Outdoor living has become an important part of entertaining, so creating a new patio for the family home is a wonderful opportunity for a DIY project. Being able to teach the children many new techniques for building is one of the main reasons to do it, but it can also be a great way to get more living area within a strict budget. It requires some knowledge of how to plan an outdoor project, and finding the right materials for the job can be a treasure hunt for those who want to reuse or recycle materials.
Patios created with brick can be part of the recycling movement because older bricks are often seen as less expensive, but they are also reusable materials that can take years of wear. Many brick buildings that have been demolished have been salvaged by small companies that resell items, so finding a recycler could be a fun project for older children. They should be able to find several companies, compare prices, and their hunt could make the project very affordable for the entire family.
Creating an outdoor space with bricks requires a bed underneath the area, and it is generally composed of small aggregates and sand. Digging out the area could take quite a bit of work, but the labor does not need to be done all in one day. It can be a continuing project the family can work on over several weekends, and it can be a good way to show children how to stick with it.
Laying the bricks in a pleasing pattern is important, but remembering to sweep more sand into the crevices is just as important. The labor for doing this type of work is something that should be done on a regular basis when the project is first completed, and it should be done at least once a year for maintenance purposes.
