Okay, so I wanted to share this little project I tackled a while back – building a pathway with black brick mortar. I’d seen it done on a few fancy patios and thought, “Hey, I can do that!” It turned out to be a bit more of an adventure than I expected, but the result was totally worth it.
First things first, I needed to gather my supplies. I went to the local hardware store and picked up some standard bricks, sand, cement, and, the star of the show, black mortar dye. Now, I’d never worked with mortar dye before, so this was a whole new world for me. I also made sure I had a good trowel, a level, a rubber mallet, and a bunch of other little tools that I thought might come in handy.
The first real step was preparing the ground. I dug out the area where I wanted the pathway, making sure it was nice and level. This took a while, and my back was definitely feeling it by the end of that day! Then, I laid down a base of gravel and compacted it down. I learned that a good foundation is super important for a project like this, otherwise you end up with a wonky, uneven mess.
Next up was mixing the mortar. I decided to go with a mix of four parts sand to one part cement, and then I added the black dye. I started with a small amount of dye and gradually added more until I got the color I wanted. It was a bit like cooking, actually – a little bit of this, a little bit of that. To get it a little softer, I added half a part of lime. I saw it on the internet and it really makes the mixing easier.
Now came the fun part – laying the bricks! I started at one end of the pathway and worked my way across, spreading a layer of mortar and then carefully placing each brick. I used the level and rubber mallet to make sure everything was even and lined up properly. I wanted to try a herringbone pattern because I saw a lot of people using this and it is a strong pattern. But it needs a 45-degree cut at every outer brick. So I spent a lot of time cutting these bricks.
After laying all the bricks, I let the mortar set for a couple of days. The waiting was the hardest part! Then, I went back and filled in any gaps with more mortar, making sure to wipe off any excess with a damp sponge. I also tried to use muriatic acid and water to lighten the color. But it did not work well. Maybe I should find another way.
Once everything was dry, I gave the whole pathway a good sweep. And you know what? It looked pretty darn good! The black mortar really made the bricks pop, and it added a unique touch to my backyard. It was a lot of work, but I was proud of what I’d accomplished. Plus, I learned a ton about working with bricks and mortar, which is always a bonus.
I’ve heard people talking about painting bricks, but I’m not sure if it’s better than using black mortar. I might give it a try next time. Or if you have any suggestions just leave me a message!
- Supplies:
- Bricks
- Sand
- Cement
- Black mortar dye
- Trowel
- Level
- Rubber mallet
- Gravel
- Lime
- Steps:
- Prepare the ground
- Mix the mortar with dye and lime
- Lay the bricks in a herringbone pattern and cut them
- Let the mortar set
- Fill in the gaps
- Result:
- A cool-looking pathway with black brick mortar
So, that’s my black brick mortar story. If you’re thinking of trying something similar, I’d say go for it! Just be prepared for some hard work and a bit of a learning curve. But trust me, the end result is totally worth it.
