Brick Patio Designs with a Touch of Class
Many homeowners wish to have bricks installed on their property for patios, walkways or as part of their garden design. Brick patios have a very distinct look that’s unmatched by any typical patio pavers. A brick patio is a good choice for homes that have brick integrated into their existing exterior design. Too much red brick would be overkill by homes that use a combination of brick and stucco or brick and vinyl siding for example look great with brick walkways or patios.
Brick patios have this classic appeal that matches traditional architecture, but can still be adapted to suit modern home styles. In the hands of a skilled mason, a brick patio can transform a back yard into a work of art. Whether your patio is placed over a bed of gravel or sand, or over a slab of concrete, brick can be arranged in several unique patterns. Most modern bricks come in various shades of red often dictated by the type of clay being used to make the bricks. Below are some design ideas that patio designers in Bucks County have used which you can draw inspiration from.
Brick Patio Design Idea #1: Stacked Bond
The stacked bond design is the easiest pattern that you can use and execute. Unlike diagonal or circular pattern, this design idea requires very little cutting. What you do is lay the bricks either all horizontally or all vertically so that the jolts line up, which essentially stacks them. Take note that a diagonal pattern like this requires custom cuts for the borders.
Brick Patio Design Idea #2: Running Bond
Just like the stacked bond, the bricks in this design also go in the same direction. The difference is that the joints don’t line up. For instance, if you have three rows of bricks, in the second row, the narrow ends of the bricks butt against each other and the joint is in the middle of the first and third rows. Alternating the rows in this pattern is continued until the whole space is filled up. You’re likely to need more half bricks to complete this design. You can easily adapt it to allow gentle curves.
Brick Patio Design Idea #3: Basket Weave
The basket weave design is more difficult compared to the running bond or stack bond, although it’s still simple enough for many beginner level brick layers to follow the pattern. The amount of bricks you’ll cut is minimal. Once it’s time to lay the brick, the first row should alternate between two horizontal bricks and two vertical bricks until the end of the row. The second row alternates with two vertical bricks and two horizontal bricks until the end of the row. Alternate the rows in this fashion until the whole space is filled up. The end product should look like the pattern of a simple basket.
Brick Patio Design Idea #4: Herringbone
One of the most complicated brick patio designs, is the herringbone. It requires many cuts to make it fit your space. To complete this design, lay the bricks in the first row with a half brick, a horizontal whole brick and a vertical whole brick. For the second row, fill the gaps with one horizontal and one vertical. In the succeeding rows, lay the bricks in the gaps until the space is filled and shows a zigzag pattern.
There are two installation methods used for laying these brick patio designs above: mortared and dry laid. A mortared patio is set on a concrete slab, while a dry laid patio is supported by compacted sand and gravel. Remember that, for a patio, it’s important that the bricks and laid level; otherwise, furniture will wobble and rock. Landscape architects in Doylestown we know have partnered with a group of landscape designers in Bedminster township to do this labor intensive work for their clients.
