English Bond and Flemish bond

There are various types of bonds used for the construction of masonry in various types of buildings, here we will learn the major difference between English Bond and Flemish Bond.

A brick construction pattern with alternating courses of brick placed as stretchers and headers forms an English bond while a Flemish bond is a brick construction pattern in the identical courses of stretchers and headers for each course.

Difference between English Bonds and Flemish bond:

English Bond	Flemish bond
English bonds are costly because the usage of brick and stone isn’t allowed.	Flemish bonds are economical because brick & stone are allowed to use in construction.
It doesn’t require lots of consideration to provide this bond.	It requires particular consideration for providing this bond.
This bond provides a thicker look, especially for brick thick walls.	This bond provides a very good look for all thickness of walls.
It consists of headers and stretchers positioned in alternative courses.	It consists of headers and stretchers which can be positioned alternately in each course.
Work progress is excessive.	Work progress is less excessive.
The structure constructed on this bond has no noticeable steady vertical joints.	The structure constructed on this bond has partially steady vertical joints.
It is the strongest of all of the bonds.	It is much less sturdy for walls with thicknesses better than 13 ½ inches.

English Bond and Flemish bond:

1) ENGLISH BOND:

The brick bonds, in which headers and stretchers are laid in alternate courses known as “English bond”.

The following are the salient features of English bond:

• Headers and stretchers are laid in alternate courses.
• Each optional header in the course falls jointly between the two stretchers in the course with an approximate lap of 2 ¼ in.
• The identical course will show headers on the face and stretchers on the face again and vice versa, if the thickness of the wall is an odd multiple of half-brick (13 ½ in, 22½, and so on.)
• Each transverse joint is steady from face to face, the middle part of the thick walls consists of headers.
• The identical course will show headers or stretchers on the face and back if the thickness of the wall is an efficient multiple of half the bricks (such as 9 inches, 18 inches, 27 inches, and so forth.)
• In each header course, one queen closer is positioned after the queen header and the remaining bricks are placed as headers.
• The middle portion of the thicker walls consists entirely of headers.

 2) FLEMISH BOND:

The bond, wherein headers and stretchers are laid alternately in the identical course is known as “Flemish bond”.

The following are the salient features of Flemish bond:

• Headers and stretchers are laid alternately in the identical course.
• In each optional course, a queen is positioned close to the quoin after the header, to supply a lap of about 2 ¼ in.
• Brickbats should be used in walls with a thickness equal to more than one-half brick.
• Each header in every course lies centrally over each stretcher of the underlying course.

Types of Flemish Bond:

Single Flemish Bond:

The wall provided with the Flemish bond throughout the facing and English bond throughout the backing is called “single Flemish bond” or “cross bond”.

This bond combines some great benefits of each English and Flemish bonds as well as eliminates their disadvantages.

This bond is beneficial where costly bricks are encountered to supply a very good look on the wall and it may be extra economical by using cheaper high quality of bricks behind the wall.

However, it weakens the general strength of the wall due to the maximum use of brick and the existence of steady vertical joints.

In addition, it can’t be offered in walls with thicknesses lower than 13½ in.

 Double Flemish Bond:

The bond wherein the headers and stretchers are laid alternately in every course, each in front and behind the wall is known as a double Flemish bond.

Also read: Brick Masonry, Types of Bricks & Standard Brick Size

Conclusion:

In English bond, the presence on the facing is not pleasing whereas, in the Flemish bond, the presence on the facing is pleasing.