Expanses of sturdy, beautiful brick enhance walkways, decks, and houses. But even if you have just a few bricks on hand, there’s plenty you can do.

For thousands of years, people have made bricks and used them to build structures of all kinds. Even today, with so many materials at our disposal, we continue to prize brick, not only for its strength and durability but also for its undeniable aesthetic charm. Newly fired bricks sell quickly, which is one reason that the market for reclaimed brick has gotten bigger, especially in recent years. With a large enough supply of bricks, you can build a walkway, fire pit, or patio. But you don’t need dozens and dozens; there are plenty of uses for bricks in single-digit quantities. Scroll down to see five of our favourites from around the Web.

• CREATE BOOKENDS
  One of the many DIY uses for bricks is to make bookends for your fireplace mantel or home office. Spray-paint the bricks in a single colour or in a combination of your favourite complementary hues. To render your creation unique, why not add an ornament (like the children’s toys used here) by means of hot glue?

• FASHION A PLANTER
  What do you get when you bore an inch-deep hole into an ordinary brick? An extraordinary planter, perfect for a small succulent. (If greenery doesn’t excite you, that same hole can become a sturdy, offbeat holder for tea lights.) At your next outdoor party, make this mini planter (or maxi tea-light holder) your table centrepiece, or place it on a deck rail as a conversation-starting accent.

• BUILD A BOOKSHELF
  Of all the many uses for bricks, this one ranks as a classic, even among non-DIYers: Combine a stack of bricks with a few wooden boards, and your near-instant result is an almost infinitely adjustable bookcase. Paint the bricks and boards to match, or use several colours that work together, or leave them unfinished for a rustic look.

• DIY A DOORSTOP
  It worked for your grandmother, so it should work for you too, right? Grab some leftover fabric (or even some old clothing) and take 10 minutes to loosely stitch a cosy around that brick you’ve been using as a doorstop. A less traditional but equally appealing idea is to paint the brick doorstop a standout colour like metallic gold.

• MAKE GARDEN MARKERS
  Stencils and paint are all you need to transform bricks into garden markers. Of course, if you’re feeling artsy, you can always skip the stencils and label the bricks freehand using paint markers. To let guests admire your handiwork as they arrive for dinner, spotlight each brick with easy-to-install solar landscape lighting.

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(bobvilla.com By Jennifer Noonan)

Are you planning to build a patio? Making patio plans is both exciting and challenging. Part of the challenge is making sure your patio plans cover everything that is necessary to make your patio project a success. To do just that, here are some tips to consider when you are planning and building a patio.

Firstly, you need to identify the specific use of the patio. Will it be, for the most part, an additional living space for you and your family? Will the patio be a frequent hang out for you, your family and friends? Finding out how you want to use your patio will help you create a focus for your patio plans.

Size is an important aspect of your plan. You would need to consider how much space you actually have in your yard. Additionally, the patio’s use will affect the size of the patio. If you see yourself entertaining guests every weekend, you will have to make sure you have a large enough space to accommodate regular visitors. If you prefer your patio to be just a quiet place you can retreat to for relaxation, then a small space will probably do.

When you know the size of your patio, the next thing to consider in your patio plans is the design. Big or small, your patio should be a comfortable space. This means there should be enough room for people to move in. Obviously, you will have some patio furniture so you need to put them in appropriate places where it will not obstruct traffic. It is also important to design your patio so that it is has a good view of your yard or garden.

After drawing up your patio plans, you need to decide on the materials you will use. You can build your patio from a variety of materials from brick, cast pavers and flat stones to loose gravel. Choose something that will fit the look of your house or your yard and at the same time has a surface that will work for your purpose. For instance, you want to place dining areas on even surfaces.

Patio furniture and accessories should also be part of your patio plans. Details such as cushions, umbrellas, fire pits, barbecue grills, and patio swings all add to the look of your patio. Do not be afraid to experiment but then, again, always take into account your patio’s use and overall design.
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Be creative with your patio plans. However, if you are going to build the patio by yourself, you may want to start with a simple plan. Always consider the resources you have including time and budget to make sure you are working within your capacity.

Premier Group, winners of the Westpac NZ Waikato Chamber of Commerce Business Awards for Service Excellence! Amazing to be up against some thriving, innovative businesses such as Fosters Contrsuction RezultsWintec Agoge! Congratulations to all like-minded businesses and people with whom we shared the evening! And THANK YOU to our customers – without you, amazing events like this would not happen!??? #premiergroup

IBM Kenexa has awarded Premier Group International the title of New Zealand’s Overall Best Workplace of 2016.

Premier Group, a landscape and construction materials manufacturer and distributor, led the Small Workplace category (20-49 employees) and beat 49 other finalists to receive the top award in New Zealand’s longest running and largest measure of employee engagement. The awards, now in their 17th year, are based on employee perceptions of their workplace in a confidential online survey across key metrics including leadership, culture, recognition and engagement. It was Premier Group’s first time participating in the competition.

“Premier Group’s purpose ‘Deliver Happiness, Create Raving Fans, and Beautify Our World’ is central to everything that they do, and every business decision puts their people first,” says Emma Martin, Senior Consultant, IBM Kenexa New Zealand. “Their passion to express this purpose and tireless focus on happiness in the workplace makes them fitting recipients for this year’s Overall Best Workplace award.”

The IBM Kenexa Best Workplace 2016 survey results showed increases in employee engagement with the most notable positive trends appearing in teamwork, rewards and recognition, and employers taking action in response to feedback. More employees reported a sense of belonging, common purpose, and cooperation compared to 2015, as well as being able to share their knowledge and ideas freely.

This year over 36,000 employees from 210 New Zealand organisations representing private and public sectors participated in the awards.