How to Design & Install a Brick Sidewalk

Jot down ideas for the sidewalk that include the needed measurements. If you don't know them already, use a tape measure to determine the length and width of the proposed sidewalk. Consider also how you want the bricks to appear once they've been laid: Basic columns are the simplest to lay yourself, but curved or diagonal patterns can certainly be done as well. Sketch your design onto your paper to be used as a visual guideline.

Outline the pathway of your desired walkway with string, following any contours in the lawn. Once you've created the shape and width of the walk, hammer wooden stakes into the ground on either side of the walkway to create a visual guideline for the path. Tie the string onto the tops of the stakes.

Determine how many bricks you'll need for the job by using a tape measure to measure the length and width of the walkway. Multiply these two numbers together. Take this number to your supplier when ordering your brick.

Dig the outlined area, removing the stakes as you go. Dig the walkway to a depth of around 7 or 8 inches. Use a point-end shovel to dig the footer; then use a square-end shovel to dig straight down into the sides of the footer, which will level the path's edging and make it even.

Remove small rocks, stones or plant roots from the footer. Stamp the bottom of the footer with a soil tamper to flatten the bottom as much as possible. Lay a carpenter's level across the bottom to check your work.

Fill the bottom of the footer with about an inch of landscaping gravel and cover that with around 2 inches of sand. Stamp it down with a tamper. Line the sides of the pathway with plastic borders, small removable walls that will help keep the concrete formed while it dries.

Shovel a small bead of quick drying concrete into one corner of the walkway and gently lay the brick onto it. Working from left to right, work across, laying each brick onto a bead of concrete. Spread concrete onto the sides of the brick that will be forming the joints.

Fill the walkway with bricks and mortar, and once it's finished, gently apply pressure onto the bricks with tamper to push them into place. Scrape away any mortar that seeps out. Allow several hours before removing the borders and using the brick sidewalk.