We used polymeric sand in the joints between the flagstone for our walk and one patio. It's made by Techni-seal and is used for dry-laid projects. It's a sand product with polymers that make it harden so that you don't have to keep sweeping sand or screenings between the stones. I did our patio one morning all by myself. Here's what we did:

layer of permeable landscape fabric
layer of screenings
laid the flagstone
swept polymeric sand in the joints in a thin layer, misted
waited 10 minutes and repeated with another thin layer, misted it with water...etc. until done.

You've got to keep your stones clean or you'll end up with a film (just like mortar).

Our landscaper used mortar in bags (like cake decorating) for our front porch floor and one patio.

I don't know how polymeric sand works with bricks with thin joints. We had large joints with the randomly laid flagstone. It creates a very casual look as you can see in this photo.
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Here's the link to the manufacturer's website. They show brick in their gallery.

BTW, you can't use it for 48 hours before or after rain. You can't walk on it for 24 hours after laying it.
I paid $29 per bag (I can't lift one by myself they are THAT heavy). I think I used 2.5 bags on the large patio here:

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Here is a link that might be useful: Techni-Seal

Thank you Cameron. The pictures are great. I have about 1800 bricks to lay !! It is going to take a while to get the ground level first and then f/u with the screenings and then place the bricks. How much screenings ..how deep did you put them ? My brick guy said I will probably need 6 TONS. DH says that is not as much as you might think as they are heavy... well duh they are stone. Did you watch your guy use the grout bag to do the front porch and other patio ? How difficult did that seem to you ? Thanks for all the help. Your place is simply a fairyland. Caroline

1800 bricks! gulp! And I thought 3 tons of flagstone was a lot!

I watched the guys use the grout bag and I don't think I have the hand strength to hold up the bag and squeeze it due to carpel tunnel problems.

I think we only did 2 inches of screenings even though deeper was recommended. We dampened them, tamped them, screed them, etc. That's not hard to do. Let the tamping tool do the work!

We used "storyboard" stakes and string to keep us working level. The stakes had markings for the depth of the screenings. We used a string level and put a slope on the patio for drainage.

It was a family project -- both sons, my husband and I did this during the extreme heat last August!

Thank you Cameron. I don't know what a tamping tool is but it sounds essential. Did you get your screenings delivered by the ton ? Or did you get bags of them ? Also after you have all the screenings ready how do you then walk on them to place the stone or bricks w/o messing them up ?? Seems like I am missing something about that ?? LOL.

The storyboard stakes sound perfect and I didn't know about that either. I am making a list of all I will need. I wish I had family help . DH will do what he can . You guys have such a fabulous garden that I stand in admiration of what you have done.

I am really strong so I think the grout bag will work...if not I will sub that out to my brick guys workers. I am hopeful that I can do most of this as I want to look out and see that I have accomplished such a huge task.

Thanks again and don't hesitate to offer any other suggestions that you think of . Caroline

That's the stuff I was trying to recall from another thread! Thank you, Cameron!!! And I agree, your place is beautiful! : )

Caroline, I think I am going to have about the same amount of cobblestones to lay as you have bricks. DH will be doing most of the grading and leveling part but I'm hoping to lay the stones myself while he's at work. I probably won't need to do my regular weight training exercises once I get started. We'll have to compare biceps when we're done. LOL!

DH just looked at the site and likes the idea. And there are two places nearby where we can buy it. I think we'll try some out by the potager and see how it does. Thanks again for the link!

Btw, do you find that weeds stay out of it? That's my biggest concern since we are on acreage and the wind blows lots of weed seeds into the area.

Diana

We had the screenings delivered by a dump truck. We used a construction quality wheelbarrow (tires never go flat) to haul and dump the screenings onto the landscape fabric.

When you sprinkle the screenings with water, they compact down.

Layer the screenings no more than an inch deep per layer sprinkle the screenings with water
use the hand tamper tool (a heavy square, flat weight on the bottom) and just go along and tamp the screenings

Repeat with the next layer.

When the screenings are tamped down and still damp from the water, you can walk on them to lay your brick.
Tools:

construction wheelbarrow
hand tamper (or rent a mechanized one)
stakes and a Sharpie pen to mark the levels (screenings, brick)
string
string level
work gloves
rubber mallet
chisel and mason's hammer (you'll have to cut to fit so ask if you need a wet saw for brick -- flagstone is casual and no straight lines were needed)

You'll need the tools for mortar. Ask your brick masons how to do that.

Here's the formula to calculate the amount of screenings:

for a 14x20 patio with a 4-inch deep bed of screenings, the formula would be

14 x 20 x 0.33 = 92.4 cubic feet divided by 27 = 3.42 yards. You may have to purchase in full yard increments.

Diana -- no serious problem with weeds at all. My husband uses a leaf blower to keep the dirt/pollen/mulch from settling on the patios and walkways. I think without dirt settling in the joints, it's hard for weeds to take hold. If the polymeric cracks years later, you can just re-apply a thin layer as done during the install. Easy to patch. We haven't had to do that, but a guest drove a car over one end of our walkway, so I may have to patch that in a few months.

Thanks, Cameron! I will show all this to DH. He's very handy and has built our decks and other walkways so is familiar with all the tools and leveling stuff. Right now he is starting to lay the wood floors in our kitchen - finally! I hope I will soon have pics for starpooh's blog. : )

Btw, don't you have a pond too? My son is willing to help me put one in the back and I am wondering how much time you spend on maintenance. Ours will not be too big - perhaps 6-8 ft. x 12 ft. with a small raised area on one end for a waterfall. Any tips are welcome.

Diana

I found a site for Vulcan that calculates the amt needed. It has the density calculator for the screenings. It shows that I need 1.3 tons for a 12x12 patio w/ 2" deep screenings...that is how deep my brick guy said I need to place them.

As far as a saw etc...that is beyond my experience so I will try and get the shape to come out even ...not sure if that is too optimistic. Will see as I get deeper into this. Thanks again. Tomorrow is grinding of the last roots and then I am going to start moving the dirt to reshape the area. One small step at a time....

Our inter locking blocks have been down for number of years and the sand has to be renewed,I just heard about polymeric sand,my question, how much of the old sand has to be removed before puting in the new polymeric. Any help would be appreciated