Brick Masonry Terms: The Basic Top

10

JOINT
The junction of two or more masonry pieces leaving a
space between the bricks or concrete masonry units
that are filled with mortar or grout. If the joint is
parallel to the bed of masonry pieces in a course, it is
termed as bed joint. If the joint is perpendicular, then
the bed joints are termed vertical joints, side joints,
head joints, or just joints. You can find below the
different mortar joint types.
BED
The bed is the horizontal layer of mortar where brick
or stone units are laid.

FROG
A perforation or hole on the longer face of a brick
made with the object of forming an indentation for the
mortar. This hollow depression also reduces the
weight and makes it easier to handle. The depth of the
frog is usually between 10 to 20 mm. Frogged bricks
should lay with the frog upward and fill up with
mortar. The reason is to obtain higher strength,
stability, and sound insulation.

HEADER SIDE
The shorter side or end face of a piece of brick that is
exposed.

STRETCHER SIDE
The longer narrow side or face of a piece of brick that
is exposed.

COURSE
A continuous horizontal layer of similar bricks or
stones that are bonded with mortar in a masonry
structure and is one unit high. Find below the
different types of courses.

STRETCHER COURSE
A course of bricks or stones that lie with its longest
side parallel to the face of the work. The course of
brickwork in which all the bricks are laid as stretchers
is known as stretcher course. In the example below it
is a course of bricks four stretchers long.
HEADER COURSE
The course of brickwork in which all the bricks are laid
as headers is referred to as header course. Three-
quarter bats are used for the corners. A header course
requires twice as many bricks as a stretcher course
making it more time consuming and expensive to
build.
SOLDIER COURSE
Bricks that are set with the narrow side exposed are
called soldiers. Bricks laid vertically with its long
narrow sides presented (Soldiers) in a row is called a
soldier course. Usually used to add visual interest to a
masonry structure.

Brick Masonry Terms: The Advanced

Terms
In here you will find the rest of the masonry terms that
you could run into if you start a masonry project.
ANCHORS
Masonry anchors are a metal or strap usually made of
brass, stainless steel or galvanized steel. Anchors are
used to tying a wall (brick, block or stone) to another
structure.

ARRIS
The sharp corner edges of a brick.

ASHLAR MASONRY
Masonry that is composed of variable size rectangular
units that have sawed, dressed, or squared bed
surfaces, properly bonded and laid in mortar. These
masonry units are precisely cut on all faces that are
next to other masonry units and normally have very
thin joints.
BACK
The interior surface of a brick wall which is not
exposed is named the back. The material forming the
back is called the backing.1

BAT
The portion of brick that is cut across the width.
Three Quarter Bat
When the length of the bat is equal to three-quarters
of the length of the original brick.

Bevelled Bat
When a bat has its width bevelled.
Half Bat
When the length of a bat is equal to half of the length
of the original brick.

BEVEL
The incline of one surface that meets another of the
same body with the angle being anything but a 90-
degree angle.

BOND
The method of arranging bricks in a pattern so that
the individual units are tied together. Bonding is
crucial to eliminate consecutive vertical joints both in
the body as well as on the face of the wall, as this will
create a weak brick structure. It is also referred as the
adhesion between mortar and brick or stone units and
when attaching several types of masonry walls by
overlapping masonry units.
Stretching Bond
Course of bricks that are all laid as stretchers. It is
also called a running bond. If used as a structural
bond it needs the proper reinforcement.
Heading Bond
Course of bricks that are all laid as headers on the
faces. A three-quarter bat is used in every other
course as quoins and to properly overlap.

Flemish Bond
An alternate course of bricks that are composed of
one header to one stretcher. It can also have
several stretches in a row. Many times, the stretcher
and headers will be of different color to create
patterns.

English Bond
Alternate courses of stretchers and headers.
Considered the strongest bond in brickwork. The
second and the previous to last is a queen closer for
all the heading courses. Alternate color shades are
used for aesthetics.

Stack Bond
Pattern when all courses are perfectly aligned. This
type of bond is used for decorative purposes as it is a
weak masonry structure with no strength.

BULL NOSE
A bull nose brick is a type of brick that has one or
some of its corners rounded off. The are typically used
to build soft and attractive curved edges to
steps, ledges, or in capping walls. There are many
types of bull nose bricks.

Single Bull Nose

One corner of the brick is rounded off.
Double Bull Nose
Two corners of the brick are rounded off.

Cow Nose
Alos called double bull nose; it has both corners of the
brick rounded off at one of the ends.
Single Bull Nose Header
Top header side corner of the brick is rounded off.

Single Bull Nose Stretcher

Top stretcher side corner of the brick is rounded off.

Bull Nose Double Stretcher

Both top stretcher side corners of the brick are
rounded off.

BUTTERING
The act of placing mortar on one face of a masonry
unit with a trowel before is laid. You will want to put as
much mortar as possible on the end of the brick.

BRICK MASONRY
The construction of brick masonry units bonded
together with mortar to form walls.

BRICK TYPES
There are four main types of masonry bricks. Here are
their definitions.

Solid Brick
A solid masonry unit with no cavities, holes or
indentations. A solid brick has a maximum void area
of 25 percent.
Frogged Brick
A masonry unit with a cavity on one of its bed
faces with no more than 20 percent of its volume
hollow.

Cored Brick
A masonry unit that has holes or cores in its cross-
sectional area with no more than 20 percent of its
volume hollow. These cores reduce the weight of the
brick and allow for faster firing of the brick.
Hollow Brick
A masonry unit that has more than 25 percent of its
volume hollow. They can have up to 60 percent of its
volume empty.

BRICKWORK
Walls and other structures made from bricks.

CLOSER
The portion of the brick cut lengthwise in such a
manner that its one long face remains uncut. Usually
used to end a brick course or building beautiful
corners.
Solid Brick
Your typical brick with no cavities or void spaces.

Queen Closer (Half)

The piece of brick taken by cutting a brick lengthwise
into two parts.
Queen Closer (Quarter)
When the queen closer is cut in half, then it is called a
queen closer quarter.

Mitred Closer
These are bricks where one end is cut at an angle
from 45 to 60 degrees.

King Closer
Brick that is obtained by cutting from the center of
one header to the center of the stretcher on the other
side. They are used to finish corners.
Bevelled Closer
Similar to king closer but wit the difference that the
whole length of the brick is beveled.

CONCRETE MASONRY UNIT

Aka "CMU", "Cinder Block”, “Concrete Block”,
"Concrete Brick"; or simply “Block”. A concrete
masonry unit that is made from portland cement,
water, and any suitable aggregates. It may include
other materials.

EXPANSION JOINT
The vertical or horizontal joints that are used to
separate masonry into segments to control cracking.
FACE
The surface of a wall that is exposed or the surface of
brick or stone that is exposed in finished work.

GROUT
A very fluid form of mortar used to fill gaps. It is used
in construction to seal empty areas, and fill joints like
the areas between tiles. It is a mix of water, cement,
sand, and usually, a color tint is added to match the
masonry unit.

HEARTING
The interior portion of a masonry structure wall
between the facing and the backing.

JOINT TYPES
There are eight types of mortar joints.
Concave
The most popular type of joint. It is formed in mortar
by the use of a concave jointer tool. It has a high level
of water resistance due to its recessed profile and the
compacted mortar. It also highlights the quality and
face of the bricks.

Vee
This type of joint, also called "V", is formed by the use
of a V-shaped jointer or a trowel. The joint hides small
irregularities and is water-resistant because the
mortar is compacted and its shape directs water away
from the seal.
Flush
This joint is used when the wall is intended to be
plastered or when you plan to paint the wall. Since the
mortar is not compressed, it is less water-resistant
than some of the other joint types.

Raked
For this joint type, the mortar is raked out to a uniform
depth using a wheeled jointer or brick rake. It is
usually left uncompressed, but if compacted, it will
have better water-resistance. It will still collect water
and be less efficient than the other joints.
Extruded
This joint is formed naturally by the excess mortar
when bricks are squeezed and does not need any
special tooling. It is not recommended for exterior
walls and the extruded material will weaken and erode
over time.

Beaded
Formed by the use of a beaded jointer it produces a
vintage, formal look. These beaded joints create
interesting shadows, but they are not recommended
for exterior use because of their exposed ledges and
the erosion over time leaves the joint weakened and
untidy.
Struck
Mortar is recessed increasingly from the top to the
bottom of the joint, with the bottom end not going
more than 3/8-inch into the wall. It is a very poor
insulator against water, as it will allow water to collect
on its bottom edge and therefore not
recommended for exterior building walls.

Weathered
Mortar is recessed increasingly, using a pointing
trowel, from the bottom to the top of the joint, with
the top end not going more than 3/8-inch into the
wall. This type of joint is highly decorative and can be
used on exterior walls but is not as water resistance
as the concave and V-joints.

MAILBOX FLAG
This is a mandatory carrier signal flag used to
indicate, when up, that there is outgoing mail that the
carrier needs to pick up in the mailbox. The preferred
color by the USPS of the mailbox flag is orange. Find
the detail USPS mailbox flag regulations under section
"3.7 Carrier Signal Flag".

MASON
One who builds or works with stone or brick.

MASONRY
The masonry definition The construction of building
materials bonded together with mortar. That which is
constructed by a mason; anything constructed of the
materials used by masons, such as stone, brick, tiles,
etc.

MASONRY VENEER
A single construction material, usually brick, used on
the exterior walls of buildings for its appearance of
solid masonry without the weight and cost and
providing a non-load bearing wall. The masonry
veneer is fastened to the building's structure, but is
self-supporting, and places no additional load on the
building. Masonry veneer is primarily used for its
appearance and sometimes it is referred as “curtain
walls.

MITER
A joint formed by fitting together two masonry pieces
beveled to an angle, which usually is 45-degrees, to
form a corner.

MORTAR
The material used in masonry construction to fill the
gaps between the bricks and blocks used in
construction. It provides for full bearing, and seals and
bonds between masonry units. Mortar is a mixture of
sand and a binder like cement or lime. Water is then
applied to form a paste which then sets hard.

PARGING
The process of applying a fine coat of mortar to finish
the surface of a masonry wall. Also, the cement
mortar coat itself.

PLINTH COURSE
It is a projecting course of stones at the base of a wall.
QUOIN
The masonry units used to accentuate a masonry
structure corner by adding bricks or stone units that
would be different from the wall masonry wall in size,
color, or texture. Or simply put, the masonry units
used to accentuate the corners of walls in a masonry
structure.
RACKING
When consecutive courses are stepped back from the
face of the wall. You would usually step back the ends
of courses successively from bottom to top in an
unfinished wall to facilitate the resumption of work or
bonding with an intersecting wall.

REBAR
The horizontal or vertical reinforcing bars that are
used to reinforce any masonry structure.
STRING COURSE
A horizontal continuous projecting course of brick or
stone that provides an aesthetic appearance to a
structure. It is also called a band course.

TIE
A masonry tie is a wire or sheet metal device used to
connect two or more masonry single section brick
walls. They are also used to connect masonry veneers
to a structural backing system.
TOOTHING
The temporary wall ends where alternate stretchers
project out. Projecting masonry units are called tooths.

WAYS TO LAY A BRICK

There are six ways that you can lay a brick and it is
given different names.
Stretcher
This is how you typically lay a brick, with the stretcher
side being the most visible side.

Header
Head side is the most visible face of the brick.
Rowlock Stretcher
When the thin stretcher sides are on bottom and top
and head faces on the sides.

Rowlock
The head is visible, and the long narrow sides are on
bottom and top.

Soldier
The stretcher side is visible and the heads are at the
bottom and top. It is usually used for decoration.1
Sailor
The heads are on top and bottom, and the stretcher
faces are on the side. Mostly used for decoration.

TROWEL
A small handheld tool with a flat, pointed blade, used
to apply and spread mortar or plaster

WEEP HOLE
The openings that are placed in mortar joints of facing
material at the level of flashing to allow moisture to
escape.

WET SAW
A power masonry saw that uses water to cool a
diamond blade that keeps the blade clean and cold to
make quick work of cutting masonry units. A wet saw
also keeps dust at a minimum and cuts faster than
using a dry masonry saw.