How to Lay Keyhole Brick

Keyhole bricks have a shape that can add dimension and character to your patio, driveway or sidewalk. One end is an octagon with four sides one size and the other four (corners) sides smaller. The other end consists of a square or rectangle shape, causing the individual bricks resemble a "keyhole" shape, as the name implies. When laid out, the bricks look like cobblestones of two different sizes arranged in a pattern. Laying the bricks follows the same process as other pavers, but you need to make the bricks fit together.

Wooden stakes
String
Shovel
3/4-inch base gravel
Compacter
Sand
1-inch boards or conduit, 6- to 8-foot
Push broom

Instructions

- 1
  Plan the area you want to pave and mark the area with stakes and string.
- 2
  Excavate the area to approximately 6 inches deep.
- 3
  Compact the soil in the excavated area using a compacter. Rent a compacter at a tool rental business for the day. Use a manual compacter if you're up to manual labor and the area is small.
- 4
  Pour 3/4-inch base material approximately 4 to 6 inches deep and lightly wet it down.
- 5
  Compact the gravel until you no longer leave an impression when you walk on it.
- 6
  Add another layer of base and compact again, repeating this procedure until there is only between 3 and 3 1/2 inches between the top of the base layer and the top of the excavated area. Ensure you have created a deep enough slope to encourage water to move elsewhere. The slope should move down 3/16 inch for every foot.
- 7
  Pour the sand bedding onto the compacted gravel and screed with straight pieces of lumber or conduit. To screed the sand, slide the screed guides (the lumber or conduit) from side to side. Never walk on the sand.
- 8
  Lay the first keyhole brick in a corner or at a permanent edge, such as the edge of the house, patio or your determined edging material.
- 9
  Lay the second paver on the other side of the same corner with the small end of one butting up to the large end of another. Make sure they sit perpendicular to each other -- they should make somewhat of an "L" shape.
- 10
  Continue laying the bricks out so that the big ends meet up with the small ends of the brick next to it. For example, in your created "L" shape, the next brick will be laid so that the big end is resting in between the smaller ends of the two starting bricks. As you go on, you will notice the big ends make diagonals and the small ends make diagonals throughout the paved area.
- 11
  Lay out additional edging as needed.
- 12
  Sweep the paved surface to remove any debris such as small rocks, leaves or other material.
- 13
  Compact the paved surface until the surface is level and flat.
- 14
  Spread dry, coarse sand thinly across the surface and sweep into the joints with a street broom.
- 15
  Alternate between adding sand, compacting and sweeping until no joints are open after a pass of the compacter.

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