Homemade Patios

Patio construction doesn't have to involve hiring a contractor with a cement truck. There's an easier approach that only requires you, and perhaps a few friends, some paving bricks and a sunny weekend. A loose-brick patio lends a great old-world look to a backyard, and it's easy to construct. Make sure to buy enough construction sand to provide a suitable base 3-inches thick (that's one cubic foot of sand for each four square feet of patio area). Pick a shaded spot in the yard.

Things You'll Need

• Half-dozen wood stakes
• Hammer
• String
• Metal square
• Flat shovel
• Plastic or cloth-mesh weed barrier in rolls
• Razor knife
• Pressure-treated 2-by-4s as long as the perimeter of the patio area
• Circular saw
• Construction sand
• Level
• Garden hose
• Paving bricks
• Broom

Instructions

1. Set wooden stakes around the edge of the patio area you want, hammering them into the ground. Pull string between the stakes in a line a few inches above the ground. Use a square to make sure each corner is 90 degrees.

2. Remove the sod within the patio area, digging it up with your shovel. Dig down about six inches. Make sure the surface is fairly level, testing it by laying a level across the dirt at various points.

3. Lay weed barrier over the area, rolling it out in overlapping rows. Cut them to fit with a razor knife. Stand pressure-treated 2-by-4s on their narrow sides around the around the edge of the patio, cutting them to size with your circular saw.

4. Pour and spread construction sand over the area to depth of about 3 inches. Pack it down with the back of your shovel. Use your level to make sure it's flat and level.

5. Spray down the sand with your garden hose, saturating it. Let it drain and dry. Pack it down again with your shovel, and saturate it again. Repeat three or four times, until the sand is fully compacted. Let dry overnight.

6. Lay paving bricks along one edge of the patio area. Work your way across, setting the paving bricks snugly to each other. Cover the entire sand area.

7. Spread dry sand over the surface. Use a broom to sweep the sand into the lines between the bricks. Hose down the patio, brush more sand over it, and repeat two times, or until the lines are fills with compacted sand.

References

• MasonryForLife.com: Patio Pavers.