Bricks and Pavers Key Terms

Learn key terms and phrases when working with bricks and pavers

Bricks and pavers key terms can be important to the professional or the home fix-it person alike. Whether you are a skilled masonry professional, you are the consumer in need of brickwork to be done, or you are going to attempt to do the work yourself, familiarizing yourself with the terminology will help you in all aspects of your project. You will be better able to communicate when you make your purchase as well as better understand any directions or information on the project.

Many bricks and pavers key terms involve the patterns laid out in the bricks. Brick patterns vary by what aesthetic look needs to be achieved as well as how much structural support is necessary. Knowing the terms and being able to discuss them will make you better suited to be a part of the project.

 

Stretcher

When a brick is described as a stretcher, it means that it is being placed so that its two by six face is exposed, or meaning that it is being shown longways.
Try: Find out the many applications of stretchers at Watson and Sons Masonry.

Header

When a brick is described as a header, it means that it is being placed so that its two by three face is exposed.
Try: Find out more about header bricks from Carson, Dunlop & Associates.

Running bond, stack bond, stretcher bond

A running bond, also called a stack bond or stretcher bond, is a brick pattern that has the joins of each row of brick centered on the brick in the row beneath it. It is a common bond type, but is not very structurally strong or aesthetically interesting.
Try: Check out the sketch and info on the running bond comparative to other types of brick bond at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission.

Raking stretcher bond

The raking stretcher bond is like the running bond, except that instead of overlapping the bricks by a half a brick, it is usually only by a third or a quarter of a brick.
Try: Find out more about the raking stretcher bond from ReliableRemodeler.com.

Flemish bond

The Flemish bond is like a running bond, except it alternates stretchers and headers.
Try: Learn more about the Flemish bond at the Brick Industry Association.

Herringbone

Herringbone is a pattern that uses diagonal rows of bricks that are laid in alternating directions.
Try: Compare a herringbone to a traditional brick pattern at FireplacesNow.com.

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