Random bond, order in disorder

Something you rarely pay attention to is the way in which a bricklayer lays the bricks, known as the bond. Still, a well-considered bricklaying pattern can extra added cachet and character. A stretcher bond is the standard, but alternatives are available. One of the most attractive is the free bond or random bond.

As the name suggests, there is not necessarily an obvious pattern, which is precisely the point. A random bond enhances the natural, rugged character of brick. With jointed brickwork, you will see that there is no line in the vertical joint lines. Even with joint-free brickwork, the irregular effect of the random bind will jump out at you. The bricklayer has much greater freedom when laying complete bricks (stretchers), one-thirds, or headers. He can lay the bricks at will. And yet, even with a random pattern, he will respect certain rules to ensure a correct result.

A bond that at first glance, has no pattern

The bricklayer will start the first layer with a 3/4 brick. For the next layer, he’ll opt for a stretcher or a header, and the third layer will start with a 3/4 brick again, followed by a stretcher or header, and so on. Between the corners, the bricklayer is free to choose a succession of stretchers, headers, or one-thirds, provided that the head joint or butt joint doesn’t run into the next layer. The rule is to never lay more than 2 headers or 4 stretchers next to one another. In addition, the inevitable steps (racking back) should be visible over 5 to 6 layers at most. Finally, don’t use any bricks whose height is greater than the depth. Not only does this disrupt the aesthetics, but is something we also discourage in delicate spots such as corners and windowsills.

Bricklaying in a random bond requires more attention and more time than a stretcher bond. There’s also more grinding work to ensure that the joint width remains constant. High-quality craftsmanship means a higher cost for the work. Come to clear agreements with your contractor beforehand.

Everything you need to know about brickwork patterns