Laying Brick Over Existing Concrete Patio

A homeowner has brick pavers on sand over a concrete patio. They removed adjacent wood decking and want to extend the brick paving to match the existing level. Options: build up with sand and a retainer frame, or remove everything and relay all brick directly on the concrete slab.

Why Was Sand Used Originally?

Unknown without investigation. Possibly the concrete was cracked, improperly sloped, or the previous owner preferred a sand-set system for drainage.

Recommendation: Remove and Relay

Though more labor-intensive, removing all existing brick allows:

• Uniform installation method across the entire area
• Blending old and new brick for color consistency (aging makes matching difficult)
• Pattern changes if desired
• Inspection of the concrete substrate condition

Installation Over Concrete

If the concrete is sound, brick can be mortared directly or sand-set with gaps. Leave joints between bricks and fill with sand—even without mortar, this looks better than tight-fitting pavers. Mortaring provides maximum stability; sand-setting allows some drainage and flexibility.

Reference: Example brick patterns

~M