Graphical Construction Glossary >> masonry. >> brickwork >> Stretcher Bond

Stretcher Bond

A brickwork bond consisting of overlapping stretchers. In the US known as Running Bond.

Bond

One of a number of methods of overlapping bricks usually in a regular and recognisable pattern, to increase the strength and appearance of brickwork.

Stretcher

A masonry unit that has it's longest face seen in the wall.

This bond is the most simple to set out and to build. As a result it would have to be the most common. It has not always been so. Historically other bonds have been used far more.

The reason for this is that a bond with all stretchers is OK for single brick thickness walls, but as soon as a greater thickness, say two or three bricks thick is needed then using all stretchers is a weak method.

For say a double thickness garden wall like above, we can if we wish still build using stretchers only, tying the leaves of the wall together with wall ties, either metal or more recently plastic.

A section of a house wall using stretchers only. This is almost certainly cavity wall construction. What appears to be headers are half bricks and bats to make up the width between the windows. In case you are wondering the shape of the roof over the windows are known as eyebrows.

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"When we build, let us think that we build for ever."John Ruskin 1819-1900