How to Install a Brick & Concrete Walkway

Using brick and concrete to build a walkway adds contrast and structure to a landscape. Brick and concrete are durable hardscape materials that require a strong foundation to prevent water damage cracking the surface. You can install a walkway of brick and concrete yourself with basic tools and materials and careful attention to detail when laying the surface. Choose from a wide variety of brick colors to create a design that complements the exterior of your home.

Wooden stakes
String
Shovel
Hand tamper
Landscape fabric
Gravel
2-by-4-inch boards
Concrete premix
Wheelbarrow
Trowel
Mortar mix
Bricks
Level
Rubber mallet
Roller paint brush
Brick sealer

Instructions

- 1
  Create an outline of the walkway by inserting wooden stakes every 2 to 4 feet. Tie a string around the stakes for a clear visual of the shape of the walkway. Walk the course to see if you need to adjust the width or curves.
- 2
  Excavate the area inside the outline and continue to dig until the excavation is 8 inches deep. Dig below the frost line if your area is prone to freezing temperatures to prevent the walkway from cracking.
- 3
  Use a hand tamper to compact the surface of the walkway until it is flat and level. Place landscape fabric over the surface to inhibit weed growth.
- 4
  Fill the site with a 4-inch layer of gravel to improve drainage. Use a 2-by-4-inch board to spread the gravel, creating a slope of 1/4 inch for every foot to direct water runoff away from the house. Compact the gravel base to prevent it from shifting.
- 5
  Read the instruction on the concrete premix and measure out enough mix to spread a 4-inch layer over the surface of the walkway. Dump the mix into a wheelbarrow and add the recommended amount of water, mixing it with a shovel or hoe. When finished, the mixture should not be too dry or too watery.
- 6
  Use a shovel to add the concrete mixture to fill the base to ground level. Smooth the concrete with a trowel and wait two days for the concrete to cure. Spray the concrete twice a day during these two days.
- 7
  Mix mortar with the recommended amount of water and stir it until the consistency is similar to the concrete mixture.
- 8
  Apply a 1/4-inch layer of mortar to an outer corner of the concrete walkway surface. Spread the same amount of mortar to the bottom of your first brick and the interior edges. Press the brick into the mortar on the concrete, cleaning off the excess mortar with a trowel.
- 9
  Coat the bottom and interior edges of the second brick with the same amount of mortar. Mash the second brick against the first brick, tapping it with a rubber mallet until they are level. Remove excess mortar and continue to set the bricks following your pre-planned pattern.
- 10
  Wait two days for the mortar to dry and apply a coat of brick sealer to protect the walkway from water damage and to preserve its color.

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