When you’re considering to add a patio to your backyard or replace your old deck or patio, you’re going to need to think about the material that’s going to be the best for you. Patio builders recommend concrete and brick patios a lot. For now, let’s know more about brick patios and whether they right for you or not.

Why Install A Brick Patio?

Brick Patios Are Beautiful

One of the biggest selling points and appeals of brick patios is the fact that they look gorgeous. They’re rustic in appearance, they have that wonderful classic look that’s to die for, and they’re overall a warm and cozy option to go for if you’re not so sure about how you want your patio to look.

Brick patios can be spotted from miles away and that’s because of their characteristic building block look and their color. Your house is going to look like a statement with brick patios and the best part is that these patios are evergreen and don’t go out of style.

If you want something that’s going to last you a long time and will make heads turn, then definitely consider brick for your patio material because you’re not going to regret it and it’s going to look beautiful and be practical at the same time. So, it’s a win-win situation.

They Don’t Need A Lot Of Maintenance

A great thing about brick is that it seldom needs to be maintained. It’s essentially a rock. It means that it doesn’t break easily or doesn’t need to be sealed or polished and you can just set it and forget it. You will love the fact that bricks are extremely low maintenance and they don’t require a lot of attention.

Just keep them clean, especially the joints, and you’re good to go for some time and that’s an amazing thing that leads people to use this extremely forgiving material for their patios and walkways.

They’re Durable

Bricks are very strong and they’re not something that can shatter or break easily. Bricks are not just used in making walkways and patios, they are a reliable building material.

If you build a road with bricks, they can sustain the weight of a semi-truck and heavier vehicles easily and they still won’t break and that’s because of the composition and the distribution of weight. So, once installed, bricks are not going to budge and you will be in for a treat of a lifetime, literally.

Incredible Strength

You already witnessed how strong a brick is, so it’s safe to say that bricks are very long-lasting and can last in almost all conditions. Since a patio is an exterior structure, there’s also the element of weather that needs to be kept in mind, but you don’t need to worry about anything when it comes to bricks because these things are not going anywhere for at least 25 years.

Eve though concrete patios can last longer than bricks, the rustic appeal of bricks is what attracts people to them.

Bricks Are Frost Resistant

Another great thing about bricks that can’t be said about a lot of other materials is the fact that bricks don’t let frost freeze on the surface. They’re naturally made to distribute the snow falling and it won’t cause any slipping or tripping and that’s pretty amazing.

A lot of times, especially if you live in a climate where it snows a lot, salt or some sort of chemical is sprinkled on the walkways or patios to prevent frost from forming but that’s not something that you need to do with bricks because nothing is going to settle on the surface of these bad boys.

They’re Recyclable

Bricks are made in large facilities that involve a lot of smoke and all of the things that can be dangerous for the environment. People can suffer from respiratory problems if they live near the facilities where bricks are made and that is a huge bummer because bricks are generally great for structures.

However, bricks are still better than concrete and other building materials when it comes to recyclability. Even though their production creates smoke, bricks can be reused for other purpose if you plan to remove your brick patio. So, you won’t see them piled up in landfills.

Why Not To Install A Brick Patio?

They’re Not Colors And Shapes

One of the biggest downsides of brick as patio material is the fact that you can’t get very creative with it. There are a limited number of options that you can choose from and a handful of colors.

As far as shapes are concerned, you can get bricks in rectangular shapes, square shapes, circle bricks, hexagonal bricks and some are in the shape of tiles.

When it comes to colors, bricks are usually available in four to five colors, including red, black, brown, and cement color and that’s pretty much it. Even though you can play with these shapes and colors and come up with some good brick patios designs, it can still feel limited. This is what makes it a somewhat “boring” option for people who like a bit more variety in their materials.

They’re Expensive

Bricks have all of the appeal, but one thing that they’re not, is cheap. Bricks, especially when you’re using them to build bigger structures like walls or patios, can add up.

Why? Because bricks are one of the most expensive materials that you can go for, especially in patio building because, first, you need a lot of bricks to make a patio, and second, the installation isn’t a cakewalk either. So, you need to commit to bricks if you love the look of it otherwise you would be happy with a concrete patio that will cost much less than a brick patio. And concrete is sturdier than bricks.

Weed Growth

The space or joints between bricks can be a place for weed for grow out that looks ugly on patios. However, if the installation is done correctly by an expert, you can prevent weed from growing on your brick patio.

And if your brick patio is seeing weed growth, then a power wash will ensure that it doesn’t regrow for a good chunk of time.

Less Flexibility

Brick patios are not flexible enough if you want to redo your patio to change its design, size, or color. For a seamless look, you will need to remove the existing patio and build a new one with your desired color, design, and size.

Not So Easy To Install

Patios are already hard enough to build, but if you add bricks to the mix, then the complexities increase even more. There’s a lot of attention to detail that goes into making a brick patio and there’s also the issue of alignment and crookedness of the bricks that need to be looked after. Otherwise the whole look of the patio will be ruined.

The sand base, the placement of the bricks like a jigsaw puzzle and the filling of the corners are all time-consuming processes, so you better be prepared for it or hire an expert to take care of this.

Conclusion

Brick patios are very rustic and beautiful and they have that wonderful appeal to them as well, but by weighing the advantages and disadvantages, you can conclude whether it’s the best fit for you or not. Whichever material you choose, make sure it’s installed by patio contractors Long Island for a long-lasting outdoor living space.