Masonry Coursing

Masonry Coursing

Coursing is a continuous row of the same masonry unit running horizontally in a wall. There are a number of arrangements that can be made in various orientations, depending on which side of the masonry is facing the outside and how it's been positioned.



Coursing Orientations 
Stretcher: Units are laid horizontally with their longest end parallel to the face of the wall.
Header: Units are laid on their widest edge so that their shorter ends face the outside of the wall. They overlap four stretchers (two below and two above) and tie them together.
Rowlock: Units laid on their narrowest edge so their shortest edge faces the outside of the wall.
Soldier: Units are laid vertically on their shortest ends so that their narrowest edge faces the outside of the wall.
Sailor: Units are laid vertically on their shortest ends with their widest edge facing the wall surface.
Shiner or rowlock stretcher: Units are laid on the long narrow side with the broad face of the brick exposed.





Types of Courses

Stretcher course: This is a course made up of a row of stretchers. This is the simplest arrangement of masonry units.

Header course: This is a course made up of a row of headers.

Bond course: This is a course of headers that bond the facing masonry to the backing masonry.

String course (Belt course or Band course): A horizontal row of masonry, narrower than the other courses, that extends across the façade of a structure or wraps around decorative elements like columns.

Sill course: Stone masonry courses at the windowsill, projected out from the wall.

Split course: Units are cut down so they are smaller than their normal thickness.

Springing course: Stone masonry on which the first stones of an arch rest.

Starting course: The first course of a unit, usually referring to shingles.

Case course: Units form the foundation or footing course. It is the lowest course in a masonry wall used for multiple functions, mostly structural.

Barge course: Units form the coping of a wall by bricks set on edge


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