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Getting a Start on a Career in Masonry

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The trades are a great place for anyone looking for a career that’s hands-on and creative. Being a brick mason or stone mason opens up an opportunity to grow as a professional. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for masonry workers is expected to increase by 12% through 2026. If you like working with your hands or you are changing career paths, here’s what you need to know about getting a career in masonry.

What Does a Mason Worker Do?

A mason worker is anyone who builds structures out of materials such as brick, stone or concrete. There are many different pathways you can take in a career in masonry.

Brick Mason

Brickmasons lay brick and build structures such as walls, floors, chimneys, fireplaces and more. Cleaning masons help clean and restore structures made from brick. Refractory masons specialize in building and restoring structures exposed to lots of heat, such as furnaces.

Stone Mason

Stonemasons primarily work with natural or artificial stone to make walls, pavers or home exteriors.

Cement Mason

Cement Masons pour, level and finish concrete for sidewalks, roads, and driveways. They may use pour concrete over steel for additional support.

A mason worker doesn’t just build things out of brick, stone or concrete; they require a certain set of skills that make them a special breed.

The Skill Sets Needed for Masonry

Masonry requires good hand-eye coordination and strength. You may be required to get additional training and education in order to be able to read blueprints, work power tools and other skills that aren’t prerequisite to a job in masonry.

Education and Training

At the very minimum, you should have a high school diploma before you start your career in masonry. The most common routes for getting an education in masonry work is through apprenticeship programs. Apprenticeship programs offer on the job training, meaning individuals learn as they work towards a associates degree in masonry work. The associate’s degree gives students a more focused curriculum by choosing a concentration of masonry work, whether it’s working with stone or cement.

A career in masonry opens the opportunities to work in a variety of different environments and projects.

What is the Work Environment Like?

A job in masonry can puts you in a variety of different settings. Brick and stone masons can work in both commercial and residential settings, working with bricks and stone to deck out homes and offices. Cement masons can find work paving roadways or building bridges, some can even find work in the arts!

The ability to work with stone, brick or cement is a valuable skill that requires immense skill and creativity. Interested in what professional stone and brickwork looks like? Take a look at our gallery page today or give Champion Brick of Wisconsin a call to find out what it takes to work in masonry.

Why You Should Be Recycling Your Leftover Bricks

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So, you’ve redone your brickwork and there’s a heap of old bricks left over. You may be better off recycling them than letting them go to waste.

Bricks are a recyclable material. Numerous states have recycling plants designated for construction materials such as bricks. Recycling brick can have positive effects on the environment, economic advantages, and can spark new ideas for home improvement projects.

Recycling Bricks Is Good for the Environment

Bricks have been used for centuries because they are one of the most sustainable building materials. They are, however, often wasted. For instance, statistics from The Environmental Protection Agency showed that over 11 million tons of brick were wasted in 2015 alone. Statistics also showed that the production of brick rose from 2012 to 2014, meaning more unnecessarily wasted materials.

The report Benefits of Construction and Demolition Debris Recycling in the United States from the Construction and Demolition Debris Recycling Association (CDRA) notes that construction debris can be dangerous to the environment if not recycled properly.

If you don’t have a use for your old bricks, you can take them to a recycling plant or even antique stores that salvage construction waste. However, that doesn’t mean old brick should be wasted. Your leftover brick can provide economic advantages.

Recycling Brick Creates Jobs and Saves Money

Construction and demolition recycling is an important resource for homeowners and presents job opportunities. The benefits report from the CDRA also notes that workers at these recycling plants handpick reusable material to make new products.

Furthermore, if you’re a homeowner, reusing brick can also save you a little bit of money. For instance, you can use bricks that have been damaged as fill for pavers and for pouring concrete. If you enjoy DIY projects, there are plenty of crafty ways to reuse bricks around the house and garden.

Old Bricks Can Be the Start of a New Project

A load of recycled brick can be a source of inspiration for homeowners. Bricks are a trending material in the DIY sphere because of their sustainability, their strength, and their resistance to heat. For instance:

Start Your Next Project Today

As we look toward creating a greener future, expect brick to be a mainstay product for homeowners. From new bricks used for large projects to recycled brick used for outdoor living and gardens, brick is here to stay.

If you’re inspired to find ways to use brick around your home or property, visit our project gallery and see some of the many Southeastern Wisconsin brick projects we’ve completed. For all of your brick needs, remember Champion Brick.

Wisconsin Home Improvement Projects That Increase Home Value

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A home is a living project, both literally and figuratively. There’s always a project that can add style and value to your property. But how can you know what home improvement projects will add the most value to your home?

If you’re looking for the most bang for your buck, consider one of these five projects.

1. New Siding and Brickwork Adds New Life to Your Home

You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but a home’s brickwork often forms a lasting first impression. Regularly maintaining your home’s brickwork and siding adds a nice polish that makes your home look inviting.

According to a blog from Investopedia, homeowners who redo their siding can expect an average of 80.7% return on investment. However, the type of siding you install determines how much return you see. When in doubt, homeowners may see the best return on brickwork.

Alternatives to brick (like manufactured stone) are also creating a boom in return on investment for homeowners.

2. Replace Siding on Your Home

While vinyl sidings are a cheap option for dressing your home, they can also add value. According to a 2018 cost-value report from Remodeling, homeowners who invest in siding may see an average of 76.7% return on their investment. However, the type of material you use for siding your home greatly influences value.

For a high-end look with even greater returns, homeowners should consider alternatives to siding that mimic stone, like thin brick and stone veneer.

3. Add Manufactured Stone Veneer Siding

If you have the money, swapping out vinyl for manufactured stone may up your home’s value. The 2018 cost-value report from Remodeling shows that homeowners who added manufactured stone saw an average of 97.1% return on their investment.

Even if you aren’t in the market for selling, adding manufactured stone can give your home a welcoming look. Sprucing up your home’s appearance will have people wondering what other great additions your home has to offer.

4. Additions to Your Deck or Patio

A patio starts off as a blank canvas. It’s what you add to it that brings it to life. According to Remodeling’s 2018 cost-value report, homeowners who added to their deck or patio saw an average of 82.8% return on their investment.

Adding wooden additions like pergolas or brick fireplaces and ovens makes your backyard the place to be during a summer in Wisconsin.

5. Add Pavers Around Your Home for a Grand Entrance

Pavers are a product of multiple materials, such as concrete, stone, and brick. The variety of materials available gives homeowners plenty of options for finding what will look best for their homes.

Here are just a few great ways to use pavers:

  • Put them around your property to create a trail for exploration.
  • Use them to guide your guests into your home or around to the backyard.
  • Create a unique walking path through your garden.

Improving Your Wisconsin Home Means Choosing the Right Materials

While trends come and go, adding beautiful hardscapes and maintaining your home will inevitably add value to it. If you’re looking for a change for the better but don’t know where to start, contact a local company with experience and expertise. They can help you find the right materials to meet your goals.

To see the many ways our clients have used our high-quality brick here in Wisconsin, visit our project gallery. For more information on our bricks, manufactured stone, or hardscape materials, contact us today.

Building a Retaining Wall? Here’s How to Make Your Project a Success

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Are you trying to make your backyard an oasis? Do you enjoy landscaping projects hoping to upgrade your yard or garden? Or is your property sloping and have different elevations? There are plenty of different reasons to consider installing a retaining wall.

Retaining walls aren’t just for holding back soil anymore. Many homeowners employ retaining walls to bring some architectural interest to their yards. And retaining wall design has come a long way from its utilitarian roots. A retaining wall can make all the difference in your outdoor space.

Natural stone retaining wall with plants and stairs

Read on for our tips to make your retaining wall project a success.

Building a Retaining Wall

A retaining wall is a structural piece of your yard, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be attractive.

Material Options

When considering building a retaining wall in your yard, you need to choose the right material for your wall’s purpose. There are a few different options.

  • Manufactured block or stone
  • Pressure treated lumber
  • Segmental blocks
  • Stones
  • Bricks

Necessary Tools

If you’re not like Tim the Tool Man Taylor, you may need to go to your local big box home improvement store to rent the tools necessary to build your retaining wall.

If you are doing a huge revamp of your yard and need to move soil around, you may also need to rent some heavy duty equipment, like an excavator or a skid loader. Unless you are construction savvy, you may opt to hire someone to do this type of preliminary work for you.

There are several more basic tools that you’ll need, including:

  • Safety glasses
  • Chisel
  • Square
  • Tape measure
  • Hammer
  • Shovel
  • Level
  • Stakes
  • String
  • Hand tamper

Important Prep Work

Solid Base

It is extremely important to have a solid base for the wall. If the foundation is off, the wall is likely to be off as well. A crooked or slanted retaining wall will mean trouble in the long run.

Dig out the base, tamp it using your hand tamper, and fill with gravel or whatever filler you’re using. Make sure it is compacted and ready for the next step. It will keep your wall nice and sturdy.

Drainage

If your yard has a slope, you will need to add drainage so that rainwater doesn’t puddle in one area.

Use gravel and a drainage pipe at the base of your project. Cover the ends of the pipe with a mesh fabric to prevent the pipe from getting clogged.

Ready to Build the Wall

Start with your first layer of whatever material you chose. As you build the wall, you need to consistently check to make sure it’s level. You can use any number of decorative caps or edges to complete the wall.

As you build, stagger joints to make it visually appealing. Also, backfill as you go along and make sure to compact the soil so that there is no settling later.

Other Hardscaping Projects

Pinterest is full of images of beautiful backyards with creative uses of brick, pavers, stone, and other hardscape products. Do some research, find the bricks you need, and start planning your next project!

Whether you are building a retaining wall, adding a patio, or sprucing up a walkway with pavers, we can assist you. Visit our website to see all we have to offer for your hardscaping projects.

How to Build a Brick Grill That Will Last You a Lifetime

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Summer may be over, but grill season never needs to end! By building a brick grill meant to last, you can enjoy delicious food year round.

Traditional grills aren’t able to endure the fall, spring, and winter months. That’s why knowing how to build a brick grill that can last a lifetime is a better long-term investment. Grills made out of metal easily rust, sometimes just after one season of use. With brick grills, you don’t need to worry about rust and potential breakdown of mechanical components.

Brick grills are stable and sturdy. The best part is that they are also customizable! Read on to learn how to build a brick grill that meets your needs and lasts.

Old outdoor grill usable for BBQ

How to Build and Brick Grill that Lasts a Lifetime

1. Consider Your Budget

Before you purchase any materials, consult your budget and needs. If you just want to build a brick grill with no additional features (such as cabinet space or a fireplace) then expect to pay less.

Identify the maximum amount you’re willing to pay for the highest quality materials. If you need to save more to purchase products that will last a lifetime, then consider waiting until your budget is healthier.

The key is to purchase quality products so that the brick grill lasts.

2. Gather Materials

Decide on the size of the grill you want by starting with the grill grate’s dimensions. If you only have a small space to work with, then purchase a smaller grill grate. Also, consider how tall you would like the grill to be, as this will influence the number of layers and bricks needed.

Materials needed for this project include fire-safe bricks, regular bricks, and mortar. You may also need to purchase handheld tools such as a level, chisel, jointer, trowel, and a stiff brush.

If you do not currently have a concrete slab to place your brick grill on top of, then you will also need to construct one prior. This will be an additional cost.

3. Dry-Fit Brick Pattern

Using the dimensions of the grill grate, dry-fit the bricks. Lay out where the bricks need to be so that the grill grate can slide in and out. Aim for a snug fit so that the grill grate isn’t loose.

If you intend to use one row of bricks surrounding the grill, opt for fire-safe bricks to ensure longevity and safety.

4. Lay the First Bricks

Mix the mortar according to the instructions outlined. Trowel a generous amount of mortar within the dimensions outlined from your dry-brick pattern. Firmly press the brick into place one-by-one and place mortar in-between each connecting brick.

Remove excess mortar as you work. When finished with the first layer, check that it’s level and squared out.

5. Lay Two More Layers

In a staggering pattern, lay two more layers of brick using the mortar. Press firmly and remove excess mortar.

6. Continue Adding Layers

Continue adding layers horizontally in the staggered pattern until you’ve reached the height of where you would like your grill grate to rest. You can have various grill ledges to account for differing cooking temperatures and heat levels.

To create a ledge, lay at least three bricks perpendicular to the horizontal bricks on the back end of your grill’s structure. Allow these bricks to jut out on the inside of the grill to create a shelf for the grill grate.

This may also cause bricks to jut out the back of your grill. You can cut these bricks or leave them alone depending on your vision and space requirements.

Continue creating additional shelving for every other row. The final layer of bricks should be in a horizontal pattern.

7. Finishing Touches

After you finish the last layer of bricks but before the mortar completely dries, use a brick jointer to smooth out the mortar and create a depression effect. If you would like to add additional rows of brick to the outside of your brick grill structure, then continue to do so after the initial brick structure dries.

Follow the same brick-laying sequence as before, keeping additional connecting bricks in mind.

Ready to Build Your Brick Grill?

We offer high-quality brick pavers for contractors and brick grill do-it-yourselfers in Southeast Wisconsin. Check out our selection or visit our website to watch tutorial and installation videos and feel more confident about your next project.

15 Creative Ways Old Bricks Can Be Turned Into Beautiful Decorations

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Did you just finish a reno on your home and now you have a lot of old bricks sitting around? Or perhaps you inherited a pile when you bought your new house? Either way, you have old bricks on your hands, and you’re not quite sure what to do with them.

If this sounds like you, keep reading. We’ve got 15 of the best ideas to turn your pile of old bricks into something beautiful.

someone laying down brick walkway using old bricks

15 Ways to Use Your Old Bricks

1. Garden Planter

If you have bricks with core holes, those holes make the perfect place to plant a flower or two. Add a few succulents for a cute, modern look that works for any setting.

2. Brick Books

If you’re a bookworm, all it takes is some paint and a little creativity to turn those old bricks into old books. You could decorate your garden, your front porch steps, or anywhere that needs a little brightening up!

3. Garden Markers

Are you constantly forgetting which plant you put where? You could use your old bricks to create a cute and rustic way to mark your garden.

4. Garden Bed Edging

There are a million ways to make a garden edge, but we think repurposing old bricks is the cutest. It’s also very eco-friendly, and the different design opportunities are endless.

5. Birdbath

Creating a gorgeous birdbath out of repurposed old bricks is a great way to reuse and recycle. This is also a quick and simple project for people of all skill levels.

6. Yard Art

If you have a lot of open space in your garden and you’re looking to spruce it up with some color, you could always paint those old bricks and lay them out to create different, fun designs!

7. Fire Pit

A fire pit is a functional way to repurpose those old bricks. There are plenty of good tutorials out there on how to make your own, but we like this one best.

8. Garden Walkway

Whether it’s just a decorative pad at the end of your walkway or an entire walkway made out of bricks, a walkway through your garden is a beautiful addition to any yard.

9. Raised Garden Bed

If you don’t have enough space for a traditional garden, there’s still hope. With a few bricks, you can create a raised garden bed to start flexing your green thumb.

10. Candle Holder

Just like with an earlier suggestion, the core holes in the middle of the bricks make a perfect place for holding things. Add a few rocks and place a candle in them for a nice centerpiece both indoors and outdoors.

11. Seasonal Decorations

If you’ve got little ones around the house, old bricks can be great for crafts! Snowmen, baby chicks, jack-o-lanterns, and American flags can all be made using old bricks.

12. DIY Fence

If you’ve got a small area you want to wall off, or a large area and enough bricks, you can use those bricks for what they were made for: building a wall!

13. Mailbox Stand

Your house’s facade is the first thing that people see. If your mailbox needs an update, those old bricks are the perfect way to give it a quick face lift.

14. Garden Steps

While you’re updating your garden with a new enclosure and a walkway, consider adding a few steps. This creates a dynamic look to make any space look great.

15. Garden Bench

All it takes to create a beautiful garden bench out of old bricks is an extra plank of sturdy wood. If you want a rustic place to sit and enjoy your garden, this is your chance!

Repurpose Old Bricks

Those old bricks don’t just have to sit around and collect dust. You can use them for something functional and beautiful at the same time. Whether it’s using for building a bench or creating simple decorations at the change of season, repurposed bricks are gorgeous for any decor theme.

If old bricks aren’t your thing and you’re looking for some new ones for your next project, give us a call today!

5 DIY Weekend Home Improvement Projects to Finish Before Winter Hits Wisconsin

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In only a few months the cool winds and white snowfalls of winter will arrive. Are you ready?

There’s probably a lot of home projects you need to do to prepare for the cold season in Wisconsin, but you shouldn’t wait until it gets here to start.

Here are some DIY weekend home improvement projects to work on before the winter hits.

New paving bricks laid out on exterior curved patio steps

Focus on Finishing These Projects Now

Renovate Your Home Entrance

Winter brings with it many holidays. That means lots of family and friends will be coming through your doors.

You want to make sure they’re properly greeted as they enter your home. That’s why now is the perfect time to renovate your front entrance. For instance:

  • On the outside, repainting your door and installing new lighting are some top options.
  • If you have a front porch, consider repairing any chipped or rotting wood deck panels.
  • You can also create a beautiful entrance with decorative stone pavers and walkways.

Install a Backyard Fire Pit

There’s no better place to relax and enjoy the cool nights of fall and early winter than around a crackling fire in your backyard.

Fire pits are one of the best custom property features. They add character to your home while giving you a great location for roasting marshmallows, playing card games, and sharing stories with friends. Plus, pits can be made in many shapes and sizes, so they can fit in any backyard.

Be sure to check out our guide on how to build your own fire pit.

Switch to Energy-Efficient Windows

If you’re looking for weekend home improvement projects, there’s no better option for both your wallet and the environment than installing energy-efficient windows.

During the winter, it’s important to keep the heat in and the cold out. But with older, inefficient windows, that valuable heat often leaks outside while the frigid air creeps in. That means a higher energy bill and an overworked heating system.

Taking some time now to install new windows will benefit both your wallet and the world.

Re-Do Your Insulation

Just like with your windows, insulation is a key part of keeping your home warm in the winter without burning a hole in your budget.

Blowing your own insulation is hard work with a lot of dust, but your DIY efforts can save you thousands off of professional work. Plus, you’ll save lots of money in the long run off your utility bills.

Before the winter storms come, make sure your home is sealed and ready for the chilly weather.

Build Retaining Walls for Gardens and Plants

During the winter months, your gardens and plants face a lot of adversity. One way you can help protect your plants is with a retaining wall.

Retaining walls make your gardens more level and provide added structure and support. This helps control runoff and erosion caused by snow and the water that results from it melting.

Slightly elevated walls also can make it easier to cover your plants with blankets or boxes, as well as to spread mulch for extra insulation.

Start Your DIY Weekend Home Improvement Projects Here

If you need brick, stone, or other building materials for these or your other weekend home improvement projects, contact us today. We carry a full line of residential brick and manufactured stone products.

Why You Need to Add a Pergola to Your Deck or Patio

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Over 70 percent of US homeowners who have outdoor space would like to enhance this area of their homes.

Luckily, it doesn’t have to take weeks of dirt and disruption to smarten up your outdoor areas.  As many homeowners in Milwaukee have learned, adding a pergola is an easy way to make an impressive upgrade to your garden.

These simple, open structures of vertical posts and roof beams have been popular since Roman times. Once used to grow vines and create features in landscaped parks, they’re now often used in private gardens.

Find out what’s the point of a pergola and how it can take your outdoor space from drab to delightful.

It’s the Perfect Way to Enjoy Outdoor Living

If you throw open the doors and windows when it gets warm, and you love to spend all of your time in the garden as soon as the sun is shining, it’s time to think about how you can create a better outdoor space that works for you.

Adding a pergola, either to the side of your property or as a freestanding structure in a larger garden, creates a defined area that you can use as an outdoor room.

The roof structure gives you a little privacy if you have neighbors nearby. And, with a simple table and chairs or outdoor lounge set, you’ve suddenly added a whole new area to your house where indoors meets outdoors.

You Can Create the Ultimate Entertainment Area

There’s nothing better than an alfresco party on a summer’s evening or a romantic dinner under the stars.

You can up your party game by making your pergola an entertainment area. A shaded area is great for serving food and drinks at a garden party, and it’s so easy to make it a comfortable place for your guests to gather.

You could even add a pizza oven to your pergola area. Although be warned: You might find it hard to get your guests to leave!

A Pergola Is Easy to Build

Garden landscaping projects can be daunting for beginners, but a pergola is an easy project to build and maintain.

Depending on the size of the structure and any local regulations, you probably won’t need a permit to add a pergola to your property.

Most commonly, pergolas are made from wood, but metal and vinyl structures, such as Heartland Pergolas, are becoming more popular because they’re so easy to care for and virtually maintenance free.

It’s Great for Plant Lovers

Originally, the purpose of a pergola was to train vines to grow across the structure. If you’re green-fingered, you can try planting climbing plants like bougainvillea and honeysuckle under your pergola.

The color, height, and beautiful fragrances will make your garden sing. And as the plants grow up and over the pergola, you’ll have a more shaded area in which to relax.

If gardening isn’t your strong suit or you’d like to add some shade to your backyard straight away, you can add awnings or loose fabric curtains to your pergola too.

You Can Show Your Style with Outdoor Decorations

Whether your house and garden are modern or traditional, Mediterranean-inspired or coastal-themed, there are plenty of outdoor accessories you can add to your pergola.

Seating should be your first port of call. Decide if you want to create a space for outdoor dining, chilling out, or partying, and pick durable furniture accordingly. Then you can bring out your personality with textiles, string lights, lanterns, and planters.

Is it Time to Enhance Your Outdoor Space?

With the best of this year’s weather just around the corner, now is the perfect time to think about adding a pergola to your outdoor space. Take a look at our great options for pergolas, and start planning your next project now. That way it will be ready for summer.

Not sure where to start? Contact us for more information on styles and choices!

5 Brick Patio Ideas for Your Backyard Remodel

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Making the decision to remodel your backyard opens up endless possibilities. One great option is to incorporate brick into your design plan.

Brick patios are more popular than ever, and they can easily transform a dull space into a beautiful environment for entertaining or simply relaxing. It’s one of the many reasons brick patios are becoming so popular with Milwaukee homeowners.

Brick patio ideas range from extreme, million-dollar renovations to down-to-earth simple brick designs perfect for grilling out after a long day at work. So, finding the right design for your space is key.

someone laying a brick patio

When it comes to design options, you’re really only limited by your own imagination. So, let’s take a look at a few cool design ideas.

Popular Brick Patio Designs

Thinking about remodeling your backyard to make it better for entertaining or hanging out with your family? Here are five great ideas to inspire you.

1. Red Paved Bricks

This is a classic patio look. Red bricks offer the flexibility to create intricate designs, and they work well with any kind of patio furniture. They also look great with gravel, rock, or sand.

Get creative, make a brick path, and create a contemporary look. Or, stick with something more traditional if you want a classic look.

2. Brick Steps

This is a great tip for creating depth of perception: Just add some steps to your patio.

Adding bricks steps offers a chance to incorporate a splash of color and texture. And, brick steps are a deceptively simple design element that embellish an existing space, giving your backyard patio ideas dimension and personality.

3. Outdoor Kitchen

There is really nothing more relaxing and cozy than creating a kitchen area on your patio. A patio kitchen provides you with so many cooking options, and there are seemingly endless different designs to choose from.

Outdoor kitchens are perfect for patio parties, outdoor gatherings, and just breakfast with the family.

4. Stone Fireplace

Adding a stone fireplace or a fire pit to your patio area is a fantastic way to integrate atmosphere and warmth into your brick patio designs. A patio fireplace can be as simple or elaborate as you want. For instance, you can go with a simple structure or have the look of something you’d find at a fancy hotel or ski lodge.

5. Simple Setup

Perhaps you’d rather keep your backyard brick ideas simple. After all, sometimes less is more. Many people prefer a simple, elegant look rather than a more grandiose design.

Your patio is a place for you to spend time relaxing, and keeping the design as simple as possible can help you achieve that peaceful ambiance. Often, a straight-forward brick pattern, a patio grill, and some nice patio furniture lends the perfect touch.

You should never feel like you should have to add more than you want. Remember: This is your space, and it should reflect your own personal taste.

Choosing the Right Brick Patio Style for You

Whatever brick patio ideas you choose, it’s really impossible to go wrong. Utilizing brick in your designs is the perfect way to create the kind of outdoor environment to which people are naturally drawn.

Outdoor entertaining is fun any time of year, and with the right design you can do it—even here in the Milwaukee area! And the more inviting your patio space is, the more time you will want to spend there with family and friends.

Contact us to find out more about using brick design ideas to transform your backyard.

How to Build a DIY Brick Fire Pit

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With 50% of Americans entertaining guests in their homes at least once a month, finding a unique way to do it makes it fun for everyone.

If you’re having people over again and again, you need to have a reason to keep bringing them back to your place. And a brick fire pit is a great way to do it. In fact, a fire pit is a great way to gather with friends no matter what the season.

Whether or not you like to entertain, a fire pit is a time-tested tradition for gathering around at the end of a day to tell stories, sing, or relax. A bonfire works just about any time of year. And building a fire can be a great bonding experience for your family and friends.

Outdoor fire pit in backyard setting

If you’re looking to build a fire pit in your New Berlin backyard, you’ll be adding value to your home and your property. Follow these four steps to make sure you build a sturdy, safe, and long-lasting pit.

1. Set Up the Foundation

  1. Get a rebar stake to create the center of the hole. A suitable width for a fire pit is about 5 feet, so take a rope or a string, then tie it loosely around the stake. Measure out about 2.5 feet with the other end, and then tie that end to a can of spray paint at that length.
  2. Use your can to spray a painted circle around your rebar stake. Dig down about 6 inches, and then tie a new piece of string.
  3. Tie that to a can of paint at about 1.5 feet. This inner circle will become the interior of your fire pit.
  4. Mix up some concrete, and then lay the concrete between the two circles. Keep the center area free.
  5. Lay the concrete until it’s about 1-2 inches from the ground level.
  6. Add a few pieces of rebar or alternatives in your concrete for reinforcement.
  7. Smooth it out, and let it dry for a day.
  8. Remove your center stake.

2. Get the Outer Wall Going

  1. Mix up some mortar, and then add it on top of your concrete base.
  2. Make the layer about 2 inches thick, and then add some natural stones. Make a circle of stones on the outer edge of your firepit.
  3. After a few vertical layers of stones, lay some bricks on their sides to create your inner wall.

3. Get Your Inner Wall Set Up

  1. Make sure you’re taking a level to get each brick standing up. Fill in gaps with mortar and scrape away the excess.
  2. Continue to build up any stones and bricks. Make sure the structure is stable.
  3. Set aside a layer of smooth stones to cap the top of the wall. Your wall should reach about 16-24 inches.

4. Finish It Up

Once you’ve finished the structure:

  1. Brush the exterior with a paintbrush to get rid of debris.
  2. Spray it with a hose to get rid of extra mortar.
  3. Spray paint your bricks on the interior with a high-heat stove spray paint.
  4. Fill the pit with some river rocks. You might want to add a 2-to-4-inch outer layer of crushed stone to keep weeds from breaking through.

Your Brick Fire Pit Will Be a Hit

A brick fire pit would be a unique addition to any New Berlin property,  and it doesn’t require any significant construction. Plus, it will add a permanent value, both in price and in spirit. You’ll have friends asking when you’re hosting your next outdoor fire season after season!

If you’re looking for other DIY projects, contact us for more ideas. There are plenty of great DIY brick projects you can do to add value and enjoyment to your property.