How to Build a Walkway With Concrete Pavers

Walkways are made from a variety of materials, including stone, concrete, gravel and brick, but some of these materials can be expensive or not easily accessible in all areas. Concrete pavers are a solid alternative; they are sturdy, will last a long time and are fairly inexpensive. Installation is similar to brick and stone installation methods, and if the walkway is damaged for any reason, you only have to replace the blocks that are messed up.

Spray paint or stakes and twine
Concrete pavers
Flat-edge shovel
Crushed gravel
Sand
Level
Tamping tool
Wet saw
Measuring tape

Instructions

- 1
  Draw out the walkway path with spray paint, or use stakes and twine to create straight lines.
- 2
  Measure the depth of the pavers. Add 6 inches to this measurement.
- 3
  Dig out the path of the walkway, digging down to the measurement that you figured in Step 2. Make the bottom as smooth as possible. It doesn't have to be perfect, since you will be adding material to the bottom, but is best to make the foundation fairly flat.
- 4
  Fill the bottom of the walkway area with 4 inches of crushed gravel. Smooth this out and tamp it down with a tamping tool.
- 5
  Fill the walkway with 2 inches of coarse sand, on top of the gravel, and tamp it down. If there is a natural slope in the yard, then you are fine with the surface of the sand smoothed out as it is. However if you are installing the walkway on flat ground, make the walkway slope slightly to one side by building the sand up toward the other side. This will help water run off. Usually 1 inch of height for every 4 feet is fine. Use a level to help you make a consistent slope across the surface from one side of the walkway to the other.
- 6
  Place the concrete pavers on the surface of the sand and press them in slightly. Leave a ¼-inch space between the blocks.
- 7
  Spread sand across the top of the pavers. Push it around with a push broom to work it in between the spaces.

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