About Brick Pavers

Brick Basics

• True brick pavers are made from clay and shale, which are fired at high heat to make them incredibly strong. Concrete pavers are often shaped like bricks and dyed red or orange to resemble real bricks. The concrete kinds are not as strong true brick pavers but are much cheaper than real bricks. True bricks make the best choice when color and appearance are high priorities because concrete paver colors fade in the sun. A standard brick paver is rectangular and measures 8 inches long, 4 inches wide and 2 inches thick, but you can also find square, circular, octagonal and even wavy brick pavers for a decorative look.

Where They're Used

• Check the strength rating of brick pavers to ensure they can withstand the intended use. Most pavers you purchase for home garden use are for relatively light traffic, which includes light vehicular traffic for a driveway. The strength depends on how tightly the materials are compacted when the brick shape is formed and how high the temperatures are when the bricks are fired. Brick pavers can be laid end to end to make a flower bed border, or excavate a level area for a brick paver walkway, patio or driveway. Leftover brick pavers might be used to elevate outdoor potted plants or to make brick paver plant markers.

Installation Methods

• A 2- to 6-inch base layer of compacted gravel provides support beneath the pavers to prevent cracking. Clay soil is most prone to erosion, requiring a thicker base layer than sandy soil. Top the rock with about 2 inches of masonry sand to cushion the pavers. Instead of mortar, you can butt the pavers tight together and sweep masonry sand into the joints between pavers to lock them together. Rectangular brick pavers can be laid in a running bond pattern with staggered joints, as well as herringbone, basket weave and in even rows and columns. Octagonal pavers can either be laid with sides butting, or you can insert small, square pavers to vary the pattern. Circular pavers can't be installed with tight joints, so they work best for light traffic areas such as walkways.

Maintenance and Protection

• Household bleach or vinegar might be needed to clean tough stains, mildew or algae from brick pavers, but plain water in a pressure washer is generally enough to keep pavers clean. Heavy rains and regular traffic will slowly dislodge the joint sand, so expect to reapply it once or twice annually. Paver sealers applied to the finished paver surface help prevent stains, which is especially useful for oil stains in brick paver driveways. Additionally, sealers help protect the color in concrete brick pavers. Paver sealer products vary but usually require reapplication about once annually.