DIY Herringbone Brick Garden Path HOW TO GUIDE

The following tutorial is courtesy of our friends over at The Home Depot - as published in their e-newsletter.

In a simple afternoon you can create a beautiful simple DIY herringbone pathway from Vintage Bricks thin brick tiles. Using old bricks creates the look that your pathway has been there forever!

Supply List:

• Measuring tape
• Vintage Bricks thin brick tiles
• Gravel paver base
• Paver sand
• Wheelbarrow
• Marking chalk or landscape paint
• Tamper or 4- x 4-inch board, approximately 3 to 4 inches long
• Flat-headed shovel
• Broom

Step 1: Measure the length and width of your desired garden path to determine how many Vintage Bricks salvaged tiles you will need. Add 2 inches to your length to find the amount of gravel and sand you will need.
Step 2: Dig a 4-5" deep trench along your desired path, adding 2 inches to the width. Square the sides with a flat shovel.

Step 3: Spread your gravel 1-2" deep along the path, tamp down the gravel

Step 4: Repeat Step 3 with sand
Step 5: Lay your Vintage Bricks thin brick tiles in a herringbone pattern, adding and removing sand to keep brick tiles even. Tap bricks into sand with a 4x4" piece of wood

Step 6: Pour sand over bricks fill the gaps

Step 7: Fill in edges around the bricks with dirt and pieces of grass to create a natural look

Step 8: Clean up any excess sand and enjoy your beautiful new old pathway.

www.VintageBricks.com for 100% eco-friendly authentic old bricks cut into thin brick tiles. Brick tiles delivered to your door!

The German Schmear / Smear : A How-To Guide

Photo by Corynne Pless

Do you have Vintage Bricks thin brick reclaimed tiles in your home and want to give them a fun new look?
Want to cover your boring dining room wall in German Schmear delight?
Look no further than the winning combination of our Vintage Bricks upcycled historic brick tiles paired with the "German schmear/smear " technique!

 Here's what you'll need: 

1.  2 Buckets
2.  Nearby hose 
3. Sponges (look for concrete sponges) or grout float (like this one)
4.  80 lb bag mortar mix 
5. gloves (heavy duty)
6. wire brush 
7. inexpensive concrete mixer, like this 
8. electric drill 

 To get started: 

Bucket 1 : Clean water
Bucket 2: Mortar and water. It should be soupy but not too runny, like batter. More mortar than water. Mix together with your mixer

 Wet the surface area of the bricks that you are working with, apply your mortar to the bricks with your sponge while they are still wet, in an upward motion.

Use the wire brush to wipe away any bricks that you want to expose, to create your own unique look. Every ten minutes or so rinse your sponge, changing your water bucket as needed.

 Your mortar will begin to dry and turn the correct color within a few hours. It will appear darker at first and lighten up as it dries. The mortar takes a few days to officially "cure".

To purchase reclaimed thin brick tiles for indoor and outdoor use on fireplaces, kitchen backsplashes, floors, patios, you name it, head on over to www.VintageBricks.com 

Photo by Corynne Pless

Photo by Anna Braund

Credit : Source

The Beauty of our Bricks

We are thrilled with this beautiful photoshoot of our unique reclaimed brick tiles. Our tiles are 100% reclaimed from buildings that we demolished, cut into thin tiles.



We provide tiles cut from all sides of the brick. Here are a selection of our different brick tiles. For more information on our thin brick tiles cut from whole common bricks go to our website at www.VintageBricks.com 

Wide Faced Brick Tiles

Wide-Faced Brick Tiles

Square End-Cut Brick Tiles

Original Reclaimed Brick Tiles

Original Reclaimed Brick Tiles

Original Reclaimed Brick Tiles

Square End-Cut Brick Tiles

Wide-Faced Brick Tiles

We pride ourselves in providing an eco-friendly product that supports our local economy.
Local, ethical, eco-friendly, & woman-owned!

The Eco Brick

In a recent article, The Economist shared that the brick industry should be failing. Due to the the push for more "green" buildings and sustainability, the demand for carbon-intensive bricks should be low. Bricks have been used for centuries and that isn't likely to cease anytime soon. The Economist stated that companies are now starting to create bricks that are made from recycled materials. Using recycled materials to create bricks and using bricks that are destined for the landfill are important for protecting our planet and creating eco-friendly buildings. (Not to mention keeping costs down!) Vintage Bricks takes bricks that are salvaged from demolished homes and buildings and cuts them into tiles for use indoor and out. www.VintageBricks.com

The Grisly History of the Chattahoochee Brick Company

A recent article posted by Atlanta's WABE (NPR) station unveiled an important, though shocking, historical element about Atlanta's Chattahoochee Brick Company bricks.
The Chattahoochee Brick Company factory once stood on the westside of Atlanta, around the early 1900's. It is now an empty lot with some brick piles, an odd cemetery, and debris. The lot is up for sale, with many Atlantans pushing for it to become a memorial for the workers and families of the Brick Company.

The Chattahoochee Brick Company factory

The Chattahoochee Brick Company's labor was made up what is referred to as "neo-slavery", using the free labor of primarily black people who had been arrested for petty crimes (if any crimes at all).  These workers were severely abused and many many of them perished at the factory. This leads people to believe that there are graves there, as there is a cemetery on the property.

Atlantans are pushing for the remembrance of these workers and their families, and having their story be told, instead of forgotten.  The Chattahoochee Brick Company lot is up for sale, and it would be a great injustice for all of the suffering that has gone on there to be forgotten, lost in cement.

Though the history of our Vintage Bricks may not be one that we are happy to tell, it is one that should not be forgotten.

Read the original article here
More information 

www.VintageBricks.com

Reclaimed Brick Ovens

Reclaimed bricks are a great resource for low-cost building materials.
This person used salvaged bricks and fire bricks to create a budget friendly oven. How cool!

This website has some plans for building these ovens, check it out here and then hop on over to www.VintageBricks.com 

photos from TraditionalOven.com

photos from TraditionalOven.com

Bricks are not just for houses and walkways, there are endless things that you can create with our salvaged bricks and reclaimed thin brick tiles. Shop for your next project and get your reclaimed bricks and reclaimed thin brick tiles from www.VintageBricks.com

Reclaimed Thin Brick Tile Installation - See How It's Done!

Recently, we put up a video on our Vintage Bricks channel on YouTube, showing off our thin brick tiles. 

Watch the installation video of a kitchen backsplash, below:

Let us know in the comments: how would you use genuine reclaimed thin brick tiles from Vintage Bricks in your home?

www.VintageBricks.com

Thin Brick Tiles - Demystified

What the heck are thin brick tiles, you ask? Why not just use whole bricks?

www.vintagebricks.com

Our genuine reclaimed thin brick tiles are the faces cut from salvaged bricks.
The old bricks are cut into 1/2" slices to create thin brick tiles.

Thin brick tiles are much lighter than traditional whole bricks and can be applied directly to a wall. Thin brick tiles can be used for kitchen backsplashes, interior walls, exterior paths, etc.

Vintage Bricks wall install in progress - almost done!

Vintage Bricks kitchen backsplash tile install

Vintage Bricks tile floor

The lightness of the brick tiles allows them to be used practically anywhere! Using reclaimed materials in your housing projects helps keep useable materials out of landfills. Reduce, reuse, recycle!

www.vintagebricks.com 

9 New & Different Uses For Reclaimed Bricks That You Haven't Thought Of

Here are 9 new and different uses for authentic reclaimed bricks and brick tiles. Check out www.vintagebricks.com to get your thin brick tile projects started :

Say it with negative space - Have something to say? Bring out your artistic side and say it with the negative space in a reclaimed brick wall for a HUGE look!

Remembrance bricks - Bricks can be engraved for a loved one, a family pet, a favorite poem or verse, anything! Adding an engraved reclaimed brick or brick tile to your home is the perfect way to make a lasting mark.

Garden boxes - Old bricks make great garden elements. Garden boxes made from vintage bricks will stand the test of time.

Outdoor faucet / dog waterer - Why not make your outdoor faucet fancier? Fido loves reclaimed bricks and brick tiles. 

Outdoor shower - Who hasn't lusted after an outdoor shower? Authentic salvaged bricks are the perfect solution to getting to your true hippy roots.

Bird bath - Okay, so this one may not be a "new" idea, but where have all the bird baths gone? It's time to bring back bird baths and reclaimed bricks have the perfect patina for a lived in look.

Decor - Rustic outdoor wedding, anyone? Reclaimed bricks have so much potential for decoration

Garden bricks - Bring out your creative side and paint some old bricks!

Fire pit - The fire pit, nothing new here. BUT consider a new shape - this tear drop shaped fire pit is a beautiful element in the garden. When it's no longer being used for a fire pit it would be a lovely feature for a plant or water fountain.

Visit www.vintagebricks.com to view our selection of genuine salvaged thin brick tiles cut from reclaimed bricks

Reclaimed Brick Tile Patterns - from Ordinary to Extraordinary

When you think of laying bricks, several traditional patterns come to mind - maybe you think of the trendy herringbone or subway tile patterns, but there are so many more. 

Our salvaged brick tiles can be laid in any way you choose! Tell us in the comments below what pattern is your favorite?

www.vintagebricks.com

Running Bond

Traditional Herringbone

Crosshatch

Going beyond the traditional brick tile patterns can make a huge visual impact. Check out these artistic designs -

Crosshatch Variation

This crosshatch variation reminds us of parquet flooring - consider bricks for a similar look, but half the price! Genuine reclaimed bricks and brick tiles from www.vintagebricks.com makes beautiful flooring for any room in the house.

Circular Garden Rug

Intricate Garden Rug

Beautiful brick flooring, outdoors or indoors. There are so many ways to pattern a garden "rug". Use an inspirational image and copy it in your outdoor space for an eye-catching space.

Multiple Patterns

Detailed Patternwork

Pattern Art

Useful Brick Patterns - Solar & Noise

This last design is not just interesting, it is useful! The way that these bricks are laid out and turned works to keep noise and sunlight out.

Whatever design you choose to use for your home, consider using recycled bricks. Every brick tile from www.vintagebricks.com is cut from a genuine salvaged brick straight from our demolition company, Southern Demolition. To learn more about our company and to purchase your own brick tiles, visit www.vintagebricks.com or check out our Facebook page www.facebook.com/vintagebricksatlanta