{{Short description|Architecture term for a layer of the same unit running horizontally in a wall}}thumb|250px|right A '''course''' is a layer of the same unit running horizontally in a wall. It can also be defined as a continuous row of any masonry unit such as bricks, concrete masonry units (CMU), stone, shingles, tiles, etc.<ref name="Harris">{{cite book|last1=Harris|first1=Cyril|title=Dictionary of Architecture and Construction |publisher=McGraw-Hill |date=2006|location=United States of America|isbn=978-0071452373|edition=Forth}}</ref>
'''Coursed masonry construction''' arranges units in regular courses. In contrast, '''coursed rubble masonry construction''' uses random uncut units, infilled with mortar or smaller stones.<ref name="Harris"/>
If a course is the horizontal arrangement, then a wythe is a continuous vertical section of masonry<ref name="ARE">{{cite book|last1=Ballast|first1=David|last2=O'Hara|first2=Steven|title=ARE 5 Review Manual for the Architect Registration Exam|date=2016|publisher=Professional Publications Inc.|location=United States of America}}</ref> one unit in thickness. A wythe may be independent of, or interlocked with, the adjoining wythe(s). A single wythe of brick that is not structural in nature is referred to as a masonry veneer.
A standard 8-inch CMU block is exactly equal to three courses of brick.<ref name="Allen"/> A bond (or bonding) pattern) is the arrangement of several courses of brickwork.<ref name="ARE"/>
The corners of a masonry wall are built first, then the spaces between them are filled by the remaining courses.<ref name="McKee">{{cite book|title=Introduction to Early American Masonry|last1=McKee|first1=Harley|date=1973|publisher=National Trust for Historic Preservation|location=United States}}</ref>
==Orientations==
thumb|A brick-built electrical substation in Birmingham, England, with a soldier course running the width of the building, immediately above the door
Masonry coursing can be arranged in various orientations, according to which side of the masonry unit is facing the outside and how it is positioned.<ref name="ARE" />
'''Stretcher''': Units are laid horizontally with their longest end parallel to the face of the wall.<ref name="Harris" /> This orientation can display the bedding of a masonry stone.
'''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.<ref name="Harris" />
'''Rowlock''': Units laid on their narrowest edge so their shortest edge faces the outside of the wall.<ref name="Harris" /> These are used for garden walls and for sloping sills under windows, however these are not climate proof.<ref name="Allen" /> Rowlock arch has multiple concentric layers of voussoirs.<ref>{{M-W|rowlock arch}}</ref>
'''Soldier''': Units are laid vertically on their shortest ends so that their narrowest edge faces the outside of the wall.<ref name="Harris" /> These are used for window lintels or tops of walls.<ref name="Allen" /> The result is a row of bricks that looks similar to soldiers marching in formation, from a profile view.
'''Sailor''': Units are laid vertically on their shortest ends with their widest edge facing the wall surface.<ref name="Harris" /> The result is a row of bricks that looks similar to sailors manning the rail.
'''Shiner''' or '''rowlock stretcher''': Units are laid on the long narrow side with the broad face of the brick exposed.<ref>Sovinski, p. 43. "Those brick positions oriented in a horizontal alignment are called ''stretcher'', ''header'', ''rowlock stretcher'', and ''rowlock''. A rowlock stretcher is sometimes called a ''shiner''."</ref>
400px|center|Brick positions
==Types of courses==
Different patterns can be used in different parts of a building, some decorative and some structural; this depends on the bond patterns.<ref name="ARE" />
'''Stretcher course (Stretching course)''': This is a course made up of a row of stretchers.<ref name="Harris" /> This is the simplest arrangement of masonry units. If the wall is two wythes thick, one header is used to bind the two wythes together.<ref name="Allen">{{cite book|title=Fundamentals of Building Construction|last1=Allen|first1=Edward|last2=Iano|first2=Joseph|publisher=Wiley|edition=Sixth}}</ref>
'''Header course''': This is a course made up of a row of headers.<ref name="Harris" />
'''Bond course''': This is a course of headers that bond the facing masonry to the backing masonry.<ref name="Harris" />
'''Plinth''': The bottom course of a wall.
'''String course (Belt course or Band course)''': A decorative horizontal row of masonry, narrower than the other courses, that extends across the façade of a structure or wraps around decorative elements like columns.<ref name="Harris" /><ref name="ARE" /><ref name="McKee" />
'''Sill course''': Stone masonry courses at the windowsill, projected out from the wall.<ref name="Harris" />
'''Split course''': Units are cut down so they are smaller than their normal thickness.<ref name="Harris" />
'''Springing course''': Stone masonry on which the first stones of an arch rest.<ref name="Harris" />
'''Starting course''': The first course of a unit, usually referring to shingles.<ref name="Harris" />
'''Case course''': Units form the foundation or footing course. It is the lowest course in a masonry wall used for multiple functions, mostly structural.<ref name="Harris" />
'''Barge course''': Units form the coping of a wall by bricks set on edge.<ref name="Harris" />
==See also== * Belt course * Brickwork * Plinth (architecture) * Socle (architecture) * Wythe
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Building engineering Category:Masonry