How to Re-Lay an Old Brick Patio
- 1). Check the patio to see what condition it is in. Oftentimes, brick patios only need a little bit of sprucing up. Is the patio leveled on a slight slope? Is there sand in the joints? Your brick patio may just need to be cleaned and regrouted with sand.
- 2). Remove the bricks. Be careful as you remove them because you should be able to reuse most of the bricks when you re-lay the patio.
- 3). Clear and level the ground on a slight slope so that your patio surface will be smooth but not susceptible to standing water after it rains. Depending on what kind of foundation was in place for the previous patio, this could mean a lot of work or minimal work. Dig down to the dirt and level the ground on a slight slant for proper drainage.
- 4). Rent a compactor and compact the dirt that will be under the patio. Lay a fabric weed barrier in the patio site.
- 5). Lay approximately 3 inches of crushed granite in the bottom of the site. Use the rented compactor again to help settle the foundation.
- 6). Add approximately 2 more inches of crushed granite and compact the area.
- 7). Replace the bricks on the patio. Tap each brick into place with a rubber mallet. As you go, make sure that the bricks are slightly graded so that water will travel away from the patio.
- 8). Fill the brick joints with sand, making sure that the sand is compacted into the joints. Spray the patio with water to allow the sand to settle.
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