How to Repair a Brick Patio Yourself

Brick patios are great for relaxing with the family, having barbecues in the summer, or spending some alone time outside, reconnecting with nature. But like any part of your home, brick patios require regular maintenance and, eventually, repair to keep them looking as good as the day they were installed. Below, we’ll walk you through signs it’s time for a patio facelift—plus, we’ll walk you through how to repair a brick patio all by yourself, regardless of the issue.

Why Repair a Damaged Brick Patio?

There are several reasons to repair a damaged brick patio. First and foremost, damaged or uneven brick can pose a tripping hazard. For your safety, and the safety of your family and guests, make sure your patio (and all walking surfaces throughout your home and property) are level.

But a brick patio also offers a nice aesthetic for a relaxing outdoor area. If you want an inviting guest space or a nice spot to enjoy your morning coffee or a good book, keep up with patio brick repair and maintenance. Plus, when you’re ready to sell your home, a well-maintained brick patio will boost curb appeal—while a damaged brick patio will have the exact opposite effect.

How Much Does Brick Patio Repair Cost?

On average, the cost to repair a brick patio runs between $11 and $14 per square foot when hiring a professional masonry contractor. Labor accounts for anywhere from 50% to 90% of those costs, however, so if you choose to repair your brick patio on your own, you’ll spend as little as $1 to $7 per square foot.

Signs Your Brick Patio Needs Repair

How do you know if it’s time to repair your brick patio? Here are some visual clues that your patio could use a facelift:

• Weeds growing in between brick pavers: The bricks themselves may not need repair, but you’ll need to spend a day pulling weeds and treating the area to prevent more from growing.

• Dirty bricks: Dirt and sand may coat the bricks over time; often, all they need is a good scrub or power washing.

• Faded bricks: Bricks may fade over time due to sun exposure or cleaning with harsh chemicals. Unfortunately, once they’ve become severely discolored, you won’t be able to restore them to their former beauty; your best is to replace the bricks and regularly seal the new ones, to prevent future fading.

• Cracks or chips: Bricks may crack or chip over time; if several bricks are crumbling or cracking, it’s time to replace them.

• Uneven patio: Over time, your brick patio may start to sink in areas. This requires removing the bricks, releveling the area, and reinstalling the bricks.

• Mortar damage: The bricks themselves may look fine, but over time, the mortar between the bricks can get damaged or fail. You may need to install new mortar should this happen.

• Drainage issues: If your brick patio was improperly installed, water might not drain properly. If you notice water pooling on your patio after a storm, you’ll need to have the patio reinstalled with a proper slope or drainage solution.

How to Prepare for Brick Patio Repair

The first step of brick patio repair is to determine the problem. With a damaged brick patio, you’re likely facing one of two issues: either parts of the brick have begun to sink, creating an uneven surface, or some of the mortar joints are missing or starting to chip away. If you’re dealing with a sinking patio, the steps you take to repair it will vary depending on whether or not it was set with mortar.

Whichever of these repair jobs you end up taking on, keep in mind that thoughtful staging is an important part of any brick patio repair job. The task requires some heavy materials and tools, so find a spot near the patio to keep everything, but not so close that it will get in the way of your work. Also, don’t be afraid to call on a buddy to help you, especially with the heavy lifting.

How to Repair a Brick Patio

Below, we’ll cover three different methods for repairing a brick patio, including how to repair a brick patio that is sinking with or without mortar, and how to repair a brick patio that has damaged mortar.

Repair a Sinking Brick Patio Without Mortar

Take these steps to re-level sinking areas in a patio that has been laid without mortar.

1. Remove Problem Bricks. Use a flat pry bar to remove all the bricks in the sinking area. The first brick will be the most difficult to remove. Find a brick with a relatively exposed corner or edge—and if one doesn’t exist, use a screwdriver and a hammer to create a gap into which you can fit the pry bar.

Once you remove the first brick, work outwards until you clear the whole problem area. 

Use a crayon to number each good brick as you remove it before setting it aside. This will help you know the right order in which to replace it. 

2. Add Sand. Survey the sand bed beneath the bricks and determine the problem areas. There should be a fully even, 1-inch layer. Pour a bit of new sand onto the areas where the level dips. Be conservative—it’s easier to add more sand where there’s too little during the leveling stage than to remove it where there’s too much. 

3. Level the Sand. Once you have spread the sand, use your two-by-four to spread and level the sand. You can also use a tamper to pack the 1-inch layer of sand tightly and evenly.

4. Place Your Bricks. Starting from a corner, set your bricks back into place. Line them up tightly up against one another and tap each one into place with a rubber mallet. 

5. Fill the Cracks. Once all the bricks are in place, sprinkle a layer of sand—about half an inch—all over the patio surface. With your broom, sweep the sand over the cracks, allowing it to fill them in and keep the bricks level. 

6. Wait for Rain and Repeat. Once you’ve filled all the cracks with sand, you’re done for the day—but there’s one more step. Wait until the next heavy rainfall. Once the rain has stopped and the patio has dried, you’ll fill the cracks one more time. Sprinkle another layer of sand over the surface and sweep it into any remaining cracks between the bricks.

Repair a Sinking Brick Patio With Mortar

If your patio is set in mortar, you’ll take slightly different steps to re-level any sinking areas. 

1. Remove Problem Bricks. Remove all the bricks in the problem areas with a chisel, prying off the old mortar from the edges of each brick as you lift them and off of the bricks that lay around them. 

2. Mix the New Mortar. Before relaying the bricks, you’ll need to mix your mortar in a wheelbarrow or mixing tub. Follow the instructions on the package, but it’s generally one part cement to three parts sand, adding water as you go until it takes a muddy consistency. 

3. Lay the Base. Spread a layer of mortar about a half-inch thick onto the area left beneath the removed bricks. Level it with your trowel. 

4. Lay the Bricks. Use your pointing trowel to apply a three-quarter-inch thick layer of mortar on the sides of each brick before pushing them into place on the base. Make sure each new brick is tightly packed against its neighbors. Once all the bricks are down, fill in any remaining gaps at the tops of each brick with mortar with the pointing trowel. Allow the mortar to cure and then sweep away any excess with a broom.

Repair Damaged Mortar in a Brick Patio

If there are gaps and cracks in the mortar between your patio bricks, replacing them is an easy DIY job. Here’s how to fix brick mortar in your patio:

1. Thoroughly Clean the Patio. First, carefully use a pressure washer to give the patio a thorough deep cleaning. This step is necessary to clear away any excess damaged mortar and to give you a clearer picture of the color of the mortar you’ll need. 

2. Identify the Type of Mortar. To make repairs, you need to use a type of mortar that matches the original color and grain size. 

3. Mix the New Mortar. Once you’ve got the proper kind of mortar, you’ll need to mix one part sand with one part cement, adding water as you mix them together in your tub. This ratio produces the stronger mortar required for a patching job. Fill your grout bag to the halfway point before proceeding. 

4. Apply the Mortar. At each spot where there is missing, cracked, or damaged mortar, wet the existing layers with a small amount of water. Using the grout bag, fill each crack with the patching mortar until the layer is a bit higher than the bricks surrounding the joint. Let the mortar cure, and then use your trowel to scrape off any excess, leaving the joints level with the bricks.

4 Brick Patio Maintenance Tips

To get the most out of your brick patio, it’s important to keep up with some basic maintenance. Doing so will help your patio last longer and will ideally mean fewer repairs over the years. Here are a few tips to maintaining your brick patio each year:

• Clean it often: Sweep your brick patio regularly, especially after mowing the grass (if it gets covered in debris) and in the spring and fall, when it might get covered with seeds and leaves. Beyond sweeping, you should regularly spray it down with a hose or a low setting on a power washer; alternatively, you can get a bucket of water and vinegar and scrub your brick patio with a brush or sponge.

• Keep weeds at bay: Weeds can be a blight on your patio, and if they grow big enough, their roots can even upend your bricks over time. Keep up with weed maintenance by pulling weeds (roots and all) and applying weed killer as needed. That regular sweeping we mentioned should also clear off unwanted seeds from weeds and reduce the number of weeds that grow on your patio.

• Seal the patio: Apply a brick sealer to the patio every two to three years. This will protect your brick from the elements, such as harsh sun that can fade the color over time.

• Address problems when you see them: As soon as you notice signs of your brick patio sinking, fading, or incorrectly draining, address the problem right away. Putting off minor brick repairs can lead to much larger problems down the road.

DIY Brick Patio Repair vs. Hiring a Pro

Repairing a brick patio can be a tricky job, and the consequences of not getting it exactly right are sometimes frustrating and expensive. If you’re not confident in your ability to re-level your patio or repair the mortar—and you don’t have the patience or budget to stretch your skills with an ambitious project—you can always hire a local masonry repair contractor. 

Mortar repair typically costs between $10 and $20 per square foot. The charge includes removal of the old, damaged mortar and tuckpointing or repointing. New bricks cost between $0.35 and $0.75 each. Nationally, homeowners pay an average of $1,200 for professional brick patio repair, though a smaller job might cost as little as $300. The good news is that you’ll pay significantly less than the cost of building a new patio.