| Brick pavers have become very popular among | | | | The next essential ingredient to keep your brick |
| homeowners for many landscaping projects. They | | | | pavers in place is to install a restraining edge. This will |
| work well for sidewalks, patios and any number of | | | | strengthen the interlocking of the bricks and keep |
| hardscape home improvement projects. It is | | | | them from shifting and moving about from side to |
| extremely important to know correct brick installation | | | | side. The soldier course or paver edge restraint as it |
| techniques in order to build an attractive and | | | | is sometimes called creates a solid edge that will |
| functional walkway or patio. | | | | support the weight of a person (or even heavy |
| The brick pavers must be installed so that they | | | | vehicles) as they step on and off the patio or |
| interlock securely. This will eliminate the problems that | | | | walkway. It also provides visual appeal as they make |
| quickly develop when the brick pavers shift or | | | | the project look "finished". The brick used along the |
| become uneven. No one wants a patio that is | | | | edge are often a different type of design or color |
| uneven, or a walkway that people trip on because | | | | and angled in a different direction from the other |
| the pavers have shifted. When laying the brick | | | | bricks. |
| pavers there are a few steps to take that will insure | | | | An edge restraint should be added as well to keep |
| good results. | | | | everything in place and to prevent shifting of the |
| The first step to take as you begin planning your | | | | brick pavers. This final step keeps everything in place |
| brick patio or walkway is to decide what type of | | | | so that water or a hard freeze, or use will not cause |
| pattern you would like to create. The best option to | | | | brick installation problems down the road. |
| insure excellent interlocking properties is a herringbone | | | | A properly or professionally installed interlocking brick |
| pattern. There is a wide variety of options even | | | | patio or walkway will add value and enjoyment to |
| when using a herringbone design so you have some | | | | any home. It is worth the time, effort and |
| creative leeway. The ones that provide the maximum | | | | investment to learn how to install them properly if |
| strength are those set at 45 or 90 degrees. A little | | | | you are a DIYer or hire a professional brick pavers |
| research will help you find a design that will give you | | | | contractor with experience. |
| both strength and visual appeal. | | | | |