How to Build a Sidewalk With Paving Blocks

Preparation

• 1

  Mark the area for the sidewalk with marking paint. Use gentle curves if building a curved sidewalk.

• 2

  Dig out the area to a depth equal to the height of the pavers plus 2 inches. Smooth out the base and fill in any low areas with dirt. Tamp the area to firm up the base of the hole. A hand-held tamper is a long pole with a flat, square head that you pound into the ground to flatten the surface. Mechanical tampers are gas-powered tools that you walk behind. You can rent them from a hardware store.

• 3

  Stretch landscape fabric across the base of the hole. Overlap edges of fabric by 2 to 3 inches. The fabric should extend up the sides of the hole. Cut the fabric with a utility knife flush with the surface of the ground.

• 4

  Pour 2 inches of sand into the hole. Smooth over with the flat end of a rake and tamp the sand flat. Fill in any low spots with additional sand.

Laying the Pavers

• 5

  Lay the first paver in one corner of the walkway, placed ideally adjacent to a flat, vertical surface.

• 6

  Press the second paver against the edge of the first paver and drop it into place. Do not slide the paver along the sand, otherwise you will trap sand between the two pavers. Check the level of the two bricks to verify they are level side to side and front to back. Tap the pavers into place with a rubber mallet while monitoring the level.

• 7

  Repeat Step 2 for each brick while checking the level of each one. Work toward the opposite side of the same end of the sidewalk and then across to the opposite end of the sidewalk. Make any cuts necessary for odd-shaped or half-bricks with a circular saw and a diamond-tipped saw blade. You can use a hammer and chisel to clean up rough edges

• 8

  Stretch bender board or some other type of solid border along the length of the paver walkway. Secure the border with the metal stakes included in the purchase of the border. Press the border flush with the sides of the walkway and down as far as possible. The border needs to be low enough to be hidden by surrounding grass or mulch.

• 9

  Spread concrete sand over the surface of the walkway and brush it into the grooves between the pavers with a wide-headed broom. Spray the surface with water to dampen the sand and solidify the structure.