Brick patio advice needed...

[DrDan]

I hate to wear out my welcome, but I have found this forum to be extremely helpful. Not only did I go for a BX2200 on the advice of members, but it clarified what could have been an expensive mistake in selection of roofing materials. Thanks all...

So now I have another project I'm about to undertake.

Off my carport towards the backyard I have a flat area about 15' X 26'. Currently it is in grass. What I would like to do is take the box scraper and dig it out to about 12" deep and then put in 3 or 4" of pea gravel and then 3 or 4" of sand. As I understand it - bricks can then be laid on the leveled sand and when you are done you just put sand on the surface of the brick and sweep it into the cracks to seat the brick. Has anyone had any experience with this and can help me understand the best way to go? I had about 500 red common brick that came from a chimney that was taken down and just got 400 more for $100. If this will work it will make a pretty nice surface for the BBQ smoker and a few chairs. If this is constructed as I described can you drive on it?

Thanks all as usual,
Dr Dan

 

[jyoutz]

Sounds like you're off to a good start. Two things to consider: don't use any more than 1-2" of sand, otherwise the bricks will always move and never be a solid patio (been there, done that), also make sure the the edge of the patio is anchored somehow, or your bricks will continue to move.

 

[MarkV]

Dr Dan,

I agree, it sounds like you have a good idea of how to start. I will add a couple of thoughts. Around here we would use a crushed stone rather than pea gravel. Crushed stone with the stone dust will compact into a surface that will not move around like pea gravel. I would also suggest that you rent a walk behind compactor for the base and also to run over the brick as you add the sand fill.

MarkV

 

[cowboydoc]

Ditto what the guys said Dan and also I would put some drain tile under there if you are in a high water area. The other thing that I used compactible gravel. Then like was said make sure that you compact this down really good. I would also cover the base with landscape fabric. Make sure also if you don't put any tile in that you grade it so it will drain properly. You really only need to go down about 6" with your excavation. MAKE SURE YOU STAKE OUT THE AREA AND THAT IT IS SQUARE!!! If you aren't square you're not going to have a very nice looking patio. When you put your gravel in or whatever you decide to use again compact it! Ok now I would just put 1" sand on top of this to lay your bricks on, again putting another layer of fabric over your base before the sand goes on. Make sure you are level before you start. Then lay down some 1x1's and you can put in your sand and level it up with the 1x1's. After you have the sand level take the 1x1's out, water, and tamp the sand down. Set up a reference string for you height around the area and then put up some kind of edging. The easiest is a rigid plastic edging that comes with spikes that you pound down through the base. Now start at one corner of the area and start laying your bricks. You can lay them in a stagerred, herringbone, or basket weave configuration. When you lay them start right on your plastic edging and use a rubber mallet to tap them down. Lay the next one down, etc. always laying them snugly against each other. After you complete a small section check your bricks for level. If they are high tap them down some more. If they are low lift them up and put some sand under them and tap down again. After you have all the bricks layed down then put a 1/2" layer of sand over the whole thing and compact it in between the bricks with a compacter. Then when you're done sweep it off and enjoy!!

PS I don't think that I would drive over it.

 

[DrDan]

Yes I did more research on the net last night and a compactable crushed gravel underneath is advised.

Just a comment...

When I was in Holland last spring I noticed that most parking lots and streets are brick or pavers. I asked a guy why they did it that way. He said, "Well, how would you add an electric line or water line if concrete was used without spoiling it all?" They are so resourceful and intelligent over there. We just waste, waste, waste while others in the world use their heads. What surprises me is these parking lots sit there for years and stay as smooth as a baby's a#!

I think my brother in law used the same technique for his brick driveway.

Dr Dan

 

[jimmoore]

Doc, here is a pic of the patio that my wife built all by herself. used treated 4x4 to suround the bricks, drilled 1/2" holes and drove rebar 18" lond theough the 4x4 and into the ground, nothing has moved in over a year.

jim

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

Dr. Dan,

Just a quick thought. Can you work some landscape cloth into this project? Get it down under the gravel or between the gravel and sand layer? That would keep any grass or weeds from growing up. (When buying landscape cloth, be sure to check the label for the lifetime estimate, ie. 5 years, 10 years, 20 years. I was at a nursery yesterday and they had some really heavy duty black stuff they were using. Didn't get a chance to ask about it though. But I can later this week if you want). /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[jinman]

I bet your wife is one of those women who thinks she can do anything she wants...and she's absolutely right!/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif Nice job!


JimI

 

[ddl]

The college that I teach at built a patio using paving stone and it was interesting watching the process. The whole area was tiled and then fine paving sand was spread and tamping tools used to compress the sand. Then the stones or bricks were layed just like you would ceramic tile in a house. Then sand spread over the stones and the tamping tolls used again and then the surface was cleaned or sweeped. I thought the area would not stand up but it has been three years and not a stone has moved.

Dan L

 

[jinman]

Dan L,
In your post you said:
<font color=blue>The whole area was tiled...</font color=blue>

I'm not familiar with that term, "tiled." I don't think you mean ceramic tile. Is that another way of saying gravel in Peculiar, MO?

JimI