Brick Walkway

New brick comes from a supplier with uniform color and size - clean, modern look but no weathered character. Reclaimed brick is salvaged from demolished buildings or walkways - it has weathered color variation, subtle size differences, and the aged character that makes older homes feel authentic. Reclaimed brick typically costs more because sourcing takes more time.

Properly installed brick walkways last 25-50+ years. Brick is one of the most durable walkway materials available. The key to longevity is base preparation and drainage - walkways fail from shifting base or standing water, not from the brick itself wearing out.

In most cases, yes. We specialize in sourcing reclaimed brick to match the color and size of existing work. Depending on how unusual your existing brick is, we may need to visit 10+ salvage yards across the LA area to find a matching batch. This is the hardest part of a reclaimed-match project and the reason it takes longer than a new installation.

Most residential brick walkways in LA County and Culver City do not require a building permit. Exceptions: significant grading changes, work in the public right-of-way, or historic-district properties. HOA approval is often required for front-yard installations. We confirm permit needs with your local building department before any work begins.

Every brick walkway we install is graded with a designed drainage slope, verified with a rotating laser level before bricks go down. The slope is typically 1-2% - subtle enough you do not notice walking on it, but enough that rain sheds off instead of pooling. For walkways with severe drainage issues, we may add a French drain or swale under the walkway.

We relocate sprinkler heads and adjust irrigation lines as part of the project. Each head that falls under the new walkway path is capped, re-run to a new location, and tested before we close the trench. Surrounding landscape plants are protected during construction with branded drop cloths or temporarily relocated when necessary.

Most common: running bond (staggered rows), basketweave (pairs of bricks rotated 90 degrees), and herringbone (angled interlocking). We can also do custom borders, circular insets, and mixed patterns where the walkway changes as it transitions between spaces. Reclaimed brick typically uses running bond or random patterns because size variation makes tighter geometric patterns harder.

For walkways with polymeric sand joints: walk on it immediately, but avoid heavy pressure washing for 30 days. For walkways with mortar joints: we recommend 48-72 hours before walking on it, 7 days before any washing. We provide specific guidance at walk-through.