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Styles of Brick Walls

Although bricklaying may be more expensive and time-consuming than other construction methods, once brick is up, it cannot be felled by rotting, it is impervious to termites and even resists unexpected onslaughts -- like that of rhinos; the Ohio zoo had to rebuild its rhinoceros pen in brick. The very style of a brick wall has a certain aesthetic appeal. Brick wall styles feature patterns called "bonds," formed by how the brick is laid. If a brick is laid so the short end faces out, that is called a "header." If the long side faces out, the term "stretcher" is used. Intermixing stretchers and headers can make for beautiful bonds. Bonds also determine the strength of a wall.

  1. English Bond

    • The English bond is also called the ancient bond, as it was employed in ancient Rome. This wall style was used exclusively up to the 17th century. The wall is built by alternating rows -- called "courses" in the trade -- of stretchers and headers.

    English Cross Bond

    • Headers and stretchers are never stacked so that joints line up.

      This bond is the same as the English bond, except that the bricks are laid so the joints between each brick never form a continuous line between courses. This method produces a strong wall, the strongest of all the styles.

    Flemish Bond

    • The Flemish bond is one of the strongest wall styles.

      This style alternates headers and stretchers within each course, with each header centered beneath the middle of a stretcher in the course above. After the English bond, the Flemish bond is the strongest.

    Running Bond

    • A stretcher wall can be aesthetically enhanced by varying brick colors.

      Also called the stretcher bond because it is formed exclusively from stretchers, the running bond has no structural strength and, thus, requires a supporting wall. A running bond is often used as a veneer.

    Flemish Stretcher Bond

    • This style combines two styles by regularly inserting a course laid as if for the Flemish bond into courses of stretchers.

    Common Bond

    • Including headers makes a wall stronger than a running bond.

      This style, also known as the American bond, features several courses of stretchers interrupted by a course of headers. Though it came into use in the 1700s, it was applied to more construction in the 1800s.

    Stack Bond

    • This is the weakest type of brick wall and can only be used decoratively. Rows of stretchers are stacked so that they and their joints align vertically.

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Walls
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