Some of the brick is common brick, but seems fairly hard. Generally, even common brick is acceptable for use on a patio, because it is fairly hard. Q. I am having a brick patio redone, but the contractor favors stone dust as an underlayment instead of the traditional sand. Agawam A. No. Stone dust will provide proper drainage.
Contractors favor it because it packs down better than sand.
Even paths made of stone dust will drain. Look at the stone dust paths at the Adams mansion in Quincy. They are a good example of how stone dust behaves and allows drainage. Q. I read your story about a brick patio, and I like the idea. I'd like to put in soldier bricks, flush with the ground.