Install Your Own Brick Patio

With some preparation and the proper tools, many home improvement projects can be completed by the homeowners themselves. For example, installing a brick patio yourself can be very inexpensive, although you will want to have the proper tools to ensure that the patio's foundation is properly built.

Measure the area where the patio will be built. Make certain that the sides are straight. You can purchase all of the materials from your local hardware store. The materials that you will need are: brick, crushed rock or concrete, coarse sand, a bucket, and 4x4 and 2x6 posts.

1. Dig a hole at each corner for your post. The holes should be twenty four inches deep. Before you start digging your holes make sure that the ground is not too wet and not too dry.

2. Use a bucket to mix the concrete mix with water.

3. Lay the 4x4s in each of the corner holes. Fill each hole halfway with concrete and plant the post in the hole. Make sure you level the hole to verify that they are straight. After planting the post in the hole, fill the remainder of the hole with concrete. Repeat this step for each corner hole.

4. Design the patio frame. Connect all corners on the outside with the 2x6s. You may choose to go lower to the ground or higher off the ground with your patio. If you are connecting the patio to your home make sure that the attachment boards are about 2 inches lower than the doorway.

5. Trim the 4x4 post and the 2x6 posts so they are flush together. Mount down the joists in the opposite direction of the way you want your floor boards to lay. The joists should be attached every twenty four inches.

6. Using the screw gun and deck screws, lay down the floorboards. The patio boards should run the opposite way of the joists. Rest the plywood strip next to the attached board, slide another board up against the strip and screw it down. Once you remove the plywood strip you should have a half inch gap between the boards. Repeat this step for each patio board.

7. Finish the edges, cutting any material that is hanging over. You can stain or seal your patio to protect the wood from the elements.