How to Create a Pavestone Walkway

Measuring Your Walkway

• 1

  Mark the area of your desired walkway by spray painting a line along the boundary. Measure the length and width of your marked walkway. Multiply the length by the width to find the total square footage of your area. You will need to purchase this amount of Pavestone pavers to finish your project.

• 2

  Measure the length of the boundary of your walkway. You will need to purchase this length of edge restraints to finish your project.

• 3

  Calculate the amount of sand you will need for your project. To do this, multiply the total square footage of your walkway (as determined in step 1) by 0.00309. The resulting number will equal the total cubic yards of sand you will need to purchase to finish your project.

• 4

  Calculate the amount of gravel needed to complete your project. To do this, multiply the total cubic footage of needed sand (as determined in step 3) by 4. The result will equal the total cubic yards of gravel you will need to purchase to finish your project.

Preparing the Ground

• 5

  Call your local utility company at least three days before you plan on starting to dig. The company will come to your home and mark your utilities for you, so you can be sure not to hit anything while digging.

• 6

  Remove any rocks, grass and other obstacles from the area of your walkway, using your shovel. Discard this material.

• 7

  Remove a 7-inch, even layer of soil from the area of your walkway. Use your flat shovel to help you achieve an even layer of excavation. Tamp the soil, using your hand tamper.

Installing the Base and Edge Restraints

• 8

  Spread an even, 4-inch layer of gravel into your excavated ground. Tamp the gravel using your plate compactor. This will ensure a firm base for your paving stones.

• 9

  Place your edge restraints along the borders of your walkway. Stake each section of the edging into place by hammering one metal stake into the holes along the sides of the edging. Use one stake per linear foot of edging.

• 10

  Spread a 1-inch layer of sand over the layer of gravel. Spray the sand with a garden hose until it is moist, but not saturated with water.

• 11

  Lay a straight piece of lumber over the layer of sand. Using the edge of the lumber, level out the layer of sand until completely even. If there are any holes, fill them with more sand. Allow the sand to dry, and do not touch or otherwise disturb the sand in the meantime.

Installing the Pavers

• 12

  Place one paving stone on top of the sand at a corner of the walkway. Lay more pavers, starting at the edge of the first one. Continue laying paver stones until all have been laid.

• 13

  Mark the areas of any pavers that need to be cut in order to maintain the boundary of your walkway. Cut these areas using the paver splitter. Then, lay the cut paver back into place.

• 14

  Compact the pavers into place using your plate compactor. When doing this, start at the center of the walkway and work your way toward the edges. Go over the surface at least four times in order to make sure the pavers are completely compacted.

Finishing the Walkway

• 15

  Spread sand across the surface of your walkway. Using your broom, push the sand into the spaces between the paver stones.

• 16

  Spread more sand and continue pushing it into the spaces with your broom until all spaces are filled. Blow any excess sand away from the walkway using your leaf blower.

• 17

  Spray a fine mist of water over the walkway. The water will set the sand that fills the joints of the walkway.