How to Concrete a Walkway

Clear the area where you want to pour the concrete walkway. Either rent a sod cutter from a local home improvement store and follow the directions provided with the machine to go over the area and remove the grass and upper layer of soil, or use a shovel to manually remove the grass and soil. Dig three to four inches down, so that the majority of the walkway is buried, once poured.

Lay a level across the cleared area, directly on the dirt. Make sure the area is mostly flat, but has a slight slope to one side, roughly 1/8-inch. If the walkway is directly against a house or another structure, make sure the slope angles away from the foundation.

Place 2x4 boards around the area where you want to pour the concrete walkway so that the entire area is one long enclosure. Lay the level across the tops of the 2x4s once again to check that the space has only a slight slope to one side.

Remove the 2x4s from the space and attach wood stakes to each 2x4, approximately every six inches with nails, so that the stakes sit level with the top edge of each 2x4 and the stakes point toward the bottom. Return the 2x4s to their spots in the enclosure and drive the stakes into the ground with a mallet. Spray the inside of the wood enclosure and the soil where the concrete will be poured with water.

Mix concrete according to the directions on the packaging in a wheelbarrow. Pour the concrete into the enclosure.

Run a 2x4 board across the top of the enclosure to smooth the concrete into a flat surface. Then go over the surface of the concrete with a trowel to remove any remaining high spots and holes.

Allow the concrete to set up for approximately one hour. Then situate an edging trowel so that the jutted piece of metal sits against the inside edge of the enclosure between the board and the concrete on one side, and run the trowel down the side. Repeat for the other sides of the enclosure.

Measure down four feet from the start of the walkway and lay a 2x4 across the walkway. Slide a groove trowel across the edge of the 2x4 to create a joint in the concrete. Repeat this process every four feet to the end of the walkway.

Let the poured concrete dry for 48 hours. Remove the wood boards from around the concrete.