There’s a timeless charm to a classic brick path. It can create a welcoming entrance to your home, a rustic walkway through your garden, or a stylish, practical connection between outdoor living areas. While it may seem like a job for the professionals, laying your own brick path is a hugely rewarding weekend project that adds significant value and beauty to your property.
With this comprehensive guide and the right high-quality materials from BuildMart Australia, you can achieve a professional-looking result that will last for decades. Let’s get started.
Before You Begin: Planning Your Perfect Path
Like any successful project, a durable brick path begins with careful planning. Taking the time to design and measure properly will save you headaches, time, and money down the line.
Designing Your Path’s Layout and Shape
Will your path be a straight, formal walkway or a gentle, meandering curve through your garden? For straight paths, use stakes and string lines to create a precise guide. For curved designs, a flexible garden hose is a great tool for visualising the shape on the ground before you mark it out with spray paint.
Choosing the Perfect Pattern
The pattern you choose has a huge impact on the final look. Here are three popular and achievable options:
- Running Bond: The simplest pattern, where bricks are laid end-to-end in staggered rows. It’s classic, strong, and great for beginners.
- Herringbone: A visually dynamic pattern where bricks are laid in zig-zagging L-shapes at a 45 or 90-degree angle. It’s incredibly stable and eye-catching.
- Basketweave: Bricks are laid in pairs to form square blocks, with each block alternating in direction. This creates a charming, textured look reminiscent of a woven basket.
Calculating Your Materials
To figure out how many pavers you need, simply calculate the area of your path: Length (m) x Width (m) = Total Area (m²). Always add an extra 5-10% to your order to account for any cuts, breaks, or mistakes. The same calculation applies to your base materials.
Gathering Your Tools & Materials
Having everything on hand before you start makes the process much smoother.
Essential Tools
- Shovel and Spade
- Wheelbarrow
- Tape Measure
- Spirit Level (a long one is best)
- Rubber Mallet
- Stakes and String Line
- Screed Rails (timber or metal pipes) and a straight board
- Brick Bolster or Angle Grinder (for cuts)
- Plate Compactor (highly recommended – can be hired)
- Stiff-bristled Broom
- Safety Gear (gloves, goggles, dust mask)
Essential Materials from BuildMart
BuildMart is your one-stop shop for everything you need to build the perfect path.
- Brick Pavers: Choose from our extensive range of durable and stylish pavers.
- Road Base: A mix of crushed rock and gravel that creates the strong, stable foundation for your path.
- Paving Sand: This coarse, sharp sand is used to create the bedding layer your pavers will sit on.
- Edge Restraints: Essential for locking your path in place. Choose from discrete plastic, sleek steel, or use a paver laid on its side.
The 5-Step Guide to Laying Your Brick Path
Step 1: Excavation and Base Preparation (The Most Crucial Step!)
Your path is only as good as its foundation. Mark out the area and excavate the soil to a depth of around 150mm. Ensure the base of your trench is firm and has a slight slope away from your house for drainage. Add the road base in 50mm layers, watering it lightly and compacting each layer thoroughly with the plate compactor. A solid, compacted base is your best defence against sinking pavers and pesky weeds.
Step 2: Laying and Screeding the Sand Bed
Place your screed rails on top of the compacted base, ensuring they are level. Spread a layer of paving sand between the rails to a depth of about 30mm. Now, pull your straight timber board across the top of the rails in a sawing motion. This will remove excess sand and create a perfectly smooth, level bed for the pavers. Remove the rails and carefully fill in the gaps with sand.
Step 3: Laying the Brick Pavers
Start laying your pavers from a fixed edge, like the wall of your house or a driveway. Place the pavers gently onto the sand bed—don’t slide them. Use your string lines to keep your rows perfectly straight. Tap each paver lightly with a rubber mallet to set it in place, using your spirit level constantly to check that the surface is even.
Step 4: Installing Your Edge Restraints
Once all the main pavers are laid, you need to lock them in. Install your chosen edge restraints firmly against the outside pavers, securing them with the provided stakes or a concrete footing. This frame is critical for preventing the pavers from spreading and shifting over time.
Step 5: Locking It In – Jointing Sand and Compaction
Spread a generous amount of dry jointing sand over the entire path. Using your stiff broom, sweep the sand back and forth across the surface until every gap between the pavers is completely filled. Now, run the plate compactor over the entire path. This vibrates the sand deep into the joints, locking the pavers together and settling them firmly into the sand bed. Sweep more sand over the surface to fill any remaining gaps, and your path is complete!
Choosing the Right Paver for Your Project
Expert Advice from BuildMart Australia
The paver you choose defines the character of your path. At BuildMart, we offer two fantastic options:
- Clay Pavers: Offer a timeless, classic look with rich, earthy colours that won’t fade over time. They are incredibly durable and perfect for achieving a traditional aesthetic.
- Concrete Pavers: Provide incredible versatility in terms of colour, size, and finish. They are a cost-effective and highly durable option suitable for any style of home, from modern to classic.
Unsure which is best for your home and budget? Our friendly team is here to help. Browse our full range online or give us a call for expert advice!
Your Brick Path Questions Answered
Can I lay brick pavers directly on soil or dirt?
Absolutely not. Laying pavers directly on soil will result in an uneven, unstable path that will sink, shift, and be overrun with weeds in no time. The compacted road base and sand bed are essential for drainage, stability, and longevity.
How do I ensure proper drainage for my path?
When excavating your base, create a gentle slope or “fall” of about 1-2cm for every metre of path. This should be directed away from your home’s foundation and towards a garden bed or drain.
Do I really need to hire a plate compactor?
While you can try to compact the base with a hand tamper for very small areas, a plate compactor is highly recommended. It creates a much firmer, more evenly compacted base and locks the final pavers in place far more effectively, ensuring a professional, long-lasting finish.
Build a Path to Be Proud Of
You’ve now transformed your outdoor space with a beautiful and durable brick path built with your own two hands. By following these steps and refusing to cut corners on preparation, you’ve created an asset that will enhance your home for years to come.
Ready to start your project? Explore BuildMart Australia‘s extensive range of pavers and landscaping supplies today and build the garden path you’ve always dreamed of.