Laying A Brick Patio

Figure A

Home repair expert Henry Harrison helps a guest lay out a brick patio, making sure they have a good foundation of sand. On his elbow grease scale of one to four, Harrison gives this all-day job a four.

Materials and Tools:

bricks
2x6 treated lumber boards
galvanized screws
landscape cloth
sand for drainage and mortar
shovel
broom
string
stakes
circular saw
power drill
hand tamper
hammer

Steps:
1. Clear the area of any debris, like sticks, stones and weeds.

2. Once the area is cleared out, use string and stakes to mark off the border of the patio. Make sure the strings are level and use a combo square to make sure your corners are perfect 90-degree angles (figure A). This will make your patio perfectly square.

Figure B

3. Place one of the perimeter boards along the border and line it up so that the top edge is flush with the string (figure B). If it's too high, you'll have to dig out some of the earth underneath to make the board and string even.

Figure C

4. Place all the boards and screw the frame together (figure C) with galvanized screws — this will keep them from rusting. Be sure to wear safety glasses while drilling.

5. Backfill around the outside of the frame with dirt.

Figure D

6. Using a hand tamper, pound the soil down until it's compacted and even (figure D). Cover this area thoroughly with landscaping fabric to prevent weeds.

Figure E

7. Now start pouring on sand. This will create a firm bed for your bricks to rest on, as well as to help with drainage under your patio. Spread the sand evenly, working outward toward the border (figure E).

Figure F

8. Measure the thickness of your bricks. Measure down from the top of your wooden frame that distance. For example, if your bricks are 3 inches thick, measure down 3 inches and mark this spot around the border. Fill sand to this height and level it by dragging a board across the sand. You can make a leveling board by cutting a notch the thickness of your bricks out of a 2x6 (figure F).

Figure G

9. Fit the notch in the board over the lip of the frame and slide it over the sand (figure G). This will create a level surface.

Figure H

10. Once everything is level, lay your bricks in place. When you're finished, pour sand over all the bricks and sweep it into the cracks (figure H). This will create a dry mortar and hold the bricks in place.