How to Lay a Walkway of Pavers

Mark the outline of your walkway with two hoses. Walk through the outline, and adjust it if it feels too winding or narrow. Trace the outline of your walkway with landscape paint.

Dig out the walkway area with a shovel until the surface is 8 inches below the ground. Dig below the frost line if your area is prone to freezing temperatures.

Use a plate compactor machine or a hand tamper to compact the soil to a level, flat surface. Place landscape fabric over the soil, and secure the corners with metal spikes.

Pour a 6-inch layer of gravel over the fabric, and spread it even with a 2-by-4 or rake. If your walkway is located near the home, slope the surface away from the home one-fourth inch for every foot to direct water away from the home's foundation.

Place wood or metal borders along the border of the walkway, and use a hammer to drive 12-inch nail spikes through the edging slots to secure them to the ground. Edging will prevent pavers from shifting as they settle over time and stop grass or weeds from encroaching.

Spread a 2-inch layer of sand over the gravel surface, and spread it evenly with the 2-by-4 or rake.

Set your first paver on an outer corner of the walkway, and step back to check the level of the walkway surface. The pavers should sit 1 to 2 inches above ground level. Add or remove sand to adjust the height of the surface.

Place the pavers side by side or according to your chosen design. Leave a gap of no more than one-eighth inch between the stones. Continue setting pavers until you reach the other end of the walkway.

Dump fine-grained sand over the paver walkway, and compact the sand between the joints of each paver with a stiff shop broom.