Do It Yourself: Brick Path

Mark the edge of the path with the spray paint. Use gloves and safety glasses to protect your hands and eyes. With the spade shovel, dig out the dirt for the path. The depth is determined by adding the 2-3/8 brick thickness, 1-1/4 inches of sand and 4 inches of gravel for a 7-5/8 inch total depth. Use the level to ensure the dirt is level throughout the path and will drain evenly during rain. Remove any roots and rocks

Add 2 inches of gravel across the path. Sprinkle it with water to eliminate dust. Use the hand tamper to level the gravel. Add another 2 inches of gravel across the whole path. Sprinkle with water again and level the gravel with the hand tamper. Place overlapping layers of landscape fabric on the gravel.

Place the ridge plastic or gardening edging on both outer edges of the path. Pack dirt on the outside of the edging to hold it in place. Add medium-grade sand on top of the landscape fabric across the entire path. Sand should be 1-1/4 inch deep. Level the sand.

Lay bricks on the sand in a pattern of your choice. Ensure that the bricks are touching and are level with each other and level with the top of the edging. When all bricks are in place, shovel masonry or concrete sand across the bricks. Using the broom, evenly sweep the sand into all of the crevices between the bricks and between the brick and edging. Lightly sprinkle the bricks with water. Refill any crevices with masonry or concrete sand and sweep into the crevices.