brick path without sand base?

I'm not sure if this is the right subforum for this question.

I'm laying brick paths for my garden. I was lucky enough to get dump truck loads of free used brick, and they make great paths. The problem is that the sand for the base is not free, and is environmentally destructive.

Has anyone tried laying pavers with just the local soil, without a sand or gravel base? How did it work out? Is this possible?

Gilbert Fritz wrote:Has anyone tried laying pavers with just the local soil, without a sand or gravel base? How did it work out? Is this possible?

Yes and yes. Actual soil changes its volume and compaction with water, and creates soft spots and places where mud percolates up, bricks tilt, and all that. The purpose of sand/gravel is to create a stable base that where the grains/rocks will lock together, drain readily, and not shift around based on high/low moisture, freeze/thaw, etc. It is also less inclined to plants growing up throught the cracks, which they will. And it's far more stable for, say, a driveway or parking pad for a vehicle.

In your garden? Go ahead and experiment. Be prepared for weeds growing through, wobbly bricks, and in general some extra ongoing maintenance. Some folks lay landscape fabric underneath to slow this down, though it's far from perfect. Others dig out the topsoil and fill with subsoil, which is a better base. The only thing you have to lose is your labour.

Oh Oh
Dump truck loads of free bricks!!!
How cool is that!
I want some...
Wish for a truckload of brick in this hand...
and xxxx in the other and what do we have?
You have truckloads of bricks!
I need to go wash my hands!

Congratulations on your score enjoy!

I think it depends what kind of soil you have and how much organic material is in it. We have very dead, silty sand, and can lay rock paths on existing soil just fine. We don't aim for dead level, though. I think I posted a picture somewhere on here of our main rock path the year it was made. These ones are now, so maybe five years later. I'll try to find the first picture for comparison. We like stuff growing between the rocks. There's some frilly weedy thing that gets tiny purple flowers all over it that we especially like.

My mum did a rock patio quite few years ago. I think she just used the sandiest soil she could find at her place. It's not nearly as sandy as ours amd has way more organic material. Her patio wasn't dead level to begin with either. It's settled and shifted more than our path has, but its still totally useable and not weird looking or anything. I'll take a picture next time I'm over there if I remember.

It was this discussion

https://permies.com/t/99561/Walkway-Ideas-Inspiration-Needed

Wow! It sure looked neat and tidy back then 😁