How to Build a Brick Arch Arbor

Build the Arch

• 1

  Cut a semi-circle arched shape out of two 2-by-4 foot plywood sheets with a jigsaw. To cut an arch shape, round the two corners on a 4-foot end of the plywood sheets.

• 2

  Connect the two arches with 24 pieces of 24-inch-long, 2-by-2-inch pine support boards with a hammer and nails. Start from the bottom end of one side of the arch and place the supports between the two arches along the rounded edge at 1-inch intervals.

• 3

  Stand the arch up so the curved part faces up.

• 4

  Line bricks along one bottom, 24-inch-long side of the arch that are flush and perpendicular to the arch. Use 1/4-inch tile spacers to create a gap between the bricks.

• 5

  Slather white mortar between and on top of the bricks. Leave no gaps between the bricks and no air pockets in the top layer.

• 6

  Set two bricks, parallel to the arch, at the end of the first layer. The brick closest to the arch must lay flush with the arch. Fill in any mortar, as necessary, to keep the correct angle. The bricks' width is half their length so that the two bricks in the second layer will cover two bricks in the first layer.

• 7

  Finish laying the bricks for the second row and parallel to the arch until you reach the other edge of the arch and the end of the first layer of bricks. Use 1/4-inch tile spacers for a proper fit. Slather these bricks with white mortar to fill all gaps.

• 8

  Continue to lay the angled bricks along the edge of the arch. Use a straightedge to keep the front of the bricks -- the facing -- straight and even.

• 9

  Allow the brick arbor arch to set for 48 hours.

Build the Arbor

• 10

  Measure the space where the arbor will go. Place two marks on the patio spaced 4 feet apart with the edge of the trowel.

• 11

  Lay a layer of bricks in each marked place on the patio. Place the bricks perpendicular to the edge of the patio in two lines with a 1/4-inch space between each set of bricks and the bricks before and after them.

• 12

  Slather white mortar over the bricks and in the gaps so there is no space between them or air pockets above the bricks.

• 13

  Set a second layer of bricks on top of and perpendicular to the first layer. Use 1/4-inch tile spacers to guarantee proper spacing.

• 14

  Continue to build the two pillars of bricks until you reach a height of approximately 6 feet. Use the straightedge to keep the facing even and use the level to keep the bricks flat and even.

• 15

  Wait for the two pillars to set for 48 hours then slather the last layer of bricks with white mortar to fill in all the gaps.

• 16

  Remove the wooden arch from the brick arch. Carefully cut the arch away from the brick with a hammer and chisel.

• 17

  Set the brick arch arbor on top of the two pillars with the help of an assistant. Allow the mortar to cure for 48 hours before using the entrance.