Brick Patio Contractor in Broken Arrow OK
Brick patios have been a staple of Broken Arrow outdoor living for generations — and for good reason. The warm, timeless appearance of brick complements virtually every home style, from traditional craftsman to modern farmhouse. VistaScapes installs brick patios throughout Broken Arrow, using both traditional clay brick and modern concrete brick pavers to create patios that are as durable as they are beautiful.
Clay Brick vs. Concrete Brick Pavers
When Broken Arrow homeowners say “brick patio,” they typically mean one of two distinct products — and understanding the difference helps you make the right choice:
Traditional Clay Brick (Paver Brick)
Traditional clay brick pavers are fired from natural clay, giving them the genuine brick character — rich color variation, slightly textured surface, and the kind of warmth no manufactured product fully replicates. Clay brick is extremely dense and long-lasting; well-installed clay brick patios last 50+ years.
The main considerations for clay brick in Broken Arrow:
- Higher cost than concrete pavers (clay brick runs $3-$6 per brick vs. $1-$3 for concrete pavers)
- Less uniform than concrete pavers — slight size variation requires skilled installation
- Traditionally laid on sand-set beds, though mortar-set on concrete is also an option
- Available in a narrower range of sizes and colors than concrete pavers
Concrete Brick Pavers
Concrete brick pavers are manufactured to replicate the look of traditional clay brick at a lower price point and with more consistent sizing. Modern concrete brick pavers are available in excellent brick-pattern colors — old town red, colonial red, charcoal blend — and can be nearly indistinguishable from clay brick in an installed patio. They’re also slightly more resistant to freeze-thaw cycling than some clay brick products.
Brick Patio Patterns
Brick patios can be installed in several classic patterns that affect both appearance and structural performance:
- Running bond: Simple offset rows — classic and clean, works well for smaller spaces
- Herringbone (45° and 90°): The most popular brick patio pattern — interlocking zigzag that resists shifting and looks traditional. 45° herringbone requires more cut bricks at edges; 90° herringbone minimizes cuts.
- Basketweave: Pairs of bricks alternating horizontal and vertical — distinctive and classic, lower cutting requirement
- Flemish or stack bond: Aligned joints in both directions — more contemporary appearance, requires precision installation
Base Preparation Is Critical in Broken Arrow
No brick patio lasts in Oklahoma without proper base preparation. The clay soil that makes up most of Broken Arrow’s subgrade is expansive — it moves with moisture changes and will cause any patio to fail without a proper aggregate base that provides stability and drainage.
We excavate 6-8 inches for patio areas, install compacted crushed limestone aggregate base, and finish with a sand or stone dust setting bed before laying brick. This base preparation is what separates patios that last 25 years from patios that start rocking and settling within three years.
Mortar-Set vs. Sand-Set Brick Patios
Sand-set brick patios can be releveled if soil movement causes settling — individual bricks are pulled up, the base corrected, and bricks reset. This repairability is a significant advantage in Oklahoma’s clay soil. Mortar-set brick on concrete is more rigid and looks more formal, but cracked sections require saw-cutting and patching if movement occurs.
We recommend sand-set (or permeable bedding) for most Broken Arrow brick patio installations because of the soil conditions.
Serving Broken Arrow and Surrounding Communities
Call 918-779-1317 for a free brick patio estimate. We serve Broken Arrow, Tulsa, Owasso, Bixby, Jenks, Glenpool, and surrounding northeast Oklahoma communities.
