Masonry Project Planning: Patios

When taking the time to invest in hardscaping your outdoors with a patio, you want to make sure you choose a product that will stand the test of time. Brick is a building material that is durable, easily manage, cost-effective, and adaptable to a multitude of designs based on the type of brick you choose as well as the color, pattern, and how you apply it. Our Orlando masonry experts have put together the essentials you need to consider when designing a brick patio.

Type of Brick
There are two things to consider when it comes to choosing the brick for your patio: the size and color. Most manufacturers carry a thin brick available if you planned to put them on top of an existing acrylic, tile, or concrete surface, but if not, the standard size will give you enough depth to provide structure. When thinking about the aesthetics of your patio, the color of brick can play a great role. Bricks can come in several colors and textures. Click here to see a sample of bricks you can choose for your home.

Selecting a Pattern
One of the simplest ways bricks can look unique is the many ways you can make a pattern. A common method is known as a running bond, where bricks are in parallel lines staggered beside other rows by half a brick. Another typical pattern is the basket weave, where you set bricks into sets to make squares, then changing orientation from one “square” to another to make a checkered look. A herringbone is a pattern option that is considered one of the more popular brick trends at the moment, but has will likely take the most time of these three patterns. Herringbone can be at a 45 or 90-degree angle, where the bricks form a “V” or “L” overlapping design. Herringbone at a 45° may require bricks to be cut making it the most labor intensive.

Mortar or Sand
If you don’t already have a structure to build off of, building on sand may not be the worst foundation. Sand is more economical than sealing with mortar and will make your bricks more flexible. Flexibility for this is simply a difference between sand and mortar. Sand allows will be able to shift rather than break, but they can also become askew and be less uniform over time. Mortar will provide for stronger structure and help with maintenance over time. Sand will allow for growth between stones which will again be a trade off in that the soft moss growing between bricks design that will come naturally. However, unwanted growth will also pop up between bricks meaning more maintenance for sand held bricks. Of course, if you would like to avoid grass and weeds growing in between, mortar would be the best setting technique. If you are concerned about what to do if a brick breaks in a mortar setting, you can reference our DIY replacing broken bricks article for an easy walkthrough.

Maintenance
Bricks are strong material, but growth around them can still devalue them aesthetically. Scrubbing with vinegar or hydrogen peroxide will remove any mildew, and boiling water can often kill any plant life if you’re trying to avoid using harsh chemicals. If these methods fail, a pressure washer should quickly remove any and everything from your patio and walkway.

Now that you have the essentials down, give us a call at 407-845-9042 or stop by Bedrock Industries at 10500 Rocket Court in Orlando, Florida to get started. Our friendly and knowledgeable Orlando masonry staff can help supply you with the best quality brick products for your patio project. Afterward, we would love to know how your project turned out.