Pros and cons of brick garden paving

I like brick as paving large areas of the garden and when used for garden paths, mainly because it looks nice; much more so than say poured concrete in my opinion and it’s less messy and more long-lasting than walkways made of mobile material such as bark or pebbles. Still there are some pros and cons.

Pros of bricks used for garden paving:

• They’re green! Bricks are made with renewable resources. Bricks last a LONG time and you can even use salvaged bricks from old building which has the added benefit of looking amazingly antique.
• If you used salvaged bricks they won’t cost you much. In fact sometimes folks give them away free on Craigslist.
• Bricks can fit the mood of many home styles from contemporary to classic and come in plenty of colors.
• You can salt bricks in the winter IF you get the right kind of bricks. Some bricks can crack with salt, so check with the maker before purchasing.
• Bricks are unaffected by oil or gas spills.

Cons of bricks used for garden paving:

• They can get mossy, which some people think looks good, but in the fall and winter this will make your path super slick. You need to stay on top of cleaning moss off your bricks.
• Bricks can get very hot in the summer if you walk around barefoot.
• The irregular surface makes brick paving harden to sweep and shovel.
• If something happens (like a large crack) brick paving is hard to repair.
• You have to either honestly learn how to install the brick yourself well or hire an experienced brick layer. Using an incorrect amount of or type of base can ruin a brick paving job. While bricks themselves can be cheap, laying them is time intensive and expensive if you’re paying someone.
• If you’re using salvaged bricks they might not hold up well in a garden that experiences temperature extremes like freezing then thawing over and over. I recently read that you should check to make sure your older bricks were fired correctly before using them in a garden application, to be sure they can withstand the elements.

More tips:

Learn about DIY brick paving.

A HUGE full on brick guide.

[image via stock.xchng]