A patio composed of brick pavers will pave the road to good times. Contact your local utility marketing service to ensure no hidden electricity, plumbing, phone, or gas lines where you plan to dig before commencing this operation. If you’re going for a large patio, make sure it slopes away from the house to provide proper drainage. 

Besides the practical concern of size, location, and shape of a brick patio, the fun part is deciding on the design, the color, and pattern of the patio brickwork—and the neighboring structures and materials that will best complement it. It’s always wise to consult with professionals in hardscaping, landscaping services, and masonry services for the best results. Once you’ve achieved the desired outcome, you’ll want your brick patio looking great.

 

Tools and Materials

You’ll require some essential tools such as:

• Brick pavers that interlock
• Landscaping cloths that keep weeds at bay
• Landscape pikes(6-inch)
• For every 100 square feet of space, 1 ton of stone dust is used
• To make a screed, you’ll need two pipes and a 2×4 inch board
• Level
• Nails 
• String
• Sod lifter
• Rakes and shovels
• Rubber mallet
• Push brooms
• Plate compactor
• A diamond-wheeled grinder or wet-saw

Step 1

Clean the grass in the patio area with the sod lifter, digging about 2 inches deep to lift all the roots. The sod can be spread in another area of the lawn if desired. The only thing to look out for is to keep it well-hydrated.

Step 2

Rakes and shovels should be used to level the dirt as much as possible. You can use the sod lifter to clear 2-inch pieces of soil if there are huge piles and humps. Spread the landscape fabric down and secure it with landscape spikes.

Step 3

Apply a 2-inch coating of stone dust to the area with a screed in 5-foot portions. Place the two pipes 5-feet apart and parallel to each other to make a screed. To guarantee that the patio is leveled, make sure that the pipes are level with each other. Stone dust should be used to fill the space between the two pipes. Scrape away any excess with a 2-by-4, gauging the depth with the pipes. Remove the pipes and reposition them in the following area, filling the depressions with stone dust. 

Step 4

Compress the space with a plate compactor once the entire area has been covered with 2-inches of stone dust. Continue placing the stone dust two more times, resulting in a stone dust base that is 3-inches thick.

Step 5

Drive nails on either side of the patio’s center and stretch a string between the two nails to create a central line. To place the bricks, use this line as a guide. Cross the first line with a perpendicular line to make the line square. To check for the square, use the 3-4-5 method. This method entails: On one string, mark 3-feet from the center cross, and on the other string, mark 4-feet from the center cross.

The lines are square if the diagonal between the markings is 5-feet. It’s best to let landscaping or masonry professionals handle these technical aspects.

Step 6

Working off the string line, begin laying pavers in the desired pattern in the center part. Hammer each paver into place with the help of the rubber mallet. Draw a strong pencil line where you want to cut the pavers. Then use a wet saw or a diamond-wheeled grinder to cut halfway on both sides of the brick and hit with a hammer for a clean split. 

Step 7

When all pavers are in place, use the plate compactor to compress them into the stone dust. Apply a thin layer of stone dust to the entire patio, sweeping it into all cracks. Continue until all of the gaps are filled. Using a hose or a pressure washer, clean the area to get the outcome. 

3 Tips For Caring For Your Patio

• Regularly sweeping your patio is the first step in keeping it clean. Dirt and dust can readily accumulate in your space. This causes debris to collect and even damage your pavers.
• Use a paver sealer if your patio is exposed to the outdoor elements. This is an excellent technique to protect various spaces, including concrete, brick, and stone.
• You might be tempted to use the power washer to spray away the dirt on your patio as it accumulates, but experts from landscaping services advise using just detergent and water. 

 

It can get hectic to follow all of these steps. Don’t fret! Stone Solutions Maine is here to help you. We offer masonry services, stone veneer installation, hardscaping, and landscaping services in Falmouth, ME. Get in touch with us to get the brick patio of your dreams.