Build a brick patio this weekend

Laying a brick patio can be done by almost any dedicated gardener. The tools are simple, and so is the work. Patience, more than anything else is what is required. To illustrate, we're going to show you how to build a simple rectangular patio. We'll use a brick patio design that is easy to build yet elegant, laying the bricks in the basket weave pattern shown here. Because there's no cutting involved this is a suitable project for a beginner. You should be able to complete the project within two days unless the size of your planned patio is very large.

1. Measure out the desired area. Rectangular design plans are easier to execute than curved designs. To ensure that you have a perfect rectangle, measure the 2 diagonals: they should be of equal length.
2. Dig out the area, to a depth of 8". With a level, check that your excavation’s floor slopes (1/4" per running foot) away from the house for drainage, so water will run away from the house and patio.
3. Do a test run by laying your brick pattern, to check your measurements. This way, if your initial measurement was off, you can correct it now. There should be about 2" extra all along the perimeter.
4. This extra 2" along the perimeter is for the insertion of brick edging (the bricks are about 2" thick). Stand the bricks on end, "shoulder to shoulder." Tap them into place with a rubber mallet.
5. The idea in Step #4 is to frame the rectangular area. Remove the bricks that you laid as a test run. Pour crushed stone into this framed area, to a depth of 4".
6. Tamp down the stone. Lay landscape fabric down over the stone, to suppress potential weeds later. Now pour 2" of sand over the landscape fabric. Use a long 2x4 as a screed.
7. Starting at one end of the rectangle, run this screed along the sand, leveling the sand out. You want the sand's level to end up 2" below the tops of the edging bricks.
8. Excess sand in Step #7 will thus be redistributed to low areas, and you'll end up with an even surface. Tamp the sand down. Now it's time to begin laying the brick patio flooring -- for real!
9. Begin in a corner, pressing the bricks down into the sand. Make them abut as closely together as possible. Strike the bricks with a rubber mallet to settle them into the sand.
10. You want "paving" bricks for this project. In the measurements that I'm giving, I'm assuming 4" x 8" bricks, about 2" thick. Brick pavers come in other sizes; but this size is easiest to work with.
11. For a design pattern, I'm suggesting the "basket weave" (see link #2 below, which links to an illustration of the basket weave design pattern).
12. The basket weave pattern is elegant yet simple, requiring no cutting of bricks. Avoiding cutting will save you in time, money and frustration!
13. Run a mason's line across your forms as you proceed, row by row, in laying your bricks. The mason's line will serve as a guide for evenness.
14. After laying the bricks, spread some sand over them. With a broom, work this sand into the cracks. Then, with a garden hose, gently spray the bricks, so the sand will settle between the cracks.
15. If the cracks still aren't totally filled, repeat Step #14.

Now you're done! 

    Note: External links have been removed from this sample.