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How to build a brick paved patio

By Bunnings magazine /

A completed brick paved patio complete with two lounge chairs

Overview

When interior designer Chontelle Samios (@ellesindesignsydney) renovated her Blue Mountains home, she was left with a big pile of bricks from an old fireplace. Spotting their potential, she used them to create a brick paved patio space in her front yard. “I call it the 'Circle of Love’, where I sit while the kids play on the lawn,” she says.

Steps

1Measure the space and dig

Work out the pattern and size, and then mark the area to be paved by tapping in a garden stake at the centre. Attach builder’s string half the width of the circle. Hold it taut while moving around the stake to mark the circumference with spray paint. Use a square-mouth shovel to dig out the area to 130mm deep.
A circle patio base is marked and dug out

2Pour the base and position the bricks

Spread the road base with a rake and compact it with a tamper to be 35mm thick. In a wheelbarrow, mix up one part cement with four parts river sand, Shovel the mixture over the area and screed flat with a level to 20mm thick. Start laying the bricks, beginning at the centre and working outwards. Lay the bricks one course at a time, tapping them into the sand-cement mix with a rubber mallet.

Green Bunnings hammer
Pro tip: The key to a completely flat paved area is to use a level to check each layer of material as it is positioned, adjusting as needed.
A partially completed brick paved patio

3Fill with landscaping pebbles

Mix one part cement with four parts river sand and sweep the mix into the gaps between the bricks, filling them halfway. Top up the gaps with small landscaping pebbles, extending them around the outside edges. Lightly hose the area to dampen the sand-cement mix, and then leave it to cure. The mix will harden as it dries, holding the bricks in place.

4Keep in mind ...

  • When handling dusty materials such as gravel and concrete, always wear safety gear (mask, gloves and eye protection). 
  • Cement and sand vary by state and territory; contact your local store for further information.
  • To pave a 2.7m diameter circle, we used six 20kg bags of road base and eight 20kg bags of sand mixed with two 20kg bags of cement. Adjust quantities to suit the size of your area.

5More D.I.Y. garden projects

Browse our D.I.Y. advice page dedicated to gardening, where we share makeover projects and inspiration.

 

Photo credit: Sue Stubbs and Chontelle Samios 

Health & Safety

Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.

When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.