How to Lay a Small Brick Walkway

Measure the dimensions of the site where you plan to lay the walkway, and insert wooden stakes in the far corners. Stretch a string between each stake, and walk the course to see if the walkway feels wide enough or if it's too angular.

Dig out grass, growth and debris from the small walkway site. Dig to at least 8 inches below the surface. Flatten the soil with a hand tamper or the back of a flat shovel.

Place landscape fabric over the flattened soil, inserting metal spikes every 2 feet to secure it to the ground.

Set metal, plastic or wood edging along the borders of the walkway to keep the bricks from moving. Drive 9-inch nail spikes through the slots in the edging to hold it firmly in place.

Spread a 6-inch layer of crushed rock over the landscape fabric, and use a two-by-four to spread the gravel evenly. Tamp the surface of the crushed rock to prevent it from shifting over time. Add a 1-inch layer of coarse sand over the crushed rock and spread it until the surface is level.

Set the first brick in a corner of the walkway, pressing it into the coarse sand beneath. Place the next brick beside the first according to the pattern of your choice, leaving about 1/8 inch of space between the bricks on all sides. Continue placing the bricks with consistent spacing in between. Set a water level on top to make sure the walkway surface is level.

Sweep fine-grained sand over the bricks once all of them are in place. Pack the fine sand into the joints with a stiff broom, compacting it into the gaps and adding more sand until the joints are filled.

Use a spray pump or paint roller to apply sealant over the brick surface. Sealant protects the bricks from weather damage, prevents fading and keeps the sand joints intact to cushion the bricks.