How to Build a Patio

One of the areas of a house that is often neglected is the backyard. Many people take for granted its capability to enhance a houseï¿½s appearance and value. One of the best ways to enjoy your backyard is by building a patio.

Transforming the space at the back of your house into something magnificent simply requires a design and a plan. One of the most elegant designs for a patio is a brick patio. This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to construct a patio with a simple design. The plan chosen for this patio is perfect for DIY-ers on their first patio-building project. The estimated time to finish this task is 2 days.

Materials Needed

Shovel
Rubber mallet
Level crushed stone
4-inch x 8-inch 2-inch thick Paving bricks
Landscape fabric
Plywood (to kneel on)
Broom
Garden hose
One long 2×4 (for screed)

Procedure

Measure out the area that you have selected. Choose a rectangular design plan for your first patio-building project as it is easier to carry out than curved designs. Make sure that the two diagonals are of equal length.
Hollow out the area to a depth of 8 inches. Make sure that your excavation floor slopes away from the house for proper drainage. It should slope ï¿½ï¿½ per running foot. Use a level for this task.
Check your measurements by doing a test run and laying out the brick pattern. Make appropriate corrections to your measurements if they are off. Leave a 2-inch allowance along the edges of the perimeter for the insertion of brick edging.
Frame the area by laying out the brick edge. Stand the bricks on end to end. Tap them in place with a rubber mallet.
Take out the bricks that were laid for the test run. Leave the brick edging in place. Pour crushed stone into the framed area for a depth of approximately 4 inches.
Compact the bed of crushed stone and lay landscape fabric over it. The fabric should suppress the growth of weeds later on. Pour a 2-inch layer of sand over the fabric.
Use a long 2 x 4 to smooth out the sand. Run the screed along the sand starting from one side of the rectangle. The leveled sand should be 2 inches below the tops of the brick edging. Compact the sand down.
Lay out the brick patio flooring by starting at a corner. Lay each brick as close to each other as possible. Press the bricks into the sand and use a rubber mallet to strike them in place. Use a masonï¿½s line across your forms to ensure evenness. For this project, the basket weave pattern is used for its simplicity. It also takes away the need to cut bricks.
Spread sand over the bricks after laying them. Work the sand into the cracks with a broom. Make sure to fill every crack. Gently spray the bricks with water by using a garden hose to settle the sand between the cracks. Repeat the procedure if the cracks are not totally filled.

How to Do These Things

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