Brick paver patios add a classic touch to the exterior of any home. It can be quite the staple design element of an elaborate lawn. And, they are pretty easy to get done by yourself if you know your way around a shovel and some concrete.
But, what if the ground you are trying to build a patio on is uneven? Well, the easiest way to go about this is to dig up the ground in a way that makes the surface level, lay down some gravel, and build your patio over it.
In this article, we discuss the whole process in detail and answer all your brick patio questions. So just keep on reading.
How to Make Brick Patio on Uneven Ground
This issue is more common than you would think. Most people have their uneven grounds taken care of by professionals since it is hassle-free. But it is not so hard to tackle it by yourself.
We recommend laying your brick patio yourself if you know a bit of handiwork. You can make your changes and moderate the design and measurements per your needs.
Just grab some supplies, and let’s get started.
Things You Will Need
- Spray paint or chalk dust
- Wooden Stakes
- A Hammer
- A roll of string
- Shovel
- ½- ¾ inch medium gravel
- Bags of sand (Medium)
- Leveling board
- Bricks
- Level
- Broom
Once you’re done shopping, let’s get to building.
Build A Brick Patio on Uneven Ground
Now, the Earth is not flat. The ground has natural curves and slopes. And, they are not necessarily a bad thing, but if you want to get rid of them for your brick paver, that is doable too. Just follow along.
Mark the Space for your Brick Patio
Okay, so. First off, we need to mark the area of the brick paver. Take your spray paint or chalk dust and draw your rough perimeters. Once you have the final shape laid out, we can get down to business.
Put Down Some Stakes
Now that you have the paver all marked down, time to commit to it. Hammer down some wooden stakes on each corner and tie a string connecting them on ground level.
Dig up at least 6-7 inches
Drive your shovel into the ground and start digging. Dig up at least the first 6-7 inches off of the ground. We are creating a trench where we will eventually put all of our gravel and sand.
Digging up the ground should ideally clear out the uneven surface and slopes and turn it into a reasonably flat surface.
Level the ground
Take out a level, put it on the ground to check everything is looking even. If you notice some unevenness, use your shovel to take care of it. Dig away the higher spots and fill the slopes until everything looks even.
Gravel
After everything looks nice and even, it’s pretty much smooth sailing from here. Lay down some medium gravel along with the dug-up spot. Fill at least the first two inches with gravel. This will help immensely with the drainage.
Sand
Fill the next 2 inches with medium sand. Make sure you use coarse sand. Finer sand won’t be as effective.
Lay down the brick
And now for the fun part! Lay down your brick in any pattern of your choosing. You will find plenty of patterns online, and you can make it look professional in a few steps. Rather than going super intricate with the design, stay with something minimal and manageable.
Final Touches
Put a level on your brick patio to see that it’s coming on even. Compact the bricks down to fit perfectly. Put some weight on them and finally broom away the excess sand in the gaps.
Tips on Building Your Brick Patio
Building your brick patio can be all fun and games until you make rookie mistakes. Many first-time builders make some slight mistakes that become more significant issues down the line. Here are some tips and tricks to help you stay on track-
Plan Ahead
We cannot say this enough. You must use some sort of design software or even a hand-drawn sketch to plan your paver. You cannot just eyeball it. Having a mockup of your design will give you an idea of how the finished patio project would look.
It will also help you with material measurements. It gives you an estimate as to how much money you will end up spending. You will also be able to gauge just how much time you have to spend on the project.
So, the first thing after getting your dimensions is sitting down and planning on paper. Think out loud! If you think I will do all the math in my head, you will probably miss out on essential details.
Compact all the Elements Individually
We know, we know! That is so tedious. The urge to take a rubber mallet to the paver as a whole can be tempting. But, it will rarely bring results. Compacting 6-7 inches worth of material in one blow is actually impossible.
Remember to compact everything down every three inches. Compact the gravel base separately. The sand doesn’t need compacting, but if you use other bedding materials for your pavers, you need to compress those.
Lastly, compact all the bricks individually. This will make sure your bricks aren’t lying too tightly together.
Use Good Quality Supplies
This goes without saying. When buying supplies for a large-scale DIY project, the best thing to do is to go for the best suppliers. This is not where you should be cutting corners.
You have to remember. You are already compromising on having a set of experienced hands on deck. You can’t also be compromising on supplies. Even if you have to pay the extra penny, go the mile and get good supplies.
A paver built with quality supplies will always look and feel sturdier. You can thank us later!
Be Precise
When laying down your bricks, bring out those glasses. Be very careful and precise. Be as meticulous as you need to be. If you feel like you need to check the level of the paver after every brick you lay, go ahead, do it.
It is much better to be a little meticulous at the beginning stage than having to dig up the whole thing and start from scratch again.
Final Verdict
If you have read this far, thank you so much for coming along. We appreciate your time here with us. And we hope you have learned a great deal about building your pavers.
Just remember, slopes and curves aren’t naturally a bad thing. It might even be a good idea to include them in your landscape design. So, whatever you end up building, there will always be a place for it. Good Luck!
FAQ
Can I build a patio on a slope?
You can. But to make it structurally sound you will have to add a retaining wall. And it has to be done very strategically. We do not recommend taking on such a large-scale project without expert input.
What happens if I don’t put sand under the patio?
The brick will become too flush to the ground and it will trap the water. It will become a huge drainage issue down the line.
Can I lay pavers directly on top of the grass?
That will be a very bad decision. The paver won’t have any edges to keep it in place, and it will create drainage issues.
