Raised brick patios are a great way to drastically change the appearance of your lawn while giving it a functional purpose. They are some of the most versatile methods of construction you can use. In this article, we will go over the steps and materials needed to build raised brick patio in your backyard.
Brick patios have been considered essential for many homeowners who have had to endure the harsh elements. Raised brick simply doesn’t hold up under the harsh weather and isn’t suitable for people with small gardens or young children, who are likely to play on it. This can be circumvented by building the patio with a raised wooden deck that then slides back over the bricks, giving you a nice level surface on which to lay out your patio furniture in relative safety.
Brick patios are a great way to add a unique look to your backyard while also creating an inviting environment for your family to enjoy. The most important thing to consider when building a raised brick patio is what type of surface will be used underneath the bricks. For example, if you want a walk-out basement, then use pavers or crushed limestone as your base material. You may choose to build an outdoor kitchen in one corner or along the length of the garden area. If you don’t have enough room for a full-sized kitchen, why not incorporate some stainless steel appliances and other features that can add value to the space.
Building a raised brick patio is not terribly hard, but it does take some time and a lot of bricks (you can always use other materials for the same project). The following basic instruction will get you through the process.
Plan the Patio
Planning is the most important part of building a raised brick patio. If you don’t plan well, you could waste time, money and effort on the wrong materials. A small mistake could lead to costly problems down the road.
Planning means knowing what you want your patio to look like and how much it will cost based on your design choices. You should also be sure that you have all of the right tools before starting work so there are no surprises later on when they’re needed but unavailable at that moment in time (and place). Planning also includes making sure that where you’re building is level so that everything stays put once installed correctly from start through finish – including any finishing touches like concrete pavers or stepping stones between each row so kids don’t trip over them when running around outside.
Prepare the Ground
Now that you’ve purchased your materials and tools, it’s time to get started.
- Remove the grass, topsoil and any other organic matter from the area where you’ll be building your patio.
- Level out the ground and remove any large rocks or roots that would be in your way as you work. You can use an electric hand shovel to dig up small rocks and roots. A pickaxe works well for digging up larger rocks or roots if you have one available.
- Add about a foot of sand into this excavation site before continuing on with leveling it out again using either a tamper (a sort of heavy-duty rolling pin) or just by walking on it repeatedly until everything is flat enough for laying concrete without sinking in too much into soft spots along the way down through multiple layers of material underneath before reaching rock bottom at ground level with nothing else left over after leveling off all those layers together so far below ground level yet still within reach for anyone who needs access later on down there somewhere else when needed most urgently right now.
Build the Frame of the Patio
The frame of your patio is the structure that supports it. The frame can either be made out of wood or metal, depending on what you prefer. If you decide to go with a wooden frame, make sure it’s sturdy enough to support your patio as well as strong enough not to sag over time. For example, if your patio is large and heavy (like mine) then you’ll need a much sturdier foundation than if you have a smaller one that’s light-weighted and easy going.
Some people choose not to have any sort of foundation for their raised brick patios because they are simply sitting on top of the ground and do not require any kind of support underneath them; however this isn’t always true because eventually they will sink into the ground due to erosion caused by rainfall over time which makes them unsafe for walking on since they could break through at any moment! To keep this from happening lay down some plastic sheeting before starting construction so everything stays dry during rainy seasons too.
Build a Concrete Slab for the Raised Brick Patio
The concrete slab is the foundation of your patio and it needs to be level and sturdy. The concrete should be at least 4 inches deep and built in a way that it can easily be dismantled in the future if needed.
As you pour the concrete, regularly check its levelness as it dries—you can use some form of string or chalk line to check if it’s straight and flat. Letting the slab dry for at least 2 days before starting to build layers will give you time to make any adjustments, as well as ensure all moisture has evaporated from within so that cracking doesn’t occur later on down the road (which could cause problems when adding additional layers).
Sand is essential when building with bricks because it prevents cracks between individual bricks from occurring; add more sand if there are any gaps between bricks while building up your patio wall with smaller blocks called “stretchers.”
Lay Down Sand and a Layer of Bricks
- Lay down sand and a layer of bricks. The first step in building a raised brick patio is to lay down sand on the ground. Then, apply mortar to the sand before laying down your bricks. This process can be repeated until you have reached your desired height for your patio
Add More Layers of Bricks and Sand
Now that you have the top layer of bricks in place, it’s time to add a few more layers.
First, mix up some sand and water in a plastic container and then add an equal amount of sand to your mixture. Mix well until you have a smooth consistency. Repeat this process until you reach your desired height. Be sure to use a spirit level when adding each new layer so that all of your bricks are level with one another! For example: if there is 1 inch between each brick on one side of the patio, then make sure there is also 1 inch between each brick on all other sides too! Also make sure there isn’t any unevenness when it comes down to how deep each brick sits within its own space (i.e., not sticking out further than other bricks). If there is any gap between two adjacent bricks where their tops are touching but they aren’t quite flush with one another (e.g., because they were laid down differently or because some have sunk into their own spaces), simply fill them up with sand using either your hand or some kind of trowel tool (e.g., garden spade).
Place Veneer Stones Only Where Necessary
Veneer stones are used to cover the joints between the pavers, which will help to hide any imperfections in the pavers’ surface. These are usually used on straight sections of your patio and can be placed directly on top of the concrete slab or mortar bed.
- It’s important that you pay attention when using veneer stones so you don’t end up with crooked ones. If you need help leveling out your patio, use guides to make sure everything stays level and straight before placing it down.
- If you need to cut a stone because its length is longer than what will work for your project, use sandpaper or a grinder wheel to smooth out any rough edges left behind after cutting it with a saw (or other type).
- After installing all of your pavers, seal them with an outdoor sealant that protects against weathering damage like frost heave, cracks and discoloration due to ultraviolet light exposure from sunlight
Building a raised brick patio is not that difficult, but takes time and some knowledge.
Building a raised brick patio is not that difficult, but it does take time and some knowledge. You’ll need to do some planning before you start the project.
Preparing the Ground
To begin with, you’ll need to prepare the ground for your raised patio. This means removing any existing grass or other surface material from where you want it built. Make sure that there’s no tree roots or other obstacles in your way. You can also check with local building codes about how deep a foundation needs to be–if they’re strict about these things (and they should be in most cases) then make sure that any soil excavated from under your foundation will be put back into place before building begins so that there aren’t any drainage issues later on down the road.
Final words
After all of the hard work and stress, you will be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor. This is a great way to get outside, get some exercise, and enjoy the experience of creating something from nothing. Having a raised brick patio is also an investment in your home.
