Patios are one of the most valuable and satisfying ways of enhancing the beauty of your home. It is elegant and it has the ability to add this natural vibe to your home environment. Building a patio can turn out to be an expensive job however if you have time an alternative can be found for making one of your own with just a few tools and the right material. The things you need are shown just below.
Tools required
- Rubber mallet
- Shovel
- Level
- Mason’s line
- Broom
Materials required
- Sand
- Bricks
- Hose for water
- Crushed stone (or gravel)
- Plywood
Instructions
- Decide where you would like to have your patio and determine the measurement and size of the area where it is going to be. The design of the patio can be rectangular or circular. This set of instructions will provide information for a rectangular-designed patio
- After you have decided where the patio will be, use the shovel and dig the area about 8 inches in depth. Make sure that the area has a slight slope that allows water to run off the area.
- To test the size and build of the patio you will do a test run by laying the bricks according to the pattern to check that the measurements are correct. 2 inches of space should be left at the perimeter (surrounding edges) of the patio area. Using the plywood as a base to kneel on kneeling on the ground is not recommended.
- Now insert 2-inch thick bricks into the edging where the hole has been dug. Take the rubber mallet and tap them into place on the edge so as to frame the area of the patio.
- Remove the bricks that u laid originally to test the size (step 3) and then pour crushed stone (or gravel) into the framed area, about 4 inches deep. Press down the crushed stone and then place the landscape fabric over it to prevent weeds later on. Then pour sand into the landscape fabric that will go about 2 inches.
- Make sure the sand is pressed down properly, taking off the excess. Then we will lay the brick for the official flooring of the patio. We press the bricks down in the sand by using a rubber mallet starting from the corners. Secure that the bricks join together as closely as possible.
- The easiest brick size to work with is 4*8 inches but other sizes can be used according to the builder’s wishes. Use the basket weave design to place the bricks down on the surface. While you lay the bricks across the surface use a mason’s line to make sure it is even.
- When you have finished laying the bricks, you should spread sand over them use the broom to sweep the extra sand and make sure it goes into the cracks, and then use water to spray the bricks to make the sand settle better.
Tips and Warning
- The recommended design for a small patio is the rectangular one. If you are going to make a circular designed patio you will have to cut bricks.
- Buy plenty of bricks in case you cutting some, and then finish, buying another batch might not guarantee you get the same color that you would like.
- Stone dust can also be inserted into the spacing between the bricks of the patio flooring.
- Always try and use hard paving bricks for building your patio. It is the recommended choice.