How to Level Bricks on Uneven Ground With Gravel

Dig down through the dirt with a shovel until you have achieved a somewhat level surface for your walkway. Dig down 4 to 6 inches if the are is relatively flat with only a little variation in the grade. Dig down deeper if the ground is severely uneven.

Place two wooden stakes in the ground at either end of your walkway. Attach a string to one of the stakes and stretch it out across the bottom of the area you dug out for your walkway. Attach the string to the stake on the opposite end and ensure that it is taught. Place the snap-on bubble level on the string and adjust the string as necessary to achieve a level area. Adjust the height of the string to accommodate for your gravel and sand and use it as a reference line.

Fill the walkway with gravel and sand or stone dust. Pour at least 2 inches of sand or stone dust in addition to 2 inches of gravel; adjust accordingly, depending on the terrain. Layer the walkway with gravel first, then the sand or dust on top of that. Reference the string line for levelness. It does not need to be perfect at this point, only fairly flat and level across the entirety of your walkway.

Run the compactor across the sand and gravel to flatten it out and prepare it for the brick. Make additional adjustments to the levelness by adding or subtracting sand and gravel as necessary. Remove the string line and stakes after you have achieved sufficient levelness on your gravel and sand layer.

Compact the brick down into the layer of stone and gravel with the compactor after you have installed your walkway. Your layer of stone and gravel will provide a flat layer, and you can run the compactor over stubborn areas more than once to flatten them down with the rest of the bricks in the walkway. Double check the levelness with a level.