Nowadays, the possibilities for creating a patio are endless, starting right from the type of flooring to use. Whereas a concrete square used to be the standard, today you can create a patio in a wide range of materials. Brick is one of these options; indeed, a brick patio makes a highly decorative and splendid addition to your outdoor space.

Patio brick can be traditional clay or concrete. The former is the one that seems to be the most aesthetically pleasing. The cheapest bricks are made of concrete and are called paving bricks. This type of brick is durable enough to endure a great deal of foot traffic, and so it is ideal for making brick patios. It also has quite a substantial level of resistance to skidding or slipping; indeed, when purchasing this type of brick, look for a rough or wire cut surface. If you live in a place where cold weather often comes knocking, check that the brick is graded for severe weather before buying it.

You can also purchase used bricks that still retain some plaster or mortar on them; these can add character to your new patio but are usually the most expensive of bricks. Building bricks are also an option; these are rougher than paving bricks and come in shades of red and brown.

Brick patio pavers are elegant and attractive, available in a wide selection of shapes, sizes, and colors. Brick paver patios end up being very durable, strong, relatively easy to install and relatively affordable; you will also be able to find the brick paver patio design that most fits your tastes and needs. Mortared brick pavers, on the other hand, while being available in many styles, have been known to crack because of ground movement and so are not highly recommended.

Clay brick pavers are slip and skid resistant because of their textured surface and abrasive nature. They are perfect solutions for outdoor patios. They are made from natural clay material found in the soil and will not lose color or finish. Indeed, the color of brick pavers is due not to any artificial dyes but rather to the inherent color of the clay material. They have a non-artificial appearance, coming in earthy natural tones. They go very well with just about any landscape or architectural design. Clay pavers do not require much maintenance and will last for a long time.

There are two methods of laying brick patios. The first is called the flexible base system and involves laying a base of crushed rock, gravel and coarse sand before placing your bricks; only mortarless bricks can be used with this system. The other method is the rigid base system, which involves placing a concrete slab that is either steel reinforced or not beneath paving bricks. Edging is important when laying bricks in either method. You can use brick and timber patio material to create edging or you can also opt for bender board, bricks on end, concrete, or aluminum.

Both methods of building a brick patio are relatively affordable, though the brick over sand method is not permanent. Bricks are pushed up by moles, ants bring sand to the surface between joints, weeds infest the spaces between the bricks. You can put a layer of special cloth before adding the sand; this will allow water to seep through but will block weed growth. All these problems are eliminated, though, by laying the bricks over concrete and adding cement mortar. There are countless guides and books available in stores and online on how to build a brick patio and how to install a brick patio.

You can lay clay brick pavers in numerous ways to achieve interesting brick patio designs. Using rectangular shaped clay paving bricks, you can lay your patio in a stretcher pattern, basket weave pattern, or herringbone pattern. The first is installed side by side; it is one of the easiest patterns to lay. If you want a brick patio design to appear longer, lay bricks in a length wise direction; if you want a patio to appear wider, lay them in a wide direction across the patio. The second pattern gives a more antique look and is best suited for second hand pavers. The last pattern is the herringbone pattern and this is very good for heavily trafficked areas; this is becoming more and more popular. If you’re not exactly sure what kind of brick patio patterns you’d like for your patio, buy a few dozen bricks and lay them out on the ground. For curved borders or irregular shapes, you can always use a circular saw to cut bricks. For added beauty, you can opt for staining a concrete brick patio or other type of brick surface.