Decks and Patios - Brick Patios
About Brick Patios
Introduction
Most homeowners enjoy spending time outdoors in the comfort of their own homes with family and friends. What better place to do so then on your very own brick patio. Patios are outdoor areas which can be used for a number of reasons such as; relaxing, entertaining, watching the children and a place to sit on rainy days. Brick patios can feature and array of different decorative elements such as; pots and plants, patio furniture, statues, water features and barbeques. Choosing brick as the proffered material for the patio is great because it offers many colors, shapes and sizes. It can also be laid in a number of different traditional and modern patterns. The patterns used can help add to the patios stunning features and they can also make a small space seems larger.
Brick patios can be built by homeowners who are willing to give the task a go. A small sized patio could take around 100 hours of labor or a couple of weekends and a larger scaled patio could take 200 hours. But by doing it yourself you could save up to $5000 in labor costs.
Choosing the Right Brick for your Patio
There are various amounts of bricks which can be used to construct a patio. But and important consideration which should be thought about first before purchasing is the climate and weather conditions of your town. Brick patios in colder climates will go through freeze-thaw cycles constantly and the brick needs to be very durable to withstand this. Traditional clay brick pavers are the perfect option for brick patios because they are traditionally made out of top quality materials and fired in a kiln to produce a hard strong durable brick for your patio. Clay pavers can be set in a sand base.
Brick Patio Shapes
If you are considering adding a brick patio to the outdoors of your home then get ready to enjoy some great times outdoors. Installing and designing is probably the hardest tasks of building a brick patio. The first step is to decide what shape and design you would like to achieve. If space is not an issue in your yard then try to get some ideas of the average size you would need by using patio furniture. Place the furniture in an area where you think the patio should be. Mark this space out and remove the furniture and seem how large or small it actually is or if it is the right shape or size. Brick Patio Designs
The overall design of your brick patio will depend on the size and how much free space you end up with. Patios can be designed to be covered uncovered, large, small or just simple. Design themes can be used in co-ordination with your landscaping and backyard or front yard themes and furniture can be used to create an individual and modern design. Cottage gardens surround patios can create an old world rustic feel and rustic furniture can be added. Brick Patio Bases
The traditional method of a concrete base for bricks nowadays is being over turned by sand or gravel bases simply because concrete is getting too expensive. Sand and gravel bases are a great idea for patio bases. They are both flexible materials and if installed properly the bricks will not move or shift out of place. Using this type of base for your brick patio will save you thousands.
