Tips for Brick Pavers

Foundation

• Building a solid brick paver surface begins at the foundation. Excavate at least 6 inches of soil for a patio or walkway, and 8 inches for a driveway. If you live in an area with freezing temperatures, dig below the frost line. One of the main problems with brick surfaces is a poor foundation. Rent a compactor machine from a home improvement shop or use a hand tamper to make the ground beneath the foundation as solid as possible. Compacting forces out air pockets and extra moisture, which prevents the ground from shifting. Once you add the aggregate for a dry installation, compact the surface to force the irregularly-shapes rocks tightly together.

Dry-Lay

• Practice dry-laying the bricks before setting them in the foundation whether you decide to set the brick pavers in mortar or sand. If you're using mortar, figuring out your pattern once the mortar is mixed wastes valuable time and may lead to it hardening before the bricks are in place. Adjusting the bricks over sand can make the bedding uneven. Create your own pattern from different-sized pavers or use a herringbone, basket weave or other traditional pattern. Lay a rope beside the patio site in the shape of the patio, and lay the bricks in your chosen pattern. This gives you the opportunity to experiment with different designs and familiarize yourself with the final choice.

Add Grout or Sand to Joints

• Reduce erosion between the bricks by compacting sand or grout between the joints. Use grout if the bricks are set in mortar over concrete and sand if the foundation is gravel. Without the filling between the joints, bricks will move around under traffic or bad weather. Filling the spaces also accentuates the joint lines, giving the surface a polished look. Over time, the sand will erode, so you'll need to refill it once a year. Use fine-grained sand and moisten it to tamp it down and add more.

Maintenance

• Applying a joint stabilizing sealant to brick pavers is the best thing you can do to maintain your patio. Sealant retains sand joints, prevents fading and makes it easier for you to clean the surfaces. Depending on the amount of traffic the surface is exposed to, you'll need to reseal it every two or three years. Plan to sweep and hose the pavers once a week to prevent debris from staining them.