North Carolina General Contractors Practice Exam

Which bond pattern involves alternating headers and stretchers in each course?

1. American Bond

2. Flemish Bond

3. English Bond

4. Stack Bond

The correct answer is: Flemish Bond

The bond pattern that features alternating headers and stretchers in each course is known as Flemish Bond. In Flemish Bond, each course consists of a header (a brick laid flat with its shorter side exposed) and a stretcher (a brick laid flat with its longer side exposed) alternating in a consistent pattern. This arrangement creates a visually appealing aesthetic and contributes to the structural integrity of the wall by interlocking the bricks. In contrast, the other bond patterns do not follow this specific alternating format. For example, American Bond predominantly uses stretchers with a course of headers at predetermined intervals. English Bond typically alternates whole courses of headers and stretchers, which differs from the Flemish approach. Stack Bond consists of bricks stacked directly on top of each other, aligning perfectly, and does not incorporate any headers, thus lacking the interlocking feature inherent in Flemish Bond.