Brick Masonry

What is Brick masonry

Work?

What is Brick masonry Work?

Brick work is an important part of construction work done with the
help of bricks and cement mortar. It is done with different quality of
bricks with different ratios of cement mortar according to the
requirement. It is done in different parts of the building/structure
according to the requirement/ architectural design of the buildings
Brick work in foundation - Brick work in foundation is done to
transfer the load of super structure to the ground. The width of the
brick work in foundation is taken according to the load coming on it.
The load of super structure is divided into various steps of brick
works in foundation below plinth level. Care may be taken that all
steps should accommodate in the ground..
Brick work in super structure - Brick work above plinth level is
called brick work in super structure. Brick work in super structure
transfer the load of RCC beam and slabs to the foundation of the
walls. Doors, windows and ventilators are accommodated in this part
of brick work. This part of the building is used to divide the space
into required room etc. Outer walls may be used for ornamental
design of the building.

What is Brick masonry Work?

Brick work in parapet - Brick wall constructed on roof slab on
terrace is called parapet walls. Parapet walls are necessary to protect
persons using terrace from falling. It is also necessary to construct
parapet wall for the safety of the joints of outer wall and RCC slab. It
also adds to the beauty of the building.
Brick work in partition walls/half brick walls - The partition
walls are required to divide the space according to the design. The
thickness of these walls is 4.5 inches. Due to thin section of the wall
the usable space is increased. As there is no load on these walls so
they can be changed easily when any additional/alternation is
required in the building. The cost of thin walls is less hence they are
economical.
Brick tiles masonry - For enhancing the beauty of buildings, the
exterior/exposed surface of wall is constructed with the brick tiles
according to the architectural drawings. For making this design brick
tile masonry is done on required walls which is shown in the
elevation of drawings.
Brick jali - Brick Jali is constructed to enhance the beauty of the
building. In veranda brick Jali gives extra air and light and protects
from rain up to some extant. It saves the cost of the walls.

Brick work in arch - Arch is constructed to beautify the building.

These are provided in openings to save the cost of RCC lintel.
Brick work according to cement mortar ratio
1.First class brick work in cement sand mortar 1:4 - Brick walls
constructed with cement sand mortar 1:4 ratio means 1 part of
cement and 4 parts of sand. This mortar is of high strength and is
recommended for following construction works.
Multi storey buildings
Heavy weight /load bearing walls
In earth quake zones
Brick pillars
Where there is more vibration due to heavy traffic or factory.
Boundary wall, courtyard wall parapet wall & free end walls
Partition or 4.5 inch thick walls
Brick works used for drainage

Brick work according to cement mortar ratio

2. First Class Brick Work in cement sand mortar 1:6
Brick walls constructed with cement sand mortar 1:6 ratio means 1
part of cement and 6 parts of sand. This mortar is of medium
strength and is recommended for following construction works.
Three storey buildings
Load bearing walls
Heavy and frequent rainy zones
Foundation of multi storey buildings
3. First Class Brick Work 1:7
Brick walls constructed with cement sand mortar in the ratio of 1:7
means 1 part of cement and 7 parts of sand. This mortar is low in
strength and is recommended for following works.
Toe walls
Single storey buildings
Temporary structures
Light weight walls having no load of beams etc.
Note: Mortar richer than 1:3 are not used in masonry because
of high shrinkage and no appreciable gain in strength of
masonry although mortar strength itself may increase.

Classification of Bricks

Classification of Bricks
1. First Class Bricks
a. These bricks are well burnt, perfect rectangular shape, smooth
and even surface , free from cracks
b. They have uniform brick red colour
c. They have uniform compact texture
d. When struck with each other then these give clear metallic
ringing sound
e. When scratched with finger nail, no impression is left
f. These may have very less presence of efflorescence
g. Uses these bricks are used for good quality of works when no
plaster is applied
2. Second Class Bricks
a. These bricks are well burnt, some what irregular in shape and
size, have slightly rough surfaces
b. These have brick red colour, these bricks may be slightly over
burnt
c. They have uniform compact texture
d. When scratched with finger nail, no impression is left
e. These bricks should not absorb water more than 22% by weight
when kept immersed in water for 24 hrs
f. Uses these bircks are to be used for internal walls which are
not exposed to atmosphere or when walls are to be plastered

Classification of Bricks
3. Third Class Bricks
a. These bricks are not burnt properly
b. They bricks have irregular shape and size and uneven faces
c. These are soft and lighter in colour
d. When struck with each other, these will give dull sound
e. When scratched with finger nail, impression is formed
f. Water absorbtion should not be more than 25% by weight
g. These bricks shows moderate efflorescence
h. Uses these bricks are used for inferior type of construction
and at places where rainfall or dampness is less.
4. Over Burnt (or) Jhama Bricks
a. These bricks are over burnt and loose their shape, get
distorted.
b. The color of bricks is dark blue
c. They have uniform compact texture
d. Uses - these bricks can be used in foundation of structures,
as concrete aggregate, as road metal and in floors as soling
material.

Tests available to Check

the Quality of Bricks

Tests available for Bricks

1. Field Tests
a. Uniformity in shape and size test
b. Colour test
c. Hardness Test
d. Soundness Test
e. Strength test
2. Laboratory Tests
a. Test for Compressive strength
b. Test for Water Absorption
c. Test for Efflorescence

Possible defects occurred

during the Construction

Common defects in brick work and cement mortar

1. Raw materials like brick, sand, cement and water are of sub
standard quality without qualifying any test.
2. Bricks are not soaked in water properly.
3. The joints in brick works are thicker, unfilled properly.
4. Raking of mortar is not done when the mortar is green.
5. Bricks bats are used in masonry work.
6. Mortar is not mixed properly on platform.
7. There is improper mixing of cement mortar
8. There is excessive water content in mortar
9. Brick work is not in plumb, level and straight line.
10.Mortar is not according to the structural requirements.
11.There are gaps between door/window frame and masonry.
12.The holes of scaffolding are not filled in with mortar properly.

Common defects in brick work and cement mortar

13.Vertical joints in brick work are hollow.
14.There is high suction of brick and less water retention of mortar
15.There are uneven joints in brick works
16.There are voids in vertical joints
17.There are disturbances of brick works just after the layout
18.Over thick joints reducing the strength of brick work.

Quality Precautions to
avoid the Defects

Precautions in brick work

1. The length and width of the walls should be according to the
drawings.
2. The quality of bricks should be good having required strength and
should not show any efflorescence (salt on face).
3. The sand should not have fine grains and be free from silt etc.
The sand used for brick mortar should be of required FM
(Coarser) with no silt.
4. The mixing of mortar should be proper with required quantity of
water. It should not be dry or liquid.
5. The opening of doors and windows should be left simultaneously,
not by dismantling.
6. During the brick work in a building the Rain water and Sanitary
pipes should be fixed during the brick work other wise the brick
work would have to be dismantled to fix the pipes.

Precautions in brick work

7. The bricks are soaked in water before use otherwise these will
absorb water from the mortar and the bonding will be weak
8. The water should penetrate to the core of the brick but the brick
should be skin dry i.e. from outside when its used in actual.
9. The frog or depression side of the brick should be upwards.
10.Minimum number of bats is used.
11.Bricks are absolutely aligned horizontally and in a straight line.
This can be checked by a stretched string across the face.
12.The bricks are vertically aligned which can be checked with a
plumb bob.
13.The courses or layers of bricks are level. This can be checked
with a spirit level.
14.The thickness of joints is not more than 1 cm.

Precautions in brick work

15.The joints should be filled with mortar fully without any gaps.
16.The joints are pushed inside when cement mortar is still wet so
that later plastering can be done effectively.
17.Brick work should be kept wet for seven days so that the mortar
may gain its full strength.
18.There are no continuous vertical joints
19.Bricks, sand and cement used in brick work should be according
to their specifications

Tools Required for

Construction of Brick
Masonry

Tools recommended for brick work

Wooden setting out square
Spirit level
Water level
Boning rod
Plumb rule
Laying trowel
Brick hammer
Lump hammer and bolster chisel.
Double end comb hammer
Straight edge
Brick work gauge rod
Checking the accuracy of spirit plumb level

Required Properties of
Good Quality of Bricks

Required Properties of Good Bricks

Shape & Size - the bricks must be regular in shape and uniform
in size and their edges should be square, straight, and sharply
defined and their surfaces should be even, not hollow; not too
smooth, or the mortar will not adhere to them.
Absorption - The proportion of water that a brick will absorb is a
very good indication of its quality. Insufficiently burnt bricks absorb
a large proportion and are sure to decay in a short time. It is
generally stated in books that a good brick should not absorb more
than 20% of its weight of water in 24 hrs.

Required Properties of Good Bricks

Texture - Good bricks should be hard, and burnt so thoroughly
that there is incipient vitrification all through the brick. This may be
seen by examining a fractured surface, or the surface may be tested
with a knife, which will make hardly any impression upon it unless
the brick is under burnt. A brick thoroughly burnt and sound will
give out a ringing sound when struck against another. A dull sound
indicates a soft or shaky brick. A well-burnt brick will be very hard,
and possesses great power of resistance to compression.
Others when the brick is allowed to fall from 1mtr height, there
should not be any crack in the brick. The compressive strenght of
brick should be more than 3.50N/mm^2

Types of Bonds and

Common Terms used in
the Brick Masonry

Common Terms used in the Brick Masonry

Header - a brick laid flat with the short end of the brick exposed.
Stretcher - a brick laid horizontally, flat with the long side of the
brick exposed on the outer face of a wall
Bed joint the horizontal mortar joints between two sucessive
course are known as bed joints
Lap the horizontal distance between the two vertical joints of
two layer is called as Lap
Perpends these are vertical joints between the bricks, they are
also called cross joints
Closer the portion of brick obtained by cutting a standard brick
across its length so that its stretches remains either uncut or . Half
cut is known as a closer
King Closer the portion of standard brick obtained by cutting off
a triangular piece between the centre of one of header face and the
centre of one stretcher face is called a king closer.

Common Terms used in the Brick Masonry

Queen Closer this is a half brick cut longitudinally. This is
placed next to the first brick in a header coarse.
Bevelled Closer - here the brick is cut longitudinally but the cut
will be 45 deg slope i.e. it will be longitudinal triangle shape
Bat - a cut brick. A quarter bat is one quarter the length of a
stretcher. A half bat is one half.
Types of Bond in Brick masonry
Header Bond - Using only the header (end) of the brick as the
facing wall. This is particularly strong as the width of the wall is the
whole length of a brick.
Stretcher bond - The simplest to lay, and therefore the most
common, the bricks are laid flat long side to the face of the wall.
English Bond

Types of Bond in Brick masonry

Flemish Bond - Bricks are laid flat one long side face and another to
header end face. Also known as Dutch bond. Variants have the header
bricks at every third or fourth brick.
English Bond One course in stretcher bond, and one course in
header bond.
Garden Wall Bond - Three courses of stretchers to one of headers.
Raking Bond
a. Diagonal Bond This form of bond is used for the same
purpose as diagonal bond in walls three bricks thick and
upwards, but is most commonly used for walls over four bricks
thick. The facings are laid in the usual manner, and the interior of
the herring-boned course is filled up with bricks laid as shown in
Figs
b. Zig Zag bond - Often used as infill to timber frame buildings,
the bricks are laid at 45 in a zig-zag pattern .

Header Bond

Stretcher Bond

Flemish Bond

English Bond

Diagonal Bond

Garden Wall Bond

Zig Zag Bond

General photos

Extruded Wire Cut

Extruded Smooth

Wood Mold
Extruded Raked

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Joint Color that Blends w/ Brick

Color
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Basic Brickwork
Terminology
Head
Joint
Bed
Joint

Course - horizontal layer of brick

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Basic Brickwork
Terminology
Header - Bonds two wythes
together
Wythe: vertical layer 1 unit
thick

Rowlock laid on
face,
end visible
Stretcher - long dimension

horizontal
& face parallel to the wall

Soldier - Laid on its end, face

parallel

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Brick Bonds
Structural Bonds
Cavity (Veneer) Walls

Running bond
Stacked bond

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Concave Joints

Raked Joints

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