There is no doubt that the beauty of reclaimed bricks is unrivalled in certain circumstances – like this old farmhouse with new extensions and a complete landscape makeover (by Arun Landscapes Ltd), where any new material would have been difficult to use. The new walls were constructed to match the house, right down to the style of laying and the colours of the flints.
What is particularly striking about the brick paving is the way a wide variety of shapes and sizes have all been skilfully blended into a highly detailed and very interesting carpet – some laid flat, others on end, or on their sides – with brick and tile used to great effect.
Note too, there is no mortar showing, the whole area being sanded on completion. The secret is in maintaining straight lines, taking out any variations by selecting a thinner/thicker unit to fill the gap.
The whole patio is laid over 100mm wet laid concrete for strength, leaving an average depth from bed to finished height of 125mm to allow for the various thicknesses, with all brick/tile laid into sand/cement mortar to take out any variations in depth.
