Landscape Paving 101: Brick Basics

Brick is a classic building material. For the landscape, it’s an easy-to-maintain and extremely durable paving material that can be set in many patterns. The advantage of brick over other modular pavers is that it doesn’t lose its color over time and doesn’t require as much cleaning or maintenance as concrete pavers.

The basics: Brick is considered a natural building material because it is made from clay and shale. Its durability and strength come from the firing process, where the clay is heated in a kiln and the materials bind together. Because of the kiln process, bricks are super durable and do not require a sealer. They can last as a paving material for many decades with minimal maintenance.

Cost: $10 to $20 per square foot, installed. A mortar setting bed is more expensive than sand-swept because it requires more material and more labor to install. Brick paving, with a lifespan of more than 40 years, is a great investment for your landscape.


Pros
Durable and strongColor-fast; won’t fadeLow-maintenanceEasy to mix and match with other materialsReusableCons
Limited color rangeCorners can chip over time (unless you use bricks with beveled edges)Initial installation cost higher than for concreteShown: Herringbone-pattern brick walkway set with a soldier course edge. The soldier course adds stability to the brick paving.


Size and color: Bricks fire to a reddish color that can vary based on exactly how the bricks are produced. Sizes are mostly within the 4-by-8-inch range, with thicknesses of 2½ to 4 inches. Driveways and applications with heavy loads require brick at least 3 inches thick.


Special considerations: Adequate prep work is necessary when using brick as paving. The ground must be graded so that water drains from the surface, and the subgrade must have a drainage layer of compacted aggregate to properly support an even brick surface.

Maintenance: Remove stubborn stains with a little soapy water and a wire brush. There’s disagreement about whether clay bricks need to be sealed every few years. Bricks have been around for ages without the use of sealants, so I recommend skipping it. Check with your brick supplier before applying any product, because generic paver sealant is not good for clay bricks.

Sustainability: Bricks can be reused with ease. They can literally be taken up, stockpiled and then reset in a new configuration. Reuse your bricks for other landscape projects or sell them to a salvage shop.

Shown: Bricks set in a circular pattern, commonly used with other brick patterns to add interest. See more of this Brooklyn backyard


Setting bricks: After the subgrade and drainage layers are built, bricks can either be installed on a sand setting bed with sand-swept joints or mortared in place on a concrete foundation.
In mortar: This method requires bricks to be mortared in place on a concrete slab, with mortared joints between them.On sand: This is a more maintenance-intensive option because the sand needs periodic additions. Mold and tiny weeds can also grow in the joints. Polymeric sand needs less maintenance than traditional sand because it binds together and does not need to be replaced.Brick, like all durable modular paving, can be reset if the pavers become unevenly settled. The best way to ensure your brick stays level for many years is to create a great foundation and to set the paving with one of the above tried-and-true methods.


Popular brick patterns. Bricks are wonderful modular units that make strong, stable paving when set together in tight patterns. Here are the three most common brick patterns:Running bond: The simplest pattern and the easiest to lay in place; typical running lines with offset joints are great for making clean pattern lines in rectangular spaces.Basketweave: This pattern has pairs of bricks set at 90 degrees to each other; it’s a great pattern for patios and a nice way to mix up the simple running bond.Herringbone, 45 degrees or 90 degrees: Great for driveways because of its stability under heavy loads.More: See more ways to get your patio right

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