When you think about masonry, the first image that likely comes to mind is the brick. All around the world, bricks have been used for thousands of years to create incredible paved surfaces and structures. In a landscape, bricks are most often used for patios although there are lots of other applications for these beautiful and timeless masonry materials. While you plan out the next steps in your landscape renovation, consider these three projects other than a patio where brick paving is used in the Grosse Ile, MI area.
Related: 6 REASON BRICK PAVING IS A TOP CHOICE IN GROSSE ILE, MI, OUTDOOR SPACES
Walkways
A crucial component of any landscape is the walkway. You may have just one at the front entry, or several that connect various features of your landscape, the home, and outdoor living spaces. These surfaces need to be stable and long lasting to ensure a safe and welcoming experience for everyone. But, many people choose brick primarily for its beauty.
Bricks are surprisingly versatile when it comes to patterns and arrangements. Because of their rectangular shape, bricks can be laid in a myriad of patterns. A walkway can be as straight as an arrow or enhanced with complex patterns and color arrangements that make the space appear playful and intriguing. Brick walkways can even curve their way across a landscape, making everyone want to slow down and appreciate the landscape.
The Driveway
The driveway is the essential connection between the home and the outside world, though not many homeowners take advantage of bricks in a driveway design. Bricks can create a timeless look that emphasizes the natural beauty of the landscape and the grandeur of the home. Bricks work extremely well with traditional architecture and landscape design, though they make excellent additions to modern applications as well, giving a warm appearance to an otherwise stark exterior.
Bricks lend themselves beautifully to long, winding driveways or driveways with an entry court. But even if your driveway is short and culminates in a garage, bricks will add character that other materials can’t match.
A brick driveway will last for many years and there are ways to make it even more durable and beneficial for the environment. A permeable brick paver system will allow water to disperse in between the joints of each brick. This also comes in handy during precipitation as rainfall and snowmelt disperses back into the soil. You can go even further and install a heated snowmelt system that takes care of snow and ice to virtually eliminate the need for plowing or shoveling.
The Pool Deck
The pool deck is a crucial element of a pool landscape. The space around the pool needs to be non-slip, gentle on bare feet, and of course it has to look good. Brick may not be the first material that comes to mind for a pool deck, but in fact it’s a material that has been used for centuries to surround pools in Mediterranean countries.
Much like with the patio, you can really get creative with all the arrangements and patterns of brick in your pool area. A pool deck allows the opportunity for even more creativity and playful design. Circular designs, outdoor “area rugs,” variations in color (keep the colors on the light side to avoid the brick becoming too hot in the summer sun), and a variety of laying patterns can help you create a custom pool deck worthy of admiration.
Related: 7 IDEAS TO CHOOSE BRICK PAVING IN YOUR LANDSCAPE DESIGN IN WOODHAVEN AND FLAT ROCK, MI
