What Type of Brick to Use for a Patio?

Clay Paving Brick

• Although builders sometimes use standard clay brick to pave patios, manufacturers produce a thinner brick specifically for low-traffic floors and pathways, such as a residential patio. Both specialized clay paving bricks and standard clay building bricks consist of a mixture of clay and shale, moistened combined and dried, or "fired," in a kiln. Whereas clay bricks for wall building often have core-fill holes throughout their bodies, bricks for flooring are typically smooth on all sides. However, some clay paving bricks have serrations or lines across their bottom face to encourage even spreading of mortar.

Concrete Paving Brick

• Concrete paving brick generally imitates the appearance of clay paving brick. Concrete bricks are composed of sand, coarse aggregate and a cement-based binder. Whereas many clay bricks assume the color of their clay ingredients, concrete bricks accept pigments during the manufacturing process. Manufacturers add clay-colored dyes to concrete bricks or more unusual colors, such as bright blues and yellows. However, after years of traffic, the smooth surface layer of concrete pavers sometimes wears away to expose the coarse gravel beneath.

Alternative Paver Shapes

• Paver manufacturers can easily press and form concrete into unusual shapes. Many concrete pavers imitate natural materials, such as slate slabs or cobblestone steps. Alternatively, concrete pavers appear in various geometrical shapes, including hexagons, squares and rectangles. Builders call keyhole-shaped pavers "interlocking pavers." The corresponding, keyhole shapes of interlocking pavers form a sturdy, puzzle-like pattern that creates visual interest and decreases the shifting and heaving of individual pavers.

Installing Patio Paving Bricks

• Slab installation and dry-base installation are the two general installation methods for all types of patio paving bricks. To adhere bricks to a concrete slab, builders place bricks atop a bed or mortar and fill the joints between bricks with a grout, similar to a tile-setter's method of tile installation. To install bricks over a dry base, builders construct a border-like form of lumber or special paver edging. The form holds a base layer of gravel and a smooth, top layer of sand. Bricks rest directly atop the sand layer, and builders fill joints with either mortar or sand.