Bond A
bond is the patterned arrangement of brick or stone in a wall.
The brick must be lapped upon one another, to prevent vertical
joints from falling over each other.
Mortar Mortar is a pasty building material composed of sand,
lime and cement mixed with water. This mixture gradually hardens
when exposed to the air. Mortar is used as a joining medium in
brick and stone construction.
Joint A joint is the mortar bond placed between individual
masonry units such as brick, block or stone.
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Wall Laid in English
Bond
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When a brick is laid down
the mason must decide which side of the brick will face outside
towards the viewer. Will the brick be set flat or will it stand
up? Will the wide side or the narrow side face out? The following
are terms which describe how the brick is set. Is it vertical
or horizontal? Does it show the long or or the short side? Does
it show the narrow or the wide side? Is it laid down on the narrow
edge or the wide edge?
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Course Setting a course means to arrange in a row. A row of bricks,
when laid in a wall, is called a course. It is a continuous level
range or row of brick or masonry throughout the face or faces
of a building. Each horizontal layer of brick in a masonry structure
is called a course. Brick laid flat and perpendicular to the face
of the wall are called headers. A header course consists entirely
of headers (horizontal, short, narrow side laid on wide edge).
Rowlock Occasionally a special type of course is used for either
structural or decorative purposes. The rowlock or rolok is similar
to the header course except that the brick are laid on narrow
or face edge. This type of course is often used as the top course
or cap of garden walls and as window and door sills (horizontal,
short, narrow side laid on narrow edge).
Stretcher Brick laid flat with the long face parallel to the
wall are called a stretchers. When all the brick in the course
are laid in this manner, it is called a stretcher course. (horizontal,
long, narrow)
Soldier A soldier course is one in which brick are laid standing
on end with the narrow edge facing out. This type of course is
sometimes used for decorative effects over door and window openings
and in fireplace facings (vertical, long, narrow).
Sailor A sailor course is similar to the soldier course but
with the wide edge facing out. It is used for decorative effects
(vertical, long, wide).
The width of a masonry structure can be measured
by stretchers and joints. The height of a masonry structure can
be measured by courses and joints.
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