How to Lay Down Brick Work

Map out the location where you want to lay brick by using spray paint to mark the perimeters of the walkway or patio. Use a flat-edged shovel to remove anything in the pathway, including grass or plants. Dig down about 6 inches to accommodate the height of the brick and gravel or sand layers.

Smooth out the walkway or patio area with a soil compactor to even out any lumps before adding the brick. An even surface is essential so bricks lay flat in place. Spread a ¾-inch layer of sand or gravel along and inside the entire area and smooth it out with the compactor. Using the dry-laid method of installing brick allows you to remove them whenever necessary.

Install edging material -- wood, plastic or steel -- along the walkway or patio edges to maintain its shape over time as bricks can move around if not held in place.

Lay the brick down in a pattern of your choice. The most common pattern is the running bond. Lay out an entire row of bricks then on the second row alternate each brick so the center of each brick rests on top of the joints of two bricks in the previous row. Another simple pattern, the stacking bond, allows you to stack bricks row by row so that all of the joints line up horizontally and vertically. Additional advanced patterns include the herringbone or basket weave.Trim bricks, as needed, with a stone cutter.

Spread a thin layer of sand over the entire brick surface and sweep around the walkway or patio to get the sand between the cracks of the bricks. After sweeping, mist down the brick to pack the sand between the stones and promote hardening.