How to Use Slate for a Walkway

Mark the course of your walkway with two parallel ropes. Space the ropes at least 4 feet apart to allow room for outdoor equipment and for multiple people to easily pass by. Walk the path to test the angles and curvature, adjusting the ropes as needed.

Excavate the sod within the two ropes with a shovel and dig out 5 inches of soil. Level the floor of the expanse by digging out any high areas. Force out moisture and air pockets from the floor with a hand tamper.

Layer 4 inches of aggregate over the floor and spread it out with the shovel. Once leveled, tamp the surface of the aggregate down until it is hard and doesn't move beneath your feet. The aggregate will facilitate drainage beneath the walkway supporting the stones so they don't sink or shift.

Add 1 inch of sand across the aggregate to smooth any gaps in the surface.

Lay the slate pieces in a pattern beside the walkway site. If you're working with snapped pieces, fit the largest pieces together like a jigsaw puzzle. Fill in any larger gaps with small pieces of slate, keeping consistent spacing between the stones. Number the back of the pieces with chalk in the order you'll set them in.

Set the slate on the sand bedding based on your pattern. Adjust each stone until it doesn't wobble and is level with the pieces around it by adding or removing sand from the base beneath.

Pour crushed limestone over the slate surface and pack it into the crevices between stones with a broom. The limestone will prevent weeds from growing between the stones. If you prefer to have grass growing between the stones, pack the joints with soil and seed them with grass seed.