How to Put in a Front Walkway

Draw a simple plan of your front yard with the house, front door, trees, plants and driveway. Consider the existing materials used on the driveway, edging and house, and choose a walkway material that will complement your landscape. Decide on the course of the path: whether it will be curved, angled or straight. If the front door is centered, sketch a straight path from the front door to the curb to preserve symmetry. If the door is off-center or a garden blocks the way, draw a curved or angled path around the gardens.

Define the borders of the walkway with two parallel ropes. Space them 4 feet, 4 inches apart or more.

Excavate the path with a square shovel. Cut straight down along the edges and keep digging until the path is 8 inches below ground. Tamp the dirt bottom to make it sturdy for the foundation.

Position edge restraints against the inner walls of the path. Use wood or metal edging for angled and straight paths and strong flexible edging for a curved path. Secure the material down with 9-inch spikes and a hammer.

Cover the path with 4 inches of 3/4-inch aggregate. Rake the aggregate so it's even, and tamp it down.

Rake 2 inches of coarse sand over the aggregate to level the surface.

Place the bricks, stones or pavers in the bed of sand according to your chosen pattern. Begin at one end of the walkway and work across the path. Set the pieces flush against each other or with not more than 1/8 inch of space in between. Lay a wooden board over each row or section and walk on the board to apply even pressure, leveling adjacent pieces with each other.

Brush stone dust or masonry sand over the walkway with a shop broom. The fine dust or sand will fall into the joints to pad the stones or pavers as they settle.