Bonds can create strength between brick wall layers, which are used in double strength, and they can also be used to aesthetic effect.

Flemish Bond
Also known as Dutch bond, this is the most ornate option available, and is believed to have stemmed from the Monk Bond, which was used popularly until the 14th century. The design consists of alternate courses of stretchers and headers. Each course is laid so that the stretcher is placed in the center of the header below it, and the structure is two bricks thick. Flemish bond is the most challenging pattern to lay out because of the difficulties in getting the vertical motor joints lined up perpendicularly. A traditional design touch was to burn the headers in the structure so they turned black and created a visual contrast with the other bricks.

Stretchers refer to when the side of the brick is used for bricklaying bonds, and headers only show their end when they are laid out. The Flemish Bond was introduced to England during the Tudor period.

Stretcher Bond
Also called a running bond, this is the simplest pattern that can be used for bricklaying bonds. It is only suitable for use on a half-brick thick wall, which is the thinnest wall constructible. A stretcher bond shows the narrowest side of the brick in the design, and each overlaps halfway with the bricks above and below it. Because this wall is so think and not very resilient, it cannot stand unsupported and is often used as a supporting wall structure as opposed to a stand-alone wall.

American Bond
Called common or Scottish bond as well, American bond consists of five rows of stretchers for every row of headers. Some derivatives may see more or less stretchers, but they are always used in greater proportion than the header in this design.

English Bond
The Old English bond is the oldest pattern known to us and consists of alternate rows of headers and stretchers, with the bricks in each row lining up in the center of the bricks above and below them.