How to Replace a Brick Patio

Sweep the patio with a push broom to remove any dirt and debris.

Use a garden hose to remove the sand from the sides of a brick at the edge of the patio. Dig down to the base of the brick with a hoe, clearing the sand from all the joints between the brick and the bricks surrounding it.

Pry the brick from its position with a pry bar. Use the space opened by the first brick removal to pry up the rest of the bricks from the patio, leaving behind the patio sand base.

Level the sand by dragging a wooden screed board over the sand's surface. This will fill in any voids and lower any high points in the patio base. Go over the leveled sand with a plate vibrator to compress the patio base. With the sand properly compressed, you can eliminate most slippage in the bricks used to construct the patio surface.

Measure the width and length of the sand base for the patio, then multiply the two together to get the surface area. Add 10 percent to the total and purchase enough replacement bricks to cover the modified amount.

Place the replacement bricks onto the compressed sand foundation with the edges butted tightly. Start the placement in a corner of the patio that lies against the edge of an adjoining structure whenever possible. Place the bricks from the corner to the edge of the patio. When needed, cut the bricks on a circular saw with a masonry blade.

Surround the perimeter of the patio bricks with a paver edge restraint. Secure the edge restraint in place with a series of 10-inch steel spikes hammered through the loops in the edge and into the ground.

Pour polymetric sand over the bricks, then sweep the sand into the joints between the bricks to fill them. Water down the filled joints with a garden hose to activate the sand, hardening it in place.

Cover the patio with a urethane pad, then run the plate compactor over the patio to level the bricks and make certain they're securely set into the sand base.

Spread more sand over the bricks to fill in the space created from compaction. Activate with water from the hose and allow the surface to dry before using the replacement patio.