Is it okay to have grass touching a brick house?

SG1985

We're in the process of pulling up some of the concrete driveway that runs down the side of our house, with a plan to lay grass instead.  [see photo for the job in progress]

I've got the memo from various forums that I shouldn't lay garden immediately next to the house, but now I'm wondering down this include grass too?  Would I be better to lay grass to touch the house and path elsewhere, or have the brick path immediately touching/running along the side of the house with no gap for grass or plants on that side but on the other side of the path [bigger area between path and fence].  I want the path to be close to the house to be a straight line to what it joins at each end of the project 

Also what consideratios do we have to make in either scenario ( ie for bugs or drainage)

[Note it has to be a brick path as we're using bricks we have recycled from elsewhere and joining to a brick path at the front]

EricL

Hello @SG1985 

Welcome to the Bunnings workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us and thanks for sharing your question about your brick path. 

I propose switching the position of your grass and brick footpath. Have the brick path right up against the wall and have the grass on the opposite side of the pathway. The issue with having plants or grass next to your brick wall is moisture or water ingress. If the soil is often watered, it will sometimes sit in the soil right next to your brick wall. The transfer of water from one side to the other is also called hydrostatic pressure. If your wall is not sealed this water will move through the brick and end up being a moisture problem on the other side. 

My best advice is to make sure that the brick path has a proper fall away from the house. In this manner water will not pool or flow towards your house.

Here is a handy step-by-step guide: How To Pave A Pathway (the techniques used are applicable to your project)

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric