What's a rat-trap bond?

This kind of wall ensures that there is an economy in the use of bricks, giving a wall of one brick thickness with fewer bricks than a solid bond. Rat-trap bond, earlier used extensively in England, is still used in India.

Also, many brick walls surrounding kitchen gardens were designed with cavities so hot air could circulate in the winter, warming fruit trees or other produce spread against the walls, causing them to bloom earlier and forcing early fruit production.

The rat-trap was popularised by world renowned architect Laurie Baker. The rat-trap bonding is said to be cost and energy-efficient.

The other type of brick structures include a honeycomb wall, a shear wall, a pier, a racking back structure, an indent, a plinth, creasing file, snapped header and an air brick with perforations to allow the passage of air through a wall.