Things You'll Need
Crushed rock
Sand
Concrete mix
Decorative bricks
Concrete saw
Mortar
Tip
Excavate the area needed for your porch before you lay down brick and concrete. You will need to dig up to 12 inches, depending on the installation method used. Rent out an earth mover through a company like Rental HQ to cut down on sore arms and back pain (see Resources below).
How to Build a Brick and Concrete Porch. The most common type of porch in residential areas is a brick-and-concrete porch. Most homeowners use a simple, circular design constructed out of bricks, with an underlying layer of concrete preventing erosion. You need to know how to build a basic brick and concrete porch before you begin to play around with special layouts and techniques.
Use Crushed Rock and Sand to Reinforce Your Brick-and-Concrete Porch
Step 1
Pour crushed rock from a local quarry into the excavated space before you build a brick and concrete porch. Use between 4 inches and 6 inches of rock as a base for your porch.
Step 2
Utilize a hand compactor to even out the initial layer of crushed rock as you build your porch. Run the compactor over every inch of rock several times to provide a solid base for fine sand and bricks.
Step 3
Drop a thin layer of fine sand as the next step toward a brick-and-concrete porch. A sand load between 1 inch and 3 inches will fill in the excavated area and stay tight without additional packing with a compactor.
Step 4
Cut your decorative bricks with a concrete saw to reflect twists, turns and special shapes as you build your porch. Use a small amount of mortar to keep shaped bricks together as you complete your porch.
Create a Porch out of Brick and Concrete
Step 1
Protect your porch from water buildup and damage by laying 2 inches of gravel after excavation. The gravel should be packed, even though the space between individual rocks allows water to flow into the ground.
Step 2
Spread out a thick concrete base into the excavated area as you build your new porch. Mix between 3 inches and 6 inches of concrete to place evenly along the open area as a base for your porch.
Step 3
Angle your brick and concrete patio on a downward slope from your home to ensure proper drainage. A slight decline from the top of your porch to the edge of your property prevents water from pooling in large amounts.
Step 4
Apply a uniform amount of mortar to each brick before placing on a dried concrete slab. Arrange the bricks into a simple pattern along the concrete slab to save mortar for brick posts and decorations.