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View Full Version : patio stones expensive...normal red brick plentiful....can I make my yard w/brick?



applejuice
Jun 29th, 2009, 10:07 PM
I've got a bunch of red bricks, and find stone that I want expensive.

if I did my back "deck" in red bricks...would it work? / look decent?

anyone ever done it?

synaptech
Jun 29th, 2009, 10:17 PM
Do you mean wall brick or drive/walk-way brick (pavers)? If you mean wall brick then it might initially look ok, but once cracked a wall brick will act like a sponge. You could probably build walls or a perimeter for the deck, but not the walking/sitting area.

If you mean bricks for walkways (pavers) then they would work.

Have you considered a concrete pad? Concrete can be patterned to look like stone.

backbones
Jun 29th, 2009, 10:27 PM
Do you mean wall brick or drive/walk-way brick (pavers)? If you mean wall brick then it might initially look ok, but once cracked a wall brick will act like a sponge. You could probably build walls or a perimeter for the deck, but not the walking/sitting area.

If you mean bricks for walkways (pavers) then they would work.

Have you considered a concrete pad? Concrete can be patterned to look like stone.

Freeze/thaw cycles will ultimately destroy the brick. Meant for vertical surfaces, not horizontal.

Jimbobs
Jun 30th, 2009, 11:36 AM
I've got a bunch of red bricks, and find stone that I want expensive.

if I did my back "deck" in red bricks...would it work? / look decent?

anyone ever done it?

Simple answer: it depends on the type of red "brick" you are talking about! There are clay bricks which are the type that was widely used to build houses in the "old" days and there are concrete bricks that are used today. There are solid bricks and perforated bricks. All will work to some extent. Longevity will
depend on correct installation, drainage, wear, load, etc.

golden
Jun 30th, 2009, 11:40 AM
Why save a little when it's so much hard work labour to do it? Many paving stones are like $5 per sq ft. It's hardly "expensive", unless you're talking about real stones like $30 per sq ft.

leonkaz
Jun 30th, 2009, 02:30 PM
Simple answer: it depends on the type of red "brick" you are talking about! There are clay bricks which are the type that was widely used to build houses in the "old" days and there are concrete bricks that are used today. There are solid bricks and perforated bricks. All will work to some extent. Longevity will
depend on correct installation, drainage, wear, load, etc.

+1
absolutely correct answer.
In Europe lots of paved surfaces were/are built with bricks - less freezing in most places though.

applejuice
Jun 30th, 2009, 04:36 PM
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/dc/my-great-outdoors-2009/my-great-outdoors-moblands-philly-patio-086986

dosen't it snow / freeze in philly?

Kevinck
Jun 30th, 2009, 04:54 PM
Why save a little when it's so much hard work labour to do it? Many paving stones are like $5 per sq ft. It's hardly "expensive", unless you're talking about real stones like $30 per sq ft.

Heck if the OP wants cheap, the Home Depot Paving stones that are about the size of 'bricks' are only something like $1.75/sq ft.