How to Lay a New Brick Patio | This Old House

Roger Cook and crew is out back at the Arlington house, laying a new brick patio. First they decide on the pattern, then they start laying the brick

The front yard of the Arlington house house has been a total mess with all the work going on around the house, but now it’s landscape contractor Roger Cook’s turn to put it back together. From landscaping to hardscaping, he has a lot of work ahead. Today he and his crew are working on the large side patio. The homeowners chose to use the same bricks that are used for the new chimney. These bricks are not modular, meaning twice the width of a brick is not equal to the length. Roger shows Kevin O’Connor different types of common brick patio patterns, starting with a running bond. The homeowners like the look of a 45-degree herringbone pattern, which makes the work harder with brick that’s not modular. Adjustments have to be made by cutting the bricks in smaller pieces. But before the brick can be laid, a lot of prep work is needed. The base has been dug out prepped and compacted with layers of stone and crusher. Using a main line at the exact grade and pitch, a screed runs down rails to level off stone dust. A sailor course of upright bricks starts the patio off at the edges and then Roger’s crew can finally start to lay in the herringbone brick pattern. Once the brick is down, they sprinkle in sand in to fill in-between the joints.

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This Old House is America’s first and most trusted home improvement show. Each season, we renovate two different historic homes—one step at a time—featuring quality craftsmanship and the latest in modern technology. We demystify home improvement and provide ideas and information so, whether you are doing it yourself or hiring out contractors, you’ll know the right way to do things or the questions to ask. Our experts including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor give you the tools you need to protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.

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How to Lay a New Brick Patio | This Old House

[MajorDrama]

Great to finally hear from someone on YT who actually really knows the detail of this art and can articulate simply and quickly! Awesome

[kevinjk]

I have a brick walkway and thought I wanted to add a patio with normal paver, but, after seeing many old patios in Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard with real bricks in that 45 degree pattern, I want the same. It just looks so classic and timeless. Thanks Roger and Kevin! And TOH!

[dirtyhairy]

"Did they tell you, you couldn't work with a saw or you can't use shovels, and you got to work at night...", hilarious!!!😂😂 Great video, gents!

[keithboyd]

Love the way you gave the customer what that waunted great job as always.

[bigjake]

This video help us appreciate all the work and items used to make it perfect

[ZRawr]

You skipped the results. I would have really loved to see how it looked at the end.

[ShyShySchullie]

To be fair to the owners, they chose the most beautiful pattern.

[kristinalowe]

I would like to see the finished patio!

[bbtank]

I guess I'm just a basic guy, because I prefer the first pattern. Simple and not busy like the fourth one.

[IndepenisDay]

Lol one more whole day with nobody bothering us

[alexpatrick]

who cares what the client wants...if you adjust your estimates for the job, and the client is willing to pay what you quote, everyone wins

[EsteemedMentality]

I wish I knew the link for the sand/concrete finish because I see that to be easier for me as a DIY gardening project to understand.
I love the idea of the plywood base. I'm happy I paid attention to this video with my Home Depot cart still open!

[jej]

Roger says "these brick" instead of "these bricks", just like Mark McCullough. It must be a Massachusetts dialect thing.

[tjcollins]

The way this is done by Roger and his crew it looks like it will last for a mileanina 👍

[ukeedge]

Didn't even show the finished product

[Watergardengirl]

Why didn’t they show the finished look? 😩

[donaldlee]

I'm about to build a similar paver patio. What's the best source to learn about how to do this for a first timer, particularly the prep work before laying down the pavers, which seems like the easiest step.

[toltec]

Is that clay brick? Is it durable enough to place a metal table with 6 metal chairs?

[leave.me.be.]

How can one do this on their own without all that equipment?

[kyleshootz]

Sweep it into all those craaàaacks use a broom lol