1/9/2024

Masonry
• Masonry can be defined as the construction of
building units bonded together with mortar.
• The building units may be stones, bricks,
precast block of cement etc.
• If bricks are used Brick Masonry
• If stones are used Stone Masonry

Cement Concrete Block Masonry

• Concrete block masonry which is also known
as concrete masonry unit (CMU) have
advantages over brick and stone masonry.
• Concrete blocks are manufactured in required
shape and sizes and these may be solid or
hollow blocks.
• The cement-aggregate ratio in concrete blocks
is 1:6. Aggregate used is of 60% fine aggregate
and 40% coarse aggregate.
• Their Minimum strength is about 3N/mm2.
2

1
 1/9/2024

Types of Concrete Blocks or Concrete Masonry Units

Depending upon the structure, shape, size and
manufacturing processes concrete blocks are mainly
classified into 2 types and they are:
• Solid concrete blocks
• Hollow concrete Blocks

• Solid concrete blocks are commonly used, which are heavy

in weight and manufactured from dense aggregate. They are
very strong and provides good stability to the structures. So
for large work of masonry like for load bearing walls these
solid blocks are preferable. They are available in large sizes
compared to bricks. So, it takes less time to construct
concrete masonry than brick masonry.
• Hollow concrete blocks contains void area greater than 25%
of gross area. Solid area of hollow bricks should be more
than 50%. The hollow part may be divided into several
components based on our requirement. They are
manufactured from lightweight aggregates. They are light
weight blocks and easy to install.

2
 1/9/2024

Some definitions:
• Stretcher: larger face of the brick
• Header: Shorter face of the brick
• 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.

• COURSE: A continuous
horizontal layer of
similar bricks or stones
that are bonded with
mortar in a masonry
structure and is one unit
high.
• ARRIS: The sharp corner
edges of a brick.
• BACK : The interior
surface of a brick wall
which is not exposed is
named the back. 6

3
 1/9/2024

• BAT : The portion of brick that is cut across the

width.

• CLOSER : The portion of the brick cut lengthwise in

such a manner that its one long face remains uncut.

Er. Gopal Gautam 8

4
 1/9/2024

• Perpend: is an imaginary vertical line that includes

the vertical joints separating two adjacent bricks.

• Lap: it is the horizontal distance between the

vertical joints of successive brick course.

• Bond: It is the method of arranging the bricks in

courses so that individual units are tied together
and the vertical joints of successive courses do not
line in the same vertical plane.
• General Rules For Bonding:
 The bricks should be of uniform size, length should
be twice the width plus one joint.
 The amount of lap should be minimum 1/4th brick
along the length of wall and ½ brick across the
thickness of wall.
 Use of brick bats should be discouraged.
 The vertical course in the alternate course should
be along the same perpend.
 Mortar Thickness should be consistent. 10

5
 1/9/2024

Types of bond

11

12

6
 1/9/2024

13

14

7
 1/9/2024

Rat Trap bond

• Rat trap bond is a type of masonry bond in
which the bricks are placed in a vertical
position which creates a cavity in the wall
while maintaining the same wall thickness as
that of the conventional brick masonry wall.

15

Rat Trap bond

Advantages of Rat Trap Bond
• The cavities in the masonry act as thermal insulators.
Thus, the interiors remain cooler in summer and
warmer in winter.
• Rat Trap masonry uses fewer bricks and mortar
reducing the cost of masonry up to 30% when
compared with conventional brick masonry.
• The number of bricks used in the construction of rat
trap masonry is 470, whereas, in conventional
masonry, it is 550.
• Walls constructed using rat trap masonry can be used
as load-bearing as well as a thick partition wall.

16

8
 1/9/2024

Rat Trap bond

• Rat-trap bond when kept exposed, creates aesthetically
pleasing wall surface and the cost of plastering and
painting may also be avoided.
• As this type of masonry has 30% of cavities, the dead
load of the structure is reduced which in turn reduces the
structure supporting members such as column and
footing.
• In case of more structural safety, reinforcement bars can
be inserted through the cavity until the foundation.
• Many buildings that were constructed decades ago have
proved that this type of walling technology is durable and
the maintenance costs are low.

17

Disadvantages of Rat Trap Bond

• Due to the formation of cavities in the masonry,

the building does not provide good sound
insulations.
• Skilled labor is required to construct this type of
masonry.
• Frequent cleaning of external surface required if
not plastered.
• Special care and attention to be given while
designing and constructing rat trap bond
masonry.
18

9
 1/9/2024

Rat Trap bond

19

Rat Trap bond

20

10
 1/9/2024

Rat- Trap Bond

21

Rat Trap bond

22

11
 1/9/2024

Rat Trap bond

23

General Principles for construction of

brick wall
The following points should be observed in the construction of
brick masonry: General Principles:
1. Use bricks of good quality with uniform color, well burnt, with
exact shape and size.
2. Before using the bricks in masonry, they should be soaked in
water for 2 hours so that bricks do not absorb water from the
mortar. When mud mortar or fat lime mortar is to be used, bricks
should not be soaked in water before use.
3. Bricks should be laid with the frog pointing upward.
4. Construction of brick wall should start from the end or corner.
5. Brick courses should be perfectly horizontal

24

12
 1/9/2024

General Principles for construction of

brick wall
6. Verticality of the wall should be ensured by frequently
checking with plumb-bob.
7. Mortar used should be as per specification.
8. Whenever work is stopped brick masonry should be left
with toothed end.
9. Use of brick bats should be discouraged, expect in special
locations.
10. Walls should be raised uniformly. In no case difference
between adjoining walls be more than 1 m. In a day no wall
should be raised by more than 1.5 m.
11. The centre line of header and stretcher in the alternate
courses is made to coincide with each other in order to
obtain a stable wall.

25

General Principles for construction of

brick wall
12. Holdfasts for doors and windows should be embedded
in brick masonry with cement mortar or concrete, at the
time of constructing the wall itself.
13. The amount of lap should be minimum of 1/4th of the
brick along the length of the wall and ½ of the brick across
the thickness of the wall.
14. Brick masonry should be regularly cured for 2 weeks.

26

13
 1/9/2024

27

Types of walls
Walls can be broadly classified into the following three types:
• Load- Bearing: ~ wall is constructed generally of brick
masonry with cement mortar. The load that has to be
bear by the wall is calculated first and then required
strength of brick, thickness of the wall and strength of
mortar is calculated and then prepared. Used for load
bearing wall. They are sometimes constructed of RCC.
• Non- Load-Bearing: ~ wall generally constructed with
half brick wall. Along with this we can use timber, glass,
etc for the partition walling purpose. They are thinner
in width.

28

14
 1/9/2024

Load bearing wall

29

Difference between Brick and Stone

masonry

30

15
 1/9/2024

Defects in Brick Masonry

31

Defects in Brick Masonry

32

16
 1/9/2024

Defects in Brick Masonry

33

Defects in Brick Masonry

34

17
 1/9/2024

Reinforced Brickwork

35

36

18
 1/9/2024

37

38

19
 1/9/2024

39

40

20
 1/9/2024

41

42

21
 1/9/2024

43

44

22
 1/9/2024

45

46

23
 1/9/2024

47

48

24
 1/9/2024

• Polygon rubble masonry:

The stones for this masonry are shaped in an
irregular polygon.
The stone is arranged in such a way that it avoids
vertical joints in appearance, stone chips are used
to support stones.

49

50

25
 1/9/2024

Flint Rubble Masonry

51

Types of Rubble Masonry

Dry Rubble Masonry

Larger pieces of stones are arranged downwards in such a

way that they should have proper interlocking with each
other.
Small pieces of stones are used at the top, these masonries
are usually broad at the bottom and thin at the top, this
type of masonry is used to maintain walls, breast walls
etc.

The strength and durability do not depend on the quality

of the material used on the workmanship.
52

26
 1/9/2024

53

54

27
 1/9/2024

55

56

28
 1/9/2024

57

58

29
 1/9/2024

Er. Gopal Gautam 59

Er. Gopal Gautam 60

30
 1/9/2024

Er. Gopal Gautam 61

Er. Gopal Gautam 62

31
 1/9/2024

Er. Gopal Gautam 63

Er. Gopal Gautam 64

32
 1/9/2024

Er. Gopal Gautam 65

Er. Gopal Gautam 66

33
 1/9/2024

Er. Gopal Gautam 67

34