How to Make a Brick Backyard Patio

Remove the sod and topsoil of your patio site, creating a hole measuring 6 inches deep. Level the base of the site by eye and then use a 4-foot level to make adjustments as necessary. Remove soil to level the site; do not add soil to create a level base. You may create a patio site in any shape you desire, from geometric shapes to curvy shapes of your own creation.

Compact the soil at the bottom of the site using the soil tamper. To use a manual soil tamper, simply raise and pound the flat end of the tamper against the ground repeatedly. This will compress the soil, making a firm surface on which to build your patio.

Fill the patio site with a 3-inch layer of fine gravel to promote drainage underneath the brick surface. Rake the gravel layer as close to level as possible, then use the level to locate any low spots and add additional gravel. Compact the gravel layer with the tamper.

Apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of filtered, masonry sand on top of the gravel layer. Determine the thickness of this layer, based on how high you want the brick surface to sit above the grade of your lawn. Smooth the sand layer perfectly level and sprinkle it with water to compact the sand. Check the sand layer with a level and apply more sand and water until you have a firm, level layer.

Locate the center or your patio's width and length, if possible. Use this center location to set the first brick into place. Starting in the middle prevents you from having uneven edges with different sizes of brick. To set the first brick into place, simply place it on top of the sand and use a rubber mallet and level to tamp the brick level.

Set the next brick into place, creating any pattern you desire. Set the bricks as close together as possible, leaving little or no gap between each brick. Continue to place bricks in this manner, until you reach the edges of the patio.

Cut brick into the shapes and sizes necessary to fit around the edge of the patio. To do this, measure the remaining space and use a brick set (shaped like a wedge but used to cut bricks) to cut the bricks into the necessary shapes. To use the brick set, position it on the brick, where the necessary cuts are required and hammer the top of the brick set with a hammer or rubber mallet to cut the brick.

Set the cut bricks into place along the edge of the patio. Remember to press these pieces as close as possible to the other bricks.

Dig a shallow trench around the patio, measuring about 3-inches deep. Apply a 1-inch layer of sand and smooth the sand to level.

Set bricks into place around the edge of the patio, using a rubber mallet to tap them level. These bricks should sit with one of their most-narrow ends against the patio's surface. Edging bricks should sit flush with the rest of the patio, so you may need to dig deeper or less shallow to make the edging flush.

Dump small piles of masonry sand onto the finished brick patio's surface. Sweep the sand across the patio, filling the small gaps between the bricks. Sweep up any excess sand remaining on the patio surface.