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  • Backyard Living
    		•
    From shovels to shears, the right tools make growing flowers, herbs and vegetables much easier.
    From "Today Show Tips"
    episode DTST-102


    A comfortable chair, a steak on the grill and a cool drink: backyard living at its finest. Learn how to create this perfect scene from the ground up, starting with the patio.

    Laying a Basketweave Brick Patio
    Here's the process for building your own brick patio:

    • Excavate the area to a depth of 7 to 9 inches.
    • Add enough gravel to make a layer of 4 to 6 inches once it's compacted. You can use a hand tamper to compact the gravel or rent a mechanical plate compactor.
    • Add a 2-inch layer of sand. That will be the bedding for the bricks. Use a long board to squeegee or screed the sand flat.
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      PHOTO

      Basketweave pattern in brick
    • Lay the first two bricks parallel to each other. Lay the next two bricks perpendicular to the first ones. You'll have two bricks positioned vertically and two horizontally. Continue laying pairs of bricks that are perpendicular to their neighbors. (You may have to cut some bricks to get the shape you want for your patio. You can rent a saw with a diamond blade for that job.)
    • Once all the bricks are laid, use a compactor to seat them in the layer of sand.
    • Pour more sand over the top, and sweep it into the joints between the bricks.
    • If you like, you can seal the bricks to protect them from staining.
    • Add garden edging to keep grass and weeds from creeping into the patio and provide more definition for it.


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    • RELATED PROJECTS:
    		• Equipment and Tips for Yard Care
    		• Finished In 48: Paver Patio Construction
    		• Build a Better Backyard: How to Build a Brick Patio
    		• Building a Raised Bed
    		• Painted Patio Furniture
    		• Move It Outside Pt. 1: Outdoor Kitchen
    		• From Easy to Extravagant
    		• Outdoor Kitchen: Brick and Mortar Basics, Part 2

    • ALSO IN THIS EPISODE:
    		• Backyard Living