Brick Walkways in Richmond, VA
Brick walkways are part of Richmond's look. Brick is warm in color, ages well, and suits everything from a Fan District rowhouse to a colonial-style home in Midlothian. RVA Hardscapes builds new brick walks and rebuilds tired ones across the Richmond area.
Patterns
• Running bond: bricks laid in offset rows, like a brick wall laid flat. Simple, classic, and easy to match to existing work.
• Herringbone (45° or 90°): bricks in a zigzag that locks together well underfoot. A good choice for walks that get a lot of foot traffic.
• Basketweave: pairs of bricks alternating direction. A traditional look on older homes.
• Borders: a row of bricks on edge or end to end along each side gives the walk a crisp finish and helps hold the field in place.
Matching brick to your house
On older homes, the new walk should look like it belongs. Brick from the early 1900s often differs from today's brick in size, color and surface. We'll compare options against your house and existing walks. Sometimes reclaimed brick is the closest match. If you have old brick on site that's still sound, it can often be reused.
Sand-set or mortar-set
A sand-set brick walk sits on a compacted gravel base with sand joints. It flexes slightly, drains well, and individual bricks can be lifted and reset if a root or settling moves them. A mortar-set walk is laid on a concrete base with mortared joints for a more rigid, formal finish. We'll explain the trade-offs for your site.
Older walks and big trees
- Many older Richmond streets have mature trees, and roots can lift brick walks over time. When we plan a walk near a big tree, we look at where the roots are and how to leave room for them. If a street tree in the public right-of-way is involved, check with the City before any roots are cut.