How to Set Patio Bricks

Hiring an expensive patio installation team makes no sense. Setting patio bricks into place requires only a few basic tools and no prior masonry experience. Inexperienced homeowners wishing to build their own patios need only to read proper instructions before taking on this or any other home improvement project.

• 1

  Stake off the chosen patio site in the intended length and width. Tie strings onto the stakes to further distinguish the perimeter of the future patio and simplify excavation.

• 2

  Measure the thickness of the patio bricks you plan to install. Use a shovel to excavate the patio site six inches deeper than the thickness of the patio bricks.

• 3

  Level the soil at the base of the site by checking the site with a level and removing additional soil from the high points in the area. Check the site bed in all directions and remove additional soil until you create a perfectly level area.

• 4

  Compact the soil at the base of the patio site with a soil tamper. Pound the flat end of the device against the ground repeatedly, holding the handle in both hands. Once the ground resists shifting under your feet, you may stop tamping the soil.

• 5

  Apply layers of gravel into the excavated site to form a firm base for the patio. Put the gravel down in two-inch layers, leveling and compacting each layer before applying the next. Stop once the gravel layers reach two inches plus the thickness of the bricks, from the top of the excavation site.

• 6

  Apply a two-inch layer of masonry sand over the gravel layers. Level the sand layer with a 2- by 4-inch board.

• 7

  Locate the center of the patio site and set the first patio brick into place in this spot. Lay a level across the patio brick and tap the corners of the patio brick to set the brick perfectly level on top of the masonry sand.

• 8

  Working outward, lay all the patio bricks into place. Leave equally sized gaps between each brick, between one-half and one-quarter inch wide. Level each brick individually using the level and rubber mallet.

• 9

  Use a circular saw and a brick cutting blade to cut bricks to fit in the remaining space along the edges of the patio. Set these smaller brick pieces into place along the edge of the patio and tap to level with the mallet.

• 10

  Fill the gaps between each patio brick by dumping a load of masonry sand onto the patio site. Sweep the sand into the gaps with a large shop broom.