Brick patio design dilemma

Question

Looking to make a brick patio measuring 8' x 13' (see photo). I attached a photo to show the bricks I will be using and the layout. The yard has a slope to it as you can see. Would a wood retaining wall look ok? Should there be steps? Any help or advice would be great. Want it look like a professional put it in. I have 8' grape posts (shown in photo) that I can use. The less I have to spend the better. Thank you!

Z · Answer

Since the bricks are above the level of your driveway, I'd recommend digging out that area and moving the dirt to the lower area and use some of the same bricks as a retaining wall.

Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com · Answer

Once you dig out the soil next to the cement drive you will find that the pitch is not quite as bad as it currently looks. 
There are a few methods of creating a retaining wall to prevent the patio from slipping and moving. They make both treated six inch treated lumber RR ties and ones in plastic much like the materials that are used on decks. Ideally and of course the plastic ones are expensive, but are ideal for retaining walls of this type as they will never decay. Wood treated lumber does last a long time, but eventually they too will crumble over time. 
Be sure to remove any vegetation including roots from old grass before you place your gravel then quarry dust down. Ideally you may want to carefully spray after the grass and topsoil is removed the area with vegetation killer to assure no weeds find their way up. Its cheep assurance. 
As far as a step, I do not think your that high in the lower corner to warrant all that work. In many cases when you have a slight height which is just a bit more then a normal step, people place small low growing plants to direct people from walking where the step is the highest. 
The current posts that you have will not be sufficient to support or hold the bricks back. You need to dig down below the level of where the stone will be placed and pin the posts using rebar rods driven into the ground to assure that the posts will not shift when you compact the gravel and the bricks after they are placed on the quarry dust.

Do not use sand to support the bricks. Many folks use sand and the result will be the bricks will move and roll around. Quarry dust which is really finely crushed gravel will compact much like cement and create a great base that will drain water away freely and assure that the bricks will not move.

Once the bricks are placed down, there is a cement/sand product that is brushed between the bricks that will harden to lock the pavers into place. You simply use a broom to get it into the gaps and spray water on the surface to clean the bricks off.

Ginger the farm gal · Answer

Agree with above comments, I would curve it instead of square it off, for a softer look and easy to mow. Lots of grass to remove, first.

Brick patio design dilemma

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Brick patio design dilemma

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