Brick Patterns
Patios, Walks or Driveways
Although there are many brick patterns to choose from, there are three specific ones that are the most popular and create the best designs.
The names of the three patterns are herringbone, basket weave and running bond. The following photos are from Pine Hall Brick. I have provided the names of the particular bricks in case you want to use them for your own projects.
You can also add interesting details to any brick pattern you choose.
Brick designs on patios, walkways and driveways can also have an edging which is called a soldier course. A nice way of laying this is to have the bricks form a row all around the patio, positioning them the long way from the patio inside towards the outer edge.
You can also use a brick circle as part of the design. This is really a great look. You can center it in the patio, or you can place it in the center of a curved area. Here, the bricks radiate out to form a circle. It's a great design element and adds additional interest to the brick patterns, particularly if it is a large area. Of course the larger the area, the more costly.
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Herringbone Pattern
Herringbone is my favorite. It has interest and movement. There are two different ways to start it, and each one will give you a different brick patio design.
- Start laying it perpendicular to the house. This will produce a "straight" herringbone look.
- Begin the pattern on the diagonal. This will provide a 45 degree angle.
Here is a brick herringbone pattern laid straight. Notice how the bricks
are parallel and perpendicular to the border. This brick is Rumbled
Red. Also notice the diagonal pattern in the photo.
This is the same pattern as above. The brick has mixed colors to provide a different kind of brick paving look for this driveway. The name of this brick is English Edge.
Be careful when using brick patterns with lots of colors. If you have solid colored hardscape in the area, it's ok to use bricks with various shades and colors. However, if nearby hardscape (such as block walls, pavers, brick, stone walls etc.) are multicolored, you will find that solid colored brick will look better and not fight the other color mixes.
Here are some more pictures of how brick can be used:
Brick Patios
Brick Walkways
Brick Driveways
Compare Brick to Bluestone
Compare Brick to Pavers
This brick, Carytown, is shown set in concrete. This is another option
although brick can easily be dry laid, which is less expensive. The cost
of brick, dry laid, is around $18 per square foot.
City Cobble is one of their newer brick patterns. It has a cobblestone
look which I find very interesting. Notice how although it is still a
herringbone pattern, the bricks are not the traditional size. They are
smaller and the pattern is made up of two different sizes.
Basketweave Patterns
This type of brick design typically has two bricks laid together
followed by two more bricks laid in the other direction. The adjoining
row does the same but the bricks are laid opposite. This pattern
continues throughout the design.
This is a basketweave pattern from a project that I designed and won an
award for. Old bricks were used to add to the traditional feel of the
design.
Here is another example of the basketweave. The brick used was
Brookstown Free Range and has different colors running through it. You
may like this look or prefer more of a solid color brick. It all depends
on what other hardscape is nearby and your house material and color.
This brick is Courtyard Red and as you can see it is a more uniform
color than the one used in the brick photo above it. If you have stone
walls comprised of different color stones, this is a nice pattern and
color to choose.
Running Bond
This pattern is usually laid straight, but it can also be laid on the
diagonal. Here, all bricks are laid the long way in rows, but each row
alternates.
Here is a running bond example shown in Brookstown Red. Notice now the lines between the rows are continuous, compared to the herringbone design. If you use this pattern, you have to make sure your lines are perfectly straight! Otherwise you will end up with a wavy design.
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