Reasonable but unclear. Is the idea to have an enclosed sun room? Door?window(s)?

No. As stated, it's just bricking the floor and perhaps extending it slightly past where the current concrete slab ends. Similar to this mock-up, but being enclosed on three sides by the brick walls of the house. Open to the yard on the fourth side.

Definitely extend it. 8 feet isn't much when you start adding furniture.

True.

I'd build a fire pit with the leftover brick and do your patio yourself using thin brick.

http://hamiltonparker.com/brick/outdoor/thin-brick/

Oops missed that. $ seems high but guy is already there so maybe worth premium. Plus I would extend patio, not in straight line but w/ slight curve to follow beds on ea side. I'd get another quote, even a 3rd if discrepancy between 1 and 2 too wide

I think it sounds reasonable, and don't think you'll get a much cheaper quote than that. Plus, you kind of know him via him working there already, which is nice.

It's going to look awesome! Our patio is similar to yours, and I'd love brick someday. (I ended up staining it with Kemiko until then.)

Can you use house bricks instead of pavers? I would check into that especially if you have harsh winters. I think house bricks are more porous than pavers and might crack.

By putting full size brick on top of comcrete you will raise the height of the patio about 3 inches. Is there enough clearance under your doors to do that?

if you can stretch to it i would bring the patio out flush with the walls and then extend out in a graceful arc. (The furthest point away from the wall line need only be three or four feet. It will make a huge difference in the appearance of your patio and will give you more extra room than you imagine it could.

That sounds very reasonable, but I live in an HCOLA. I would go out further than 8' as well - we had a brick patio installed in the spring and the minimum you want if you put a 48" round table is somewhere in the neighborhood of 10-11'. We did 11' and it is fine but definitely wouldn't want any less.

So will they have to first pour concrete to extend the patio?

I love brick pavers in the garden, but I'm wondering if brick walls and matching floor in your outdoor "room" might be too much? I looked for pics of brick houses with matching brick patios and almost every one had some kind of contrasting or different brick on the patio. I got to thinking that it might be like a adding matching wood floors to a wood paneled room....a little contrast on the floor might be better.

What about extending the concrete and adding a beautiful brick border to the outer edge...maybe with some brick planters, or a brick firepit as Tibbrix suggested?

You can also have the concrete finished in different patterns and colors, but once you get the patio furniture and landscape done, I don't think the concrete will dominate, esp with the beautiful brick walls. Maybe a large outdoor area rug under the furniture?

I know you are probably getting more advice than you wanted. LOL But here I go. I'm trying to picture it with the brick floor, brick walls, etc. and wonder if that might be too much brick? Have you thought about stained (even stamped) concrete or something to coordinate, not match? Just a thought. If you go with the brick, are they tearing out the concrete and then laying the brick? I do think extending it, and curving it would look very nice. It's probably not a bad price, especially to tear out the concrete, but if I were you, I'd get a second estimate.

I see Oly and I were typing at the same time and had the same thoughts. YES! She has a great idea. That is how our front porch is done, concrete with the brick trim (and brick steps).

Thank you all! Much to consider here!

There is plenty of clearance from the door to raise the current concrete with brick (which WILL be actual brick and not pavers - it's the same stuff used on our house and we have a big ol' stack of it on a pallet in our garage already, but this will of course need to be added to). Definitely not going to do the work ourselves though. I don't think the brick flooring will be too much, actually - and we really want this done in brick to match the house. We haven't yet discussed the extension of the patio with this guy. Our building supervisor brought him by one day when we weren't home and relayed the quote to us. He (the bricklayer) is supposed to stop by probably one day next week and we'll discuss further with him then. Obviously, this is a "side job" for the bricklayer so we're sort of flying loose with it all at the moment.

I do trust him, though. He and his crew do nice work.

I also really like the idea of extending the patio out into a graceful arc.

Okay, after I typed all that, I did find one pic that is similar to what you are proposing and it doesn't look as overwhelming as I imagined. It looks like they did a pattern, maybe herringbone? which would look nice and mix it up a bit...

Oh, that is VERY cool! That is definitely an idea we'll consider, Oly. Love how it breaks up the pattern, but still feels quite unified to the rest of the house. Nice.

Just a third person chiming in to question whether you can use wall brick as floor brick. With interior ceramic tile, there is a difference between wall and floor tile.

We are in a HCOLA, but that price sounds reasonable to me. Bricklaying is skilled labor after all. And I like the idea of the matching brick. It drives me nuts to see almost but not quite matched brick together.

Yes, graywings. I had a patio bricked in the same brick as my home back in the early 90s and it actually got more exposure to the elements and people traffic than this one will, with no adverse affects. I wish I could remember what that job cost, but of course, that WAS more than 20 years ago.

I think the price is extremely reasonable. I do wonder though how it would look if you limed or whitewashed the floor brick?

Hmmm. Interesting thought, Holly-Kay. I doubt DH would go for it, but I'll see if I can find some pics online and perhaps then seek his opinion. ;-)

Jen, I'm in the "too much brick" camp. I've attached a couple of photos of our back porch, just as a visual reference. You will see that the part with the brick floor has stucco walls surrounding it, and the part with concrete floors with brick edging has brick walls surrounding it. Had it been all brick without the visual break in color and texture, I would think it would be too much brick, at least for me. Of course, you have a good eye and definite style. So I'm sure whatever you decide to do will work out great.

nutsaboutplants, your patio is absolutely gorgeous! As is your yard/garden. Looks like you have created areas that open up, one to the other, gradually revealing your property. Nice.

I am really drawn to the photo that Oly shared above, with the patio brick laid on the diagonal. Because our space is so very small, I think something along those lines would be pretty and not too overwhelming. I could see "brick overload" if we were talking about a larger space, but truly we have postage stamp spaces outside.

Were you thinking of having the extended area on the same level as the patio (requiring concrete pouring) or a step down with them levelling, gravel, sand and bricks? Figure that out before the bricklayer comes to discuss a finite price. We have a Salvadoran gentleman who does everything too big or technical for us to handle, and I can see him charging in the neighborhood of what your bricklayer wants, but it would most likely include the concrete pour.

You can always add an outdoor rug if the brick looks like too much.

To me that seems extremely reasonable and I would do it in a heartbeat. Esp if you trust the guy. Do extend it a bit. When we did our patio the guy extended it and I was freaking out that it would be too big. Now I wish it were bigger!

That's beautiful, akl.

How are they going to extend it to make it level? Pour more concrete then brick on top of that?

Years ago I had a small patio installed behind my red brick house. I hemmed and hawed on the paver style and color. I did not like using such a solid color, but I couldn't afford a more subtle patterned paver. or a more complex design. Mine cost 3.5K, I think it was WAY overpriced. That included the pavers and the installation. The walkway goes all the way along the garage. Ignore the big red pavers, that was a bad add-on idea I was contemplating, and I tore it out in the end. If I had to do it again, I would not go with the stark geometrics. That was not what I wanted and I also way overpaid a "designer" to help me and she most certainly did not. I would have been better off hooking up with a good installer (sounds like you did) and spray painting over the lawn the shape I wanted. I could have tried out various options using a hose or long rope.

Back to $ and realizing there are variations by region, 8'x12' is less than 100 sq ft. Even if you added another 100 sq ft and you are providing most of bricks (if not all with 1 pallet) orig bid seems high. Even with pouring a little bit of concrete, this is 2-3 day job. At $800, that comes to $25+/hr,. Grout and sealer wouldn't exceed $50. That quote of 850 is steep IMO. I bet if you start asking for quotes / sq ft they'd know you are calculating stuff and prices would come down. I assure you builders are not paying that guy anywhere near $25+/hr. A flat amount maybe doesn't seem like much but when you consider man hours, who provides materials, it's a whole diff ball game.

I think it sounds a reasonable price Jen, so I'd go for it if it were me but I would definitely want yo extend it a little if possible. I hear what the others are saying about too much brick, but the example that Olychick posted looks great - I do like the idea of a herringbone or similar pattern! Here's a couple of pics of the brick path (unfinished here!) we laid ourselves at our last house (in Wiltshire, UK - you were right about the location!) that had a stone front and painted stone rear elevation.......these were old house bricks and they stood up to the weather fine, but then we were going for the slightly distressed, country garden vibe!

I don't agree with bossyvossy as far as $ goes. $ 25/hour for someone that does a great job is worth it to me. I don't want to tell you what ours cost, but it was all worked in with the backyard and boulders etc and every single time we go outside we enjoy it and it was worth every single penny. For a job like that around here $800 would be a deal. And we're not big city fancy or anything. Canadian prairies!

$25 an hour sounds like a bargain to me for skilled labor and heavy lifting. I haven't hired a brick layer, but the cheapest handyman rate in my neck of the woods is $30 an hour. I pay upwards of $100 an hour for electricians and plumbers.

Extending the patio is where you are likely to come into bigger expenses. If they have to lay concrete to extend, don't they also have to excavate as well? It is a process, and then you will cover it with bricks.

$850 sounds like a bargain to me, even if you are providing most of the supplies. We put on a 12x12 stamped concrete patio a handful of years ago. We had a friend with a bobcat do the excavating, and it still cost us about $3500. From reading here, I suppose I should have shopped around!

I agree With handmethehammer. If you extend the patio, to keep the underlying surface even, you'll need to either add more concrete or remove all of what is there now. $$

and will need more brick and more brick laid. $$ cutting brink for the undulating arc shape $$

If new concrete is involved, it will most likely muck up any existing surrounding grass. $$ to repair. $$ to prepare the earth.

will you need existing plantings readjusted if you change the patio shape? $$

Patio bricklaying is not skilled work in the same way as electric/plumbing. $825 for just laying a rectangular 8x12 ft of brick on sand sounds fair, especially where you live. However, you are already firmly on your way to a higher priced project.

And masonry bricklaying of walls is not the same as patio bricklaying. different skills are involved. I would never assume that someone who can build a wall would do an equal job on a patio.

I took better photos to more clearly show what we are dealing with. Now I am thinking that extension of the patio would interfere with the guttering and push the patio too close to the fence, eating up what little yard there is. I dunno - need to visit with the bricklayer for sure. Like I said, this is postage stamp sized already. I'm also going to start thinking of ways to beautify this currently empty backyard with plantings or other features and we want it to be as maintenance free as possible. We will certainly want something prettier to look at than just the house right next to us! The way these zero lot lines work is we have "enjoyment" of the ground that leads right up to the house next to us and can plant there within reason. There will be no fence as there are just two glass block windows on that house that face our yard and privacy is not a concern for us. We do have nice planted beds in the front of the house, but the back - aside from one tree that the builder planted - is going to need work. I do fear that the grass at the edge of the patio will never grow properly due to low light. It's actually looking better though since we moved in. The builder didn't water properly over our hot, dry summer.

The bottom part of the gutter can be easily directed and the size of the space would only require quickcrete mixed in a wheel barrow so no substantial yard damage. This does not have to be hard, expensive or overly creative. Some nice planters with big bushy things will hide the neighbors somewhat and you will have a lovely space!

Personally, I wouldn't be too concerned about a pattern ( if keeping costs down is a priority), the space is small and once you add furniture, planters and maybe an outdoor rug, the brick will be background.

I agree with Bumble. I see what you mean about postage stamp size, the neighbors are really close. I would do some tall plantings of some sort. Can't wait to see what kind of plantings you do.

Sorry to be so posty, but this is a good time to consider a place for a grill/prep area if you don't already have an area.

How do you plan on using the patio? Just some seating or bbq? If it was mine and I wanted a bbq, I would probably have concrete poured so the patio extended out in to the lawn area so I would have some open space overhead so the smoke would not want to settle by the ceiling of the patio. I would loose the lawn, replace with something cooler like wood chips and then a deep flower bed of plants that one could grab a clipper, a tote and a glass of ice tea and tidy up in 20 minutes while in enjoying the yard. For me in SoCal, it would be Salvias and roses. I did that combo here and just love the activity of all the humming birds zipping in and out.

On the brick, I think a nice herringbone pattern would break up all of the brick you have but if you are just doing the running bond, I would probably just to a trim border of brick. The neighbors house is so close I think it might be too much as much as I like brick. Of course if you were going to use an outdoor rug in the covered part that would break up the brick anyway and then I would look nicer than the plain concrete

Another thought to bring some height to the neighbors wall might be a pair of large terra cotta pots with a lemon and a lime tree (dwarf so they stay smaller)

the busier the pattern, the smaller the area will appear visually. Probably the plain concrete makes the area look bigger. I would extend it just to the gutter but no further, otherwise as you say you wont have any grass left. I didnt realize the lot was so tiny. Looks like it will be private though, so that is good.

Having lived with a postage sized patio for years, I kinda agree with Kippy. I would not do a thing to the concrete, instead I would extend the patio to the edges of your house. All you need to do to fix the gutter issue is just add a little more downspout, very easy. Like if I can do it anyone can easy. I'd use bigger patio blocks for the new area. That would be the installation costs, the excavating and putting in the brick so that is aligns with the concrete. Then get one of those sexy indoor/outdoor rugs for over the concrete. I don't know what your zone is, but pretty small perhaps even fragrant flowering tree, some shrubs, a few evergreens and/or perennials, and fill in with colorful annuals in pots. Grill, table and then chaise lounge or patio swing. My planting area was really postage stamp sized, you'd be surprised how little you need and how quickly you can transform a space. Here is the install and then five years later.

I would put some kind of painted or stained finish on the concrete and call it a day. More brick is going to look too busy for such a small area.

I tend to agree with K9arlene. Too much brick! Your house, the neighbor's, the patio ... and not enough land in between.

How much of a back yard do you have? Could you create a patio there?

Since your area is covered, have you thought about screening it?

I think that price is reasonable for what you want, but if it were me I think I would prefer to keep the concrete you now have and put a nice indoor outdoor rug. I fear that a brick patio would always be just a bit bumpy for chairs and tables to not wobble. Then maybe get the bricklayer to build the bar b q or fire pit with your bricks further out .

Now seeing the photo of your space, I probably wouldn't extend past the corners of the house. And do you have any HOA restrictions on your outside renovations?