Having an outside seating and entertaining area is essential for most households. After all, when the weather starts to warm up you want to enjoy your yard. However, having an outside space means that you need to take care of it.

One of the biggest issues that homeowners face is maintaining the floor outside. There are a variety of options available but one of the most common is a brick patio. The good news is that these are some of the easiest spaces to repair. 

Common Issues With Brick Patios

Brick is very tough but it is also subject to all the elements. That means that it gets very hot, very cold, and suffers from damp which helps it to contract and expand continuously. This usually takes its toll on the joints of your patio. In short, you’re going to need to repair the brick patio and this starts with the mortar between bricks.

Get the Professionals

The easiest solution is not to do the work yourself but to get the professionals to do it for you. In many cases, a brick repointing specialist will deal  with the problem faster than you can and they may even be the cheaper option. After all, if you don’t know what you are doing you may make it worse and still need to call the professionals. 

But, if you want to do it yourself, here’s what you need to do.

Check For Sinking Bricks

The first step is to examine your brick patio and finds any bricks that are sinking. This happens over time as the ground underneath them erodes. To bring them back to level you will need to remove the offending bricks. The best way to do this is with a chisel and gently prise the edge up. 

Once you have the brick out, put a layer of gravel or sand in the gap and press it flat. Then put the brick back in. You may need to do this several times to get it level with the other bricks. 

Of course, if the bricks are set on a bed of cement you’ll need to chisel the mortar out around the brick and then lift it out. In this instance, you’ll need to mix three parts sand to one part cement with water before putting a little in the hole and repositioning the brick.

Dealing With Mortar

If the mortar between the bricks is missing you’re going to need to wash the brick patio, ideally with a pressure washer. This will allow you to see the color of the existing mortar, you need to match it.

Mix one part cement with one part sand and water then carefully squeeze it between the bricks to repair the mortar damage. It’s a good idea to overfill the gap. You’ll then be able to scrape the excess off before it sets completely.

Now you can step back and admire your brick patio that looks like new again!