BIA1021

Masonry Construction
for
Bachelor of Science of Architecture
Session 2023/24, Semester 1
 TOPICS TO BE COVERED
⚫MASONARY CONSTRUCTION:-
A. Stone masonary.
B. Brick masonary.
C. Composite masonary.
D. Cavity walls.
E. Lintel & Arches.
 Masonary
⚫ Masonary may defined as the construction of building units bonded
tougher with mortar.
⚫ The building units may be stones, bricks, or precast concrete blocks.
⚫ Depending upon the types of buildings units used,
MASONARY can be classified into following categories :
A. Stone masonary.
B. Brick MASONARY.
C. Composite MASONARY.
D. Cavity walls.
E. Lintel & Arches.
1. Some Important Terms Used In
Masonary :
1. STRETCHER:
A brick, laid with its length horizontal and parallel with the face of the
wall or other masonary member is called a "Stretcher" and a course, in
which, all the bricks are laid as Stretchers is called a “Stretching course" or
"Stretcher course".
2. HEADER:
A brick laid, so that only its end shows on the face of a wall is called a
"Header" and a course, in which all the bricks are laid as headers, is known as
"Heading Course" or "Header course“.
3. BOND:
Bond is the arrangement of bricks or stones in each course, so as to
ensure the greatest possible interlocking and to avoid the continuity of vertical
joints in two successive courses, both on the face and in the body of a wall.
4. COURSE:
Each horizontal layer of bricks laid in mortar in a brick work is called a
"course".
5. BRICK BATS :
The pieces of bricks, cut long their length and having width equivalent to
that of a full or half brick are called "Brick bats“.
6. QUEEN CLOSER:
Queen closer is a brick, which is half as wide as full brick and is made
by cutting a whole brick lengthwise into two portions. These are generally used
next to the Quoin header for creating bonds in brickwork.
7. KING CLOSER:
A brick, whose one diagonal piece is cut off one corner by a vertical plane
passing through the center of one end to the center of one side.
8. BEVELED CLOSER:
A brick cut longitudinally along a vertical plane, starting at the
middle of one end to the far corner.
One quarter of the brick is cut off in this way.
9. BULLNOSE :
A brick with rounded corners is called a “Bull Nose Brick”
10. FROG
 Froged bricks shall have depressions in one or more bed faces
but their total volume shall not exceed 20% of gross volume of a
brick.
A.STONE MASONARY
 STONE MASONARY
Rock, that is removed from its natural site and generally, cut or dressed
and then finished for building purposes, is called "Stone" and the art of
building the structure with stones as constructional units is called "Stone
masonary".

 Main types of stone masonary:-

(1) Rubble masonary:-

(2) Ashlar masonary:-
 Stone Masonary

Rubble Masonary • Ashlar Masonary

1. Coursed rubble masonary 1. Ashlar Fine masonary

2. Un-Coursed rubble masonary.
2. Ashlar Rough Tooled
3. Random rubble masonary
3. Rock (or) Quarry Faced
4. Polygonal rubble masonary
4. Ashlar Chamfered
5. Flint rubble masonary
5. Ashlar Block in Course
6. Dry rubble masonary
6. Ashler Facing
 RUBBLE MASONARY
The stone masonary in which either undressed or roughly dressed stones
are laid is called "Rubble masonary". In this masonary, the joints of mortar are
not of uniform thickness. The strength of rubble masonary depend on:

 The Quality of Mortar.

 The use of long through stones.
 The proper filling of mortar between the spaces of stones
 1.COURSED RUBBLE MASONARY.

 In this type of masonary, the stones used are of widely different sizes. This is the roughest
and cheapest form of stone masonary.
 In coursed random rubble masonary, the masonary work is carried out in courses such that
the stones in a particular course are of equal height.
 2.UN-COURSED RUBBLE MASONARY.

 In this type of masonary, the stones used are of widely different sizes. This is the roughest
and cheapest form of stone masonary.
 In un-coursed random rubble masonary, the courses are not maintained regularly. The larger
stones are laid first and the spaces between them are then filled up by means of spalls or
sneeks.
 3.RANDOM RUBBLE MASONARY.

 In this type of masonary stones having straight bed and sides are used. The stones are usually
squared and brought to hammer dressed or straight cut finish.
 In the coursed square rubble masonary, the work is carried out in courses of varying depth.
 4.POLYGONAL RUBBLE MASONARY

• In this type of rubble

masonary, the stones are
hammer dressed.
• The stones used for face work
are dressed in an irregular
polygonal shape.
• Thus the face joints are seen
running in an irregular
fashion in all directions.
 5.FLINT RUBBLE MASONARY
In this type of masonary stone
used are flints or cobbles.

These irregularly shaped are

nodules of silica.

The stones are extremely hard.

But they are brittle and therefore
they break easily.
 6.DRY RUBBLE MASONARY
In this type of masonary,
mortar is not used in the
joints.

This type of construction is the

cheapest and requires more
skill in construction. This may
be used for non-load bearing
walls such as compound walls,
etc…
 ASHLAR MASONARY
 The stone masonary in which finely dressed stones are laid in cement or
lime mortar, is known as "Ashlar masonary".
 In this masonary all the joints are regular, thin, and of
uniform thickness.
 This type of masonary is costly in construction as involves heavy cost of
dressing of stones.
 This masonary is used for heavy structures, arches, architectural buildings,
high piers, abutments of bridges, etc.
 1. ASHLAR FINE
MASONARY
In this type ashlar
masonary, each stone is
cut to uniform size and
shape with all sides
rectangular.
So that the stone gives
perfectly horizontal and
vertical joints with
adjoining stone. This
type of ashlar masonary is
very costly.
 2. ASHLAR ROUGH
MASONARY
In this type of ashlar masonary, the
beds and sides are finely chisel-
dressed. But the face is made rough
by means of tools. A strip, about
25mm wide and made by means of
chisel is provided around the
perimeter of the rough dressed face
of each stone.
 3. ROCK & QUARRY FACED
 In this type of ashlar
masonary, a strip about
25mm wide and made by
means of chisel is provided
around the perimeter
of every stone as in case
rough-tooled ashlar masonary.
But remaining portion of the
face is left in the same form as
received from quarry.
 4. ASHLAR CHAMFERED
MASONARY

In this type of ashlar masonary,

the strip is provided as below. But
it is chamfered or beveled at an
angle of 45 degrees by means of
chisel for a depth of about 25mm.
 5. ASHLAR BLOCK IN COURSE
MASONARY

• This is combination of rubble

masonary and ashlar masonary.

• In this type of masonary, the face

work is provided with rough
tooled or hammer dresses stones
and backing of the wall may be
made in rubble masonary.
 6. ASHLAR FACING
MASONARY
If the backing is of Rubble masonary, It is called “Rubble Ashlar" and if the
backing is of brick work the masonary is termed as “Brick Ashlar”.
B.BRICK MASONARY
 BRICK MASONARY
Bond is the arrangement of bricks in each course, so as to ensure the
greatest possible interlocking and to avoid the continuity of vertical
joints in two successive courses, both on the face.
 and in the body of a wall.
TYPES OF BRICKS

 Bricks used in masonary can be

of two types:-
(1) Traditional bricks.
(2) Modular bricks.
TYPES OF BRICK
JOINTS
 WEATHERED

 CONCAVE

 VEE

 FLUSH

 RAKED

 STRIPPED

 STRUCK
 TYPES OF BONDS
1) Stretching Bond
2) Heading Bond
3) English Bond
4) Flemish Bond
(i) Double Flemish Bond
(ii) Single Flemish Bond
5) Garden Wall Bond
(i) English Garden Wall Bond
(ii) Flemish Garden Wall Bond
6) Raking Bond
(I) Herring Bone Bond (Ii) Diagonal
Bond
7) Dutch Bond
 1.STRETCHING
BOND
The bond in which all the bricks are laid as stretchers in every course is called
"Stretching bond”.
2.HEADING BOND

• The bond in which all the bricks

are laid as headers in every course
of a wall is called "Heading bond".

• This bond is commonly used for

constructing staining of wells,
footings of walls and columns,
corbels, cornices, etc.
3.ENGLISH
BOND
 This bond consists of headers and stretchers laid in alternative
courses.
 It is strongest of all the bonds.
 It provides rough appearance especially for one brick thick walls.
 There are no noticeable continuous vertical joints in the structure built
in this bond.
 Much attention is not required in providing this bond.
 Progress of work is more.
 It is costly because the use of brick bats is not allowed.
4.FLEMISH BOND
 The bond, in which headers
and stretchers are laid the same
alternately in is course, called
"Flemish bond".

 Two types Flemish bond:-

• Double Flemish Bond:-

• Single Flemish Bond:-
(i) Double Flemish Bond:-
 The bond in which headers and stretchers are laid alternately in each course,
both in the face and back of the wall, is called Double Flemish Bond.
(ii) Single Flemish Bond:-
The bond provided in a wall with
Flemish bond in facing and English
bond in backing is called "Single
Flemish bond".

 This bond combines the advantages

of both English and Flemish bonds
simultaneously and eliminates their
disadvantages.
No. English Bonds Flemish bond
1 This bond consists of headers and stretchers laid in This bond consists of headers and
alternative courses. stretchers laid alternatively in each course.

2 It is strongest of all the bonds. It is less strong for walls having thickness
more than 13 ½ inches.
3 It provides rough appearance especially for one brick It provides good appearance for all
thick walls. thickness of walls.
4 There are no noticeable continuous vertical There are partly continuous vertical
joints in the structure built in this bond. joints in the structure built in this bond.
5 Much attention is not required in providing this bond. Special attention is required in providing this
bond.
6 Progress of work is more. Progress of work is less.
7 It is costly because the use of brick bats is not It is economical because brick bats are allowed
allowed. for forming this bind.
 5.GARDEN WALL BOND

 This bond is used for constructing one brick thick garden walls, boundary
walls, and other walls such as outer leaves of cavity walls to provide good
appearance.

 Two types Flemish bond:-

(i) English garden wall bond

(ii) Flemish garden wall bond
(i) English garden wall bond:-
 The garden wall bond in which a heading course is provided after 3 or 5
stretching courses is called "English Garden Wall Bond“.
(ii) Flemish garden wall bond:-
 In this bond a header is provided after 3 or 5 stretches in each course.
 This bond is also known as “Sussex or Scotch Bond".
 6.RAKING BOND
 It this type of bond alternate course are placed in different directions to get
maximum strength in the wall.
 Two types Flemish bond:-
(i) Herring wall bond
(ii) Diagonal wall bond
(i) Herring Bone Bond:-
The raking bond in which bricks are laid at an angle of 45 degree , starting at
the central line and proceeding towards the facing and backing of the wall, is
called "Herring Bone Bond“.
(ii) Diagonal Bond:-
The raking bond in which bricks are laid starting from the corner in
parallel rows inclined to the facing and backing of the wall is known as
"Diagonal bond".
 7.DUTCH BOND
 This bond in which two stretchers and one header are laid
alternately in each course is called " Dutch Bond".
 This bond is used in the construction of boundary walls.
COMPARISON BETWEEN BRICK MASONARY AND STONE
MASONARY
(1) Stone is stronger and more durable than brick and for public buildings; it
is decidedly more suitable than brick. It reflects strength in every inch of it. It is
in tune with nature. Its color improves and looks more serene with age.
On the other hand, brick is an artificial product made as a copy of stone. It is
flimsy material and plastering is only a camouflage for its defects.
(2)Stone is water proof. On the other hand, Brick absorbs moisture and with
dampness certain salts rise in the walls from the ground and cause
disintegration of bricks.
Especially brick should not be allowed to come in contact with urine or sewage
and in such places it must always be covered with cement plaster or any other
protective coat.
(3)Brick offers greater facility for ornamental work in plaster as a rough
shape can first be given to it by means of any tool. This is not so in case of stones.
(4)Plaster does not stick so well to stones as it does to brick.
(5)On account of the regular shape and uniform size of brick, a proper bond can
be obtained with comparative ease.
(6)Due to the handy size of brick, brick masonary can be more rapidly
constructed than stone masonary.
(7)Brick wall requires a fixed quantity of mortar and even with careless
masons, the regular shape of the brick considerably reduces the possibility of
hollows being left in the body of the wall. This is not so with some stone walls.
C.COMPOSITE WALL
 COMPOSITE WALL
 When walls are constructed with two or more types building materials, it is
termed as composite masonary.

The composite masonary is adopted due to following reasons:-

1. It reduces overall cost of construction.
2.It improves the appearance of the structure by concealing the
inferior work.
3.It makes the use of locally available materials, to
obtain optimum economy.
 The usual combinations adopted to obtain composite masonary can

be listed as below:-

1.Stone Facing with brick backing.

2 Stone slab Facing with brick baking. 3.Brick
Facing with concrete baking.
4. Ashler facing with brick backing.
5. Ashler facing with rubble backing.
Stone Facing with brick backing
Brick Facing with concrete baking.
D.CAVITY WALL
 CAVITY WALL
 Cavity walls consist of two 'skins' separated by
a hollow space.
 The skins are commonly masonary such as
brick or concrete block.
 masonary is an absorbent material, and
therefore will slowly draw rainwater or even
humidity into the wall.
 The cavity serves as a way to drain this water
back out through weep holes at the base of the
wall system or above windows, but is not
necessarily vented.
 MAIN FUNCTIONS OF WALLS

1. Strength Part of a cavity wall with the internal skin

removed to expose the Insulation.
2. Stability
3. Weather exclusion
4. Thermal Insulation
5. Sound Insulation
6. Durability
7. Fire resistance
8. Appearance
 CAVITY WALL INSULATORS :

 Cavity wall insulation is

used to reduce heat loss
through a cavity wall by
filling the air space with material that
inhibits heat transfer.
 This is because up to 35% of the
heat loss from your property is
through the walls.
Return corner of a cavity wall in stretcher bond including wall ties and DPC
 ADVANTAGES OF CAVITY WALLS.
 The moisture cannot enter from outer wall to inner wall , since
there is no direct contact.
 Provide good insulation against sound.
 Protection against efflorescence.
 Proves economical during construction.
 Load on the foundation is reduced.
 Reduction of heat transfer ,since air layer between leaves acts as
non-conductor of heat.
D. LINTEL & ARCHES
LINTELS
 A lintel is defined as a
horizontal structural
member which is placed
across the opening.
STRUCTURE OF LINTEL
CLASSIFICATION OF LINTEL
 Lintels are classified into the following types, according
to the materials of their construction:
1. Timber lintels
2. Stone lintels
3. Brick lintels
4. Reinforced Brick lintels
5. Steel lintels
6. Reinforced cement concrete lintels
1.TIMBER LINTEL
 Easily available in hilly area.
 Relatively costly, structurally weak and valnerable to fire.
 Easily decay, if not properly taken care.

TIMBER LINTEL
 2.STONE LINTEL

 Used , where stones are easily available.

 Consists of a simple stone slab of greater

thickness.

 Due to high cost and its inability to

with stand the transverse stress load.

STONE LINTEL
 3.BRICK LINTEL
 The brick are hard, well burnt , first class bricks .
 Suitable for small span. BRICK LINTEL
 The bricks having frogs are more suitable.
 4.REINFORCED BRICK LINTELS

 For large spans and heavy loads

 They are reinforced with mild steel bars.
 Very common due to strength durability,
resisting and fire properties.
 Joints are filled with cement concrete.
 5.STEEL LINTELS
 Provided at large opening and where the
super-imposed loads are heavy.
 It consists of rolled steel joists .

 Either used singly or in

combination of two or three
units.

 Joint with bolts. ROLLED STEEL JOIST

 6.REINFORCED CEMENT CONCRETE LINTEL
R.C.C. LINTEL

 Common in used.
 They may be pre-cast .
 For smaller span, the pre- cast concrete
lintels are used.
 Depth of lintel depend on span.
 ARCHES
 The structure constructed of wedge
shaped block of stones
or bricks ,jointed together with
mortar and provided
across the opening to carry the weight of
the structure above the opening.
ELEMENTS OF ARCHES
 CLASSIFICATION OF ARCHES
 An arch may be classified according to their: 1)Material of
construction and workmanship. 2)Shape of curve formed by their
soffit or intrados. 3)Number of centers.
 1.CLASSIFICATION BASED ON MATERIAL
AND WORKMANSHIP
 BRICK ARCHES:- (i)Rough brick
arches (ii)Axed brick arches
(iii)Gauged brick arches
 STONE ARCHES:- (i)Rubble
arches (ii)Ashlar arches
 GAUGED ARCHES:-
(i)Precast concrete block arches
(ii)Monolithic concrete arches
 (i)ROUGH BRICK ARCHES

• These arches are built with ordinary

bricks, which are not in wedge shape.
• Also known as “RELIEVING ARCHES”.
• Made up of rectangular brick that are not cut
into wedge shape. Curvature are obtained by
• mortar.
 (ii)AXED BRICK ARCHES

 Bricks are cut to wedge-shape.

 Joints of arches are of uniform
thickness.
 Not dress finely so it does not give much
attractive appearance.
 (iii)GAUGED BRICK ARCHES
 Accurately prepared to wedge shape.
 Specially shaped bricks known as “RUBBER BRICKS” are used .
 The lime putty is used for binding the blocks.
 (i)RUBBLE ARCHES
 Made of rubble stones, which are hammer dressed, roughly to the shape and size of
voussoirs of the arch and fixed in cement mortar.
 These arches are used for small span upto 1 m.
 (ii)ASHLAR ARCHES

 Stones are cut to proper shape of voussoirs

and are fully dressed, properly joint with
cement or lime.
 The voussoirs made of full thickness of the
arch.
(i)PRECAST CONCRETE BLOCK ARCHES
 Used for small openings
in building.
 The voussoirs, in the form of
cement concrete blocks are
prepared in special moulds .
 Generally , the concrete blocks are
used without reinforcement.
 (ii)MONOLITHIC CONCRETE ARCHES
 Constructed from cast-in-situ concrete
,either plain or reinforced , depending
upon the span and magnitude of
loading.
 Quit suitable for larger span (3.0 m).
 The curing is done 2 to 4
weeks.
2.CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO SHAPE
i. Flat arch
ii. Segmental arch
iii. Semi-circular arch
iv. Relieving arch
v. Dutch or French arch
 (i)FLAT ARCH

 Acts like a lintel, when it provided

over the opening .
 Joints radiated to center.
 Used only for light loads only.
 Span up to 1.50 m.
 (iii)SEGMENTAL ARCH

 Segmental in shape and provided over

the openings .
 Joints radiate from a center of arch, which
lies below the springing line.
 Provided over lintel.
 (iv)SEMI-CIRCULAR ARCH
 The shape of the curve given to the
arch soffit is semi-circular.
 The center of the arch lies
on the springing line.
SEMI-CIRCULAR ARCH
 (iv)RELIEVING ARCH

• Arch is constructed above the lintel.

 Relieving the load of masonary over lintel.

 When Wooden lintel is over
provided the wider
opening, a brick relieving
 (v)DUTCH OR FRENCH ARCH
 Similar to the flat arch in design, but differs in shape and
method of construction.
 Suitable for small opening.
3.CLASSIFICATION BASED ON NUMBER OF
CENTERS

i. One centred arch.

ii. Two centred arch.
iii. Three centred arch.
iv. Four centered arch.
v. Five centered arch.