How to Build a Cement & Rock Walkway

A cement and rock walkway can add a beautiful touch to any front yard or patio. The long-lasting function and potential increase in home value make the effort of building one worth it. Most walkways are typically around 3-feet wide, though the amount of space you have available and its intended use should affect the size.

Wooden stakes
String
Shovel
Wheelbarrow
Compactible gravel
2-by-4 wooden boards
Nails
Hammer
Level
Flat rocks
Form oil
Cement mix
Water
Wood float
Wide push-broom
Plastic sheet

Instructions

- 1
  Outline the walkway with wooden stakes and string. Clear the area between the outline with a shovel, removing dirt and leveling the surface.
- 2
  Put a subbase of compactible gravel down for the walkway. Walk on the gravel and pack it down until it is even.
- 3
  Place two 2-by-4 wooden boards on their edges to form a wooden frame for the walkway. The inside edge of the form should line up with the strings. Drive wooden stakes on the outside of the form at 3-inch intervals and nail them to the form. Level the form with a carpentry level.
- 4
  Place the flat rocks on top of the gravel at desired locations. Place them high so they won't be covered by the cement.
- 5
  Spray form oil on the inside of the wooden forms for easy removal from the cement. Prepare the cement mix in a wheelbarrow with water.
- 6
  Pour the cement and use a shovel to spread it over the walkway. Level the cement using another 2-by-4. Run the shovel along the inside edge of the wooden form and then hit the outside of the form with a hammer to settle the cement.
- 7
  Smooth the cement surface using a wood float or finishing trowel. Sweep the surface of the cement with a wide push-broom to create a textured look and non-slip surface. Cover the walkway and let the cement set for about one week.
- 8
  Remove the forms after the cement has set and fill in the sides of the walkway with dirt or sod.

How to Take Out Wooden Stairs

Concrete Pre-Pour Checklist

Walkways