Brick Path

[Anonymous]

Hi,

We have a 300 - 100 year old property which needs some garden enhancements. we are planning to make a path from a number of the original old house bricks we have available. We have had mixed feedback about the suitability of old bricks for this purpose, many suhhesting that will blow their faces etc but we have seen older properties with brick paths that look great. Any suggestions/opinions?

Thanks,

T

 

[Anonymous]

It depends on the bricks. Some are porous and weak. When they are wet and the water freezes, they will fall apart. Others are less porous and stronger and will be fine for a great many winters. Hard, 'engineering' bricks should be fine. The difficulty is with the more ordinary bricks. It can be difficult to tell. Try to use bricks that look as though they've been left out in the rain and frost a few years and still look in good condition, rather than ones from a demolition site that have just been extracted from an internal wall.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi,

If you want a pristine path then you will have to carefully choose the bricks.

If you want the worn look then the worse case will be that over a period of time the brick will disintegrate.

It will then leave a dip in the path and need replacing.

We have used some bricks discovered under the lawn (an old path) and some of them have started to break up.

I take the view that it adds to the look and saved the bricks from going on the rubbish heap. I might take a different view in a few years when the bricks have left holes and I trip up.

<IMG SRC="http://www.periodproperty.co.uk/discussing/smileys/wink.gif" BORDER=0 ALT="">

MJ

 

[Anonymous]

I agree with Biff and MJ, if you want a pristine long lasting path choose bricks made for that purpose.

I personally would use all the free bricks I could get my hands on, lay them on a 1 inch thick layer of loose sharp sand, grout them by brushing in sifted soil and sand and get the odd primrose and other cottage flowers to grow through them.
You will end up with an instant cottage path that will complement the house.
Just keep weeding and replacing the odd brick with another old one if it disintegrates.