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 One
example of using bricks to build around the home is in this video.
Brick pathways can be useful for connecting different parts of the
yard together. In this case, the video by Laura LeBoutillier of
"Garden Answer," a Youtube channel dedicated to DIY gardening, shows
how a short brick path can connect the yard to an existing structure
outside, such as a gazebo.
It's not just a matter of finding bricks, as the video shows. Brick
pathways call for not just bricks, but also gravel, paver sand,
perma-sand, edging, and anchoring spikes. In terms of tools, you'll
need shovels, rakes, brooms, and tampers. Tampers are long handles
with a flat metal square on one end. They are used for exactly what
they look like- tamping down dirt or sand until flat and compacted.
The first thing to do is to dig out the area where any bricks will
eventually be placed. While this video does not show it, it may be
helpful to mark the exact path with stakes or string, or even spray
paint. You want to be sure to dig just enough that bricks will not
be sticking out above the grass, which might create a hazard. You
also need to remove any existing materials that may be in place,
such as older pathways from previous construction.
This video also suggests raking the area after
digging up the path, stamping it out, and doing a few tests. This is
a very useful step. It's better to find any issues with leveling or
materials now than be finished and realize the path is off kilter.
This video shows exactly that; they had to dig a little deeper to
get the path exactly right.
The video then shows how to tamp the soil down, so it is flat and
level. You can rent a compactor for this step, but it may not be
necessary if the area is small. In this instance, renting a
compactor would be “overkill for a path this size.”
Then do the same thing with gravel. The video mentions three bags of
gravel for a small path, and they do not mention it specifically,
but it doesn't hurt to buy more gravel than you think you may need,
just in case. LeBoutillier mentions that the tamper “didn’t do a
whole lot, but it did help settle the gravel down a little.”
The next step is to pour sand over the gravel and begin to screed
it. Screeding is the process of smoothing out sand, usually with a
two-by-four. The video recommends using PVC pipe to assist in
flattening out the sand as a sort of frame. Boards, as shown here,
may be a little warped. The latter can be used, but there is a risk.
The next step is laying the brick for the path.
LeBoutillier demonstrates that it's not so easy to lay brick
perfectly straight. In fact, this video shows that they had to pull
up bricks and straighten out the path, and dig a little more dirt,
to make it work. This is not something to worry about. Again, it's
easy for a path to start curving a little, and easy to fix as well.
They suggest having a second set of eyes to act as a guide or using
string to help keep everything moving in the right direction.
“It was a little frustrating, and it didn’t make sense how we were
getting off…I assumed that if the bricks were butted up to the
concrete and the concrete was straight, that would make the path
straight. Not true,” says LeBoutillier.
While laying bricks, make sure you take into account any patterns
you want to make. In this video, they leave a little space to create
an alternating pattern, or a “running bond” pattern. You may need to
cut bricks to finish your pattern layout and have even edges. The
video shows you can use an angle grinder, or even a chop saw if you
have the right kind of blade. Once the
bricks are in place, install the edging material. Plastic edging
helps to give a path a clean, finished look. This video also shows
that you can cover edging with dirt or mulch to create a more
seamless appearance and provide a space for plants to grow. Edging
is held in the ground with metal stakes.
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The next step is to sweep sand into the cracks to
fill in gaps and make the path look solid. The sand bonds “like
concrete.” Once that is finished, it's easy to sweep away the
excess, or use a blower. The last step is to wash out the path with
a hose to clean it a little more.
Overall, a project like this one can be done by two people over the
course of an afternoon. The people in this video had some experience
with this sort of project, but it remains an easy thing to do for
any beginner. Overall, LeBoutillier says that this project cost (in
2019) a little over $150, and there were leftover supplies.
YouTube Video
- DIY Brick Paver Patio
If you follow the steps to put down a brick walkway, you can go a
little further and build a patio with the same materials. You'll
only need to add a few more steps to the process. This video from
Dori Turner, another Youtuber working in DIY home renovation,
features a project completed “in a weekend, for about $350.”
For a patio, you’ll want to make sure you have a shape in mind.
Paths are usually rectangular, but patios can be squares, or even
circular. Turner works with a rectangular patio, since they were new
to this sort of project, and it is a “nice, easy shape to work
with.”
Turner also demonstrates that the project involves a
weed barrier. Weed barriers are a type of cloth that prevents
vegetation from growing up through the patio. Even with all the sand
and gravel you may use to build a patio, a weed may still grow, so a
barrier is useful for blocking plants. You may want to include a
barrier for a pathway as well.
Turner installs the edging before laying down any other materials.
Truthfully, the order does not matter as much in this regard. It
really depends on your needs. Turner mentions that edging “can be
shaped and molded to do straight or curved lines.”
This project also demonstrates the use of a paver base rather than
gravel. Paver bases do the same thing as paver sand; provide another
way to level out the ground. Paver bases can be cheaper, depending
on how many are needed, and they can be modified to fit different
sizes. They also interlock “for a smooth surface.” According to
Turner, “a leveling agent of some kind is necessary to help the
brick patio stay level even as the ground may shift beneath over the
years.”
Regardless of what you are building, laying brick to help improve
your home is relatively easy, and can be done with a little planning
and the right tools.
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