Easy Do-It-Yourself Brick Sidewalks

Decide on the location and path for your brick sidewalk, and outline the site using landscaping paint or two parallel ropes.

Dig the site within the paint or ropes to a depth of 6 inches with a shovel. Make the bottom level and flat by removing high areas. Press a hand tamping tool against the dirt floor to compress it.

Add a 4-inch layer of gravel fill over the dirt and spread it out evenly with the shovel. Tamp down the gravel so the surface is compact.

Set metal edge restraints against the inside border of the site. Drive 9-inch nails through the slots to secure the edging. Edging will keep the bricks locked in place so they don't rotate or shift under foot traffic.

Spread an inch of course sand over the gravel to fill in any gaps between the stones. Set the bricks on top of the bed of sand flush against the edge restraints. Arrange them in your selected pattern leaving as little space between the bricks as possible.

Place a board over each row as you work. Step on the board to apply even pressure, leveling out adjacent bricks.

Pour fine sand onto the brick surface and sweep it back and forth so it falls between the crevices. Continue filling the sand joints until they are full. The sand protects the bricks from rubbing against each other and holds them in place.