Bricks

[Im a BusyBee]

we are laying an area in the garden with engineering bricks, the area is 11.5 x 5.5 metres can you tell me how many bricks we need please? also what to use for the bed to lay these on and how to work out the quantity of that please. Thanks so much

[sddsddean]

If you want this sort of finish use concrete block paving. Due to the frogs in engineering bricks you would have to lay them on their side, which means you would need about 25% more. Use conc. blocks (loads of different colours available) on a bed of a minimum of 100mm of type, then 50mm sand. If you have never done it before, get a reputable builder/block layer to do it. Like so many jobs, it looks easy until you try!

[landscaper2]

I agree with the other posters, engineering bricks are an expensive and time consuming option. However if you decide to go for it, when laid well, they will produce a fantastic surface. I would go for a concrete base, 100mm depth for a drive and 75mm for patio. Laid flat, the bricks should the be wet laid on a full 6/1 sand/cement mortar bed of approx 25mm with 10mm ironed joints of 3/1 soft washed sand/cement. With this method, you will need around 2,650 bricks and butt jointed around 3,000. Volume = area (63.25sq. m.)x depth. For the inexperienced, engineering bricks are not the easiest material to deal with - good luck!

[Im a BusyBee]

thanks all for your answers - really helpful. this is not one whole area but paths around our garden. i need to post another question cos i cant work out the sand, cement etc by the bag/tonne!