How to Brick a Driveway

Brick driveways can add interest to your home.

An option to the traditional paved driveway is a brick driveway. It is aesthetically pleasing and functions just as well as a paved driveway and is better than a gravel driveway in endurance. This is not a project for a beginner but, if you have some home-improvement experience, it is a fairly simple but labor-intensive project.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Spade
• Garden rake
• Pea gravel (amount needed for your driveway, it is sold in 20-pound bags)
• Sand (amount needed for your driveway, sold in 20-pound bags)
• Surface leveller
• Bricks (amount needed for for your driveway, sold in pallets of about 500 bricks.)
• Rubber mallet
• Level
• Brick cutter
• Broom
• Hose and a water spigot

Instructions

Placing a Brick Driveway

1. Clear the driveway area of grass about six inches into the ground with the shovel. Take the spade and level any bumps or raised spots in the driveway. Along the edge of driveway, use a spade or shovel with a flat edge to cut clean, smooth lines.

2. Empty pea gravel onto the dirt surface and level it across the whole driveway about 1-inch deep. Pour sand on top of the pea gravel and level it. The sand should be 1 1/2 inches deep. Level the sand with the flat edge of the garden rake. Tamp down the sand to form a firm bed on which the bricks will rest.

3. Place the first brick starting at the house. When you place a brick, tamp it with the rubber mallet and check to ensure it is level. Repeat this process with every brick. If you wish to establish a pattern simply alter the bricks' positions.

4. Start the second row by staggering the bricks. You do not want the joints to line up or it will become very obvious if your bricks get even slightly out of alignment. You may have to cut a brick in half to allow the bricks to fit in the staggered pattern. To cut a brick, simply place it in the brick cutter to score it and then pull the lever down to break it. Again after placing each brick, again check to make sure it is even by using the level.

5. After laying all the bricks, distribute sand evenly over the bricks. Sweep the sand into the gaps. Sand will help keep the bricks from moving and will also limit the amount of water entering the cracks. Spray lightly with water and allow to dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Watch weather forecasts and start your project only when you can be assured of at least 48 hours of dry weather to complete your project for best results.

References

• Taylor's Master Guide to Landscaping, Rita Buchanan, 2000
• Landscaping With Stone, 2nd Edition, Pat Sagui, 2009
• Landscaping With Stone: Natural-Looking Paths, Steps, Walls, Water Features, and Rock Gardens, Jeanne Huber, 2006