched portion is a void, not the actual sectional bond. This is an attempt to produce a more weather-resistant form of wall than the one brick, solid wall commonly used in housing at the time without using any more bricks or splitting the wall into two layers joined with wall ties. This idea never took off because, although it does provide a way for moisture from outside to travel onto the inside surface of the wall, it adds another step to production and slows down construction.
Bricks are the most common type of masonry wall we see today. They’re all layed on edge (or stacked vertically). Due to this, our walls are 1 and a half bricks thick.
When building bond with bricks on edge, there are a few things to keep in mind:
This type of bond uses bricks and concrete. Reinforcing rods are installed in weakened brick bonds to strengthen the walls.
For example, for brickwork that is complete and mortar has hardened, concrete is then poured into the gaps between the bricks and rods.
This type of construction may not be an economically-feasible solution for keeping out the weather once the cost of overcoating is added, but it is a good option for noninhabitable buildings or garden walls because they don’t require as much upkeep.
This type of bond uses bricks and concrete. Reinforcing rods are installed in weakened brick bonds to strengthen the walls.
For example, for brickwork that is complete and mortar has hardened, concrete is then poured into the gaps between the bricks and rods.
This type of construction may not be an economically-feasible solution for keeping out the weather once the cost of overcoating is added.
However, it is a good option for noninhabitable buildings or garden walls because they don’t require as much upkeep.
Rattrap bond
Like the Quetta bond, the Rattrap bond are laid on edge, which can result in an interesting face pattern. The following information about Quetta bond applies equally to Rattrap bond, with a very low chance of keeping out weather effects. A stronger bond than Quetta, Rattrap is often used for industrial or agricultural buildings. It can be made more weatherproof by over-cladding, and the bond usually involves one stretcher to one header, as seen in the illustration above
Conclusion
I hope this answers the different types of brick bonds, the sizes and common misconceptions about working with bricks. I sure have learnt the two new bonds of Quetta and rattrap bonds from doing this research.
Construction Technology: an illustrated introduction by Eric Fleming
If there are any mistakes or suggestions, please do not hesitate to leave a comment below.