Superstructure

SUPER STRUCTURE
Super structure
• Super structure is that component of the building which is constructed
above the sub structure.
• Substructure is the portion of the building below ground level, which
transmits the load of superstructure to the soil.
Masonry
• Masonry is defined as the construction of building units bonded together
with mortar.
• The building units may be stones, bricks or precast blocks of concrete.
• When bricks are used as building units it is called brick masonry and when
stones are used it is called as stone masonry.
• Masonry is normally used for the construction of foundations, walls,
columns, and other similar structural components of buildings.

Brick masonry Stone masonry
Functions of Masonry
1. Supports the loads
2. Sub divides the space

3. Provides acoustic and thermal insulations
4. Provides shelter from weathering agencies
Brick masonry
• The systematic arrangement of laying bricks and bonding together with
mortar is termed as brick masonry.
• The essential components of brick masonry are bricks and mortar.
• Mortar acts as a cementing material and commonly used mortar for brick
masonry is 1:3 and 1:4.
• The strength of the brick masonry depends upon quality of bricks, quality
of mortar and methods of bonding.
Terms used in brick masonry
1. Course – a complete layer of bricks laid on the same bed. Its thickness is equal to
the thickness of a brick plus the thickness of one mortar joint.
2. Bed – the bottom surface of the brick when it is laid flat is known as bed.
3. Stretcher – the side surface of a brick visible in elevation when the brick is laid flat
4. Header – the end surface of the brick when it is laid flat.
5. Arrises – the edges formed by the intersection of plane surface of a brick.
6. Perpends – vertical joints separating the bricks by mortar.

7. Lap – horizontal distance between the vertical joints of successive brick
courses.
8. Quoin – it is a corner or the external angle on the face side of a wall.
9. Bat – a portion of the brick cut across the width is called bat.
10. Closer – it is the portion of a brick with a cut made longitudinally. It
helps in preventing the joints of successive courses to come in a vertical
line. Closers may be of various types.
i) Queen closer – it is a portion of a brick obtained by cutting a brick
lengthwise into two portions. Thus a queen closer is a brick which is half
as wide as the full brick.
ii) King closer – it is a portion of a brick which is so cut that the width of
one of its ends is half that of a full brick, while the width at the other end
is equal to the full width. It is obtained by cutting the triangular piece
between the center of one end and the center of the other end.
Tools used in brick masonry
1. Trowel
2. Plumb rule
3. Spirit level
4. Mason’s square
5. Brick hammer
6. Bolster
7. Scutch
8. Jointer
9. string
Trowel
• Trowel is used for lifting and spreading the mortar.
• Sometimes it is used for cutting the bricks also.

Plumb rule
• Plumb rule is used for checking the verticality of
the brick wall.
• It is a smooth wooden piece of 2m length, 10 cm
width and 1 cm thickness.
• The longer edges are parallel.
• A plumb bob hangs from the top of the wooden
piece.
Spirit level
• Used with straight edge to do the leveling
Mason’s square
• This is a right angle steel or wooden section for checking the
perpendicularity of the masonry surfaces at the openings and also for
checking right angles at the corners.
Brick hammer
• Used for cutting bricks and pushing the bricks in courses
Bolster
• Used for fine cutting of bricks
Jointer
• Used for pointing joints
String
• In order to maintain correct alignment of the courses, about 10 m long cord
is stretched between two quoins of the wall.
Bonds in brick work
• Bond is the method of arranging the bricks in courses so that individual
bricks are locked together.
• Bonds distribute the superimposed load over a large area.
• Various types of bonds are distinguished by their elevation or face

appearance.
• The improper arrangement of bricks will result in continuous vertical joints

and little strength and stability.
Rules for bonding
i. The bricks should be uniform in shape and size. The length of the brick
should be equal to twice the width plus one joint, so that uniform lap is
obtained.
ii. There should be a minimum lap, generally more than one-fourth length
of the brick.
iii. Least number of bats should be used
iv. The vertical joints should lie vertically above each other in alternate
courses.
Types of bonds
1. Stretcher bond
2. Header bond
3. English bond
4. Flemish bond
5. Facing bond
6. Garden wall bond
7. Dutch bond
8. Raking bond
Stretcher bond
• In this type of bond, all the bricks are laid with their lengths in the
longitudinal direction of the wall.
• As only stretchers are visible in elevation, this is known as stretcher bond.
• This bond is used half brick partition walls.
• In thicker walls, this bond is not suitable as there is no proper bondage
across the wall.
Header bond
• In this type of bond, all the bricks are laid as headers towards the face of
the wall.
• This pattern is used only when the thickness of the wall is equal to one
brick.
• It is suitable for partition walls.
• This bond is also used for curved brickwork.
English bond
• Commonly used bond for all thickness of walls
• Strongest bond
• This bond consists of alternate courses of headers and stretchers.
• In order to break the vertical joints in successive courses, it is essential to
place a queen closer after the first header in the heading course.
Essential features
1. Alternate courses will show either headers or stretchers in elevation
2. There is no continuous vertical joint.
3. If the thickness of the walls is an odd multiple of half brick (eg. 1 ½ , 2 ½
etc), the same courses will present stretchers on one face and headers on the
other.
4. Walls of even multiples of half brick in thickness (eg. 1, 2, 3 etc) will have
the same appearance on both faces.
5. The hearting (middle portion) of thicker walls consists only of headers.
6. A header course should never start or end with a queen closer as it will get
displaced. The queen closer should be placed just next to exterior header.
Flemish bond
• When alternate stretchers and headers are laid in each course, the
arrangement is known as Flemish bond.
• Appearance of this bond is better than English bond.
• There are two types of Flemish bonds
a) Double Flemish bond
b) Single Flemish bond
a) Double Flemish bond
• In this course, each course has the same appearance both in the front face and in
the back face.
Essential features
1. In each course, headers and stretchers are alternately placed in both the facing
and backing.
2. The facing and backing of the wall in each course have same appearance.
3. Queen closers are used next to first headers in alternate courses to break the
continuity of vertical joints.
4. In walls having thickness equal to odd multiples of half bricks, brick bats are
used.
b) Single Flemish bond
• This bond comprises of double Flemish bond facing and English bond
backing in each course.
• The minimum thickness of the wall for this bond is 1 ½ bricks.
• The advantages of both English bond and double Flemish bond are
incorporated in this type of construction.
• In this type of bond a long continuous joint occurs in the vertical direction
for some portions which weakens the wall.
Comparison of English bond and Flemish bond
1. English bond is more compact and stronger than Double Flemish bond for
walls having thickness greater than 1 ½ bricks.
2. Double Flemish bond presents pleasing and better appearance in the
facing.
3. In the construction of Flemish bond good workmanship and careful
supervision is required.
4. Double Flemish bond is economical than English bond as a number of

bats are utilized.
Brick laying
• The general principles of laying brick masonry are practically the same whether
it is to be laid in walls, columns, footing etc. the following steps are adopted in
the laying of bricks.
1. Selection of bricks – the bricks should be of uniform size and color and of good
quality
2. Stacking of bricks – the bricks should be stacked in regular stacks of 1000
bricks in such a way that that their edges or corners are not damaged.
3. Soaking of bricks – dry bricks will quickly absorb water from the mortar. This
is dangerous when using cement mortar as enough water will not be available
for proper setting of cement mortar, thereby resulting in weak brick work or its
failure. Therefore, before the bricks are laid they should be well soaked in water
for atleast 8 hours.
4. Spreading mortar – mortar is placed and spread on the top of the foundation concrete and
should be at least 15 mm thick. The mortar is spread in the area which is covered by the
corners of the wall. The corners of the wall are constructed first and then the portion in
between is constructed.
5. Laying first course – the mason should lay one brick at corner and should press it on the
mortar, so as to have only 10 mm joint between the concrete and the brick. Then the
first closer is covered with mortar on the sides and it is placed gently against the first
brick so as to have a 10 mm horizontal joint with the foundation and also 10 mm
vertical joint with the first brick. Bricks should be laid with frogs facing upwards. The
level and the alignment is checked. If the brick or closer is not in level, they are pressed
gently further. A few headers and stretchers are then laid in the first course adopting the
same procedure as above.
6. Laying second course – mortar is spread over the first course to a depth of atleast 10 mm.
The next course of bricks is laid over this. Level and plumbness are checked for the
second course
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SUPER STRUCTURE

• The building units may be stones, bricks or precast blocks of concrete.

stones are used it is called as stone masonry.

• Masonry is normally used for the construction of foundations, walls,

columns, and other similar structural components of buildings.

2. Sub divides the space

6. Perpends – vertical joints separating the bricks by mortar.

• Sometimes it is used for cutting the bricks also.

• Bonds distribute the superimposed load over a large area.

• Various types of bonds are distinguished by their elevation or face

• The improper arrangement of bricks will result in continuous vertical joints

2. There is no continuous vertical joint.

3. If the thickness of the walls is an odd multiple of half brick (eg. 1 ½ , 2 ½

the same appearance on both faces.

5. The hearting (middle portion) of thicker walls consists only of headers.

4. Double Flemish bond is economical than English bond as a number of

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