How to Install Brick Veneer Pavers

*This post is sponsored by Lowe’s.  All opinions and ideas are 100% mine.

How to Install Brick Veneer Pavers

We are so thrilled with how the brick veneer pavers have turned out on our new front porch decking!  So many of you have asked us to share how we installed them, so we are going to share that with you today!

 

Step One:  Gather your Supplies

The first step is to gather all the supplies needed for the project.  Here is a list of the supplies we used.

SUPPLIES:

• Hardiebacker cement board
• cement screws
• large bucket
• drill
• spiral mixing tool
• 1/4″ notched trowel
• ceramic tile mortar
• spacers (we ended up not needing these for the pavers we used)
• angle grinder 
• diamond saw blade
• brick pavers (Rushmore)
• sealer
• framing square
• grout float
• sponge
• sanded grout (we used Warm Gray)
• tape measure
• water

 

Here are a few of the things we used…

 

Step Two:  Install a Layer of 1/4″ Hardiebacker boards

Before you can lay your brick pavers, you want to make sure that your surface is prepared properly for installation.  

We covered our exterior grade plywood with 1/4″ Hardibacker board by scoring the boards the size needed with a box knife and then attaching them with cement board screws like the ones below.

 

Be sure to place your screws every 8 inches or so in a staggered pattern.  The boards have indentions on them to help identify where to place them.  Make sure the screws are flushed with the surface of the board, so they are not sticking up at all.

 

 

Step Three:  Find the Center of the Surface and Create a Dry Layout

Use a tape measure to find a center starting point on your surface.  This will be where you begin laying your paver pattern of choice. 

We went with a herringbone pattern, and used our center line as a guide for placement.  

These particular brick pavers are irregular in nature, so a framing a square was helping in the install.  

via GIPHY

After creating a dry layout of our pavers, it was time to begin the installation!

 

Step Four:  Install Brick Pavers

*Pro-tip:  Be sure to read the instructions on your tile mortar and grout packages for the temperature requirements for installation.  We had to wait until we had three days without freezing temperatures.

To begin installing brick pavers, you need to first mix the thin set (ceramic tile mortar.)  Make sure the consistency of your thin set is neither too dry or too wet.  It should be the consistency similar to peanut butter.

We chose to “butter” the back of each paver individually instead of putting the thin set directly on the backerboard.  I find this approach to be a neater method with less clean up along the way.

At times, you may need to cut your pavers.  If so, you need to use an angle grinder with a good diamond blade.  (You can also use a wet tile saw, if you prefer, but an angle grinder is more convenient and easier to use.)

 

Step Five: Apply the Grout

Once your pavers are completely dry and set, (usually 48-72 hours,) it is time to apply the grout.  

Mix your grout per the instructions on the package and apply over your pavers with a grout float. 

We chose a sanded grout (Color:  “Warm Gray”) because the gaps between our pavers were over 1/8″.  Sanded grout is also stronger and will hold up better.  

When applying the grout, you want to use the float to work the mixture into all of the cracks and spaces between pavers.  

Cover a few square feet at at time with the grout, and then dip your sponge into your bucket of clean water to get it damp.  Wipe off the excess grout only from the surface.  Make sure not to press too hard with the sponge, or you may pull some of the grout out of the cracks.

Continue this process until you have applied grout over all of the pavers. 

Let the grout dry, usually for 3 to 4 hours, depending on temperature, and then clean off the remaining grout haze with a damp sponge.  This time you can be a little more aggressive with the pressure you use with the sponge.  You may have to repeat this process several times to remove all of the grout haze. 

Because the pavers we used were very porous, we ended up using a stiff nylon brush to help remove some the grout, as well as the sponge.

 

Step Six: Seal the Grout

Sealing the grout and brick pavers should be done several days after to allow for the grout to be completely dry. 

Make sure to buy a high quality sealer that is appropriate for your project.

We chose this low gloss sealer…

 

 

You can apply your sealer with a sponge or sprayer.  Read the instructions with your sealer and see how long to wait between coats. 

We applied two coats and waited three hours between coats. 

Step Seven:  ENJOY!

Once the work is finished, it is time to enjoy your beautiful handiwork, and relish in the money you saved doing it yourself!  #boom

 

We LOVE the way our herringbone brick pavers turned out!  Now we have to finish the skirt board and a few more details before we are completely finished with our exterior home makeover!

But we have come a long way so far, as you can see in the before, during, and after photos below…

 

What are your thoughts on laying the pavers in the herringbone pattern?