Running bond

The Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute's glossary defines both patterns. Running or stretcher bond is a laying pattern with continuous joint lines in one direction and units laterally offset from one row to the next; stack bond has continuous joints in both directions, with no offset at all.

Both patterns share one trait: long, straight joint lines, where a herringbone pattern keeps every joint no longer than a unit's length plus its width. The Brick Industry Association names herringbone bond, running bond, stack bond and basket weave among the most popular clay paver patterns, so running bond is common, not an unusual choice.

BIA's own ranking is direct: “running bond and other patterns with continuous joints do not distribute horizontal loads as well as herringbone bond”.

BIA's fix for that weakness, where a continuous-joint pattern is used at all, is orientation: “if these bond patterns are used, continuous joints should be oriented perpendicular to the direction of traffic”. ICPI's own recommendation of herringbone is written for street applications specifically, and no document read turns either body's line into a rule against a running-bond driveway or walkway; which pattern and which orientation a given property should carry is for the installer or designer to work out with the sand-set bedding and joints under it, not a fact this page settles.

Whatever the pattern, what heavy rain does to the sand in those joints is covered under joint sand and the Naples rain on the paver cleaning page.