Directions for Building a Walkway

Place stakes along the pathway and connect each with twine. Use a 2-by-4 cut to the width of your path to ensure even spacing.

Review the shape and length of the path outlined and adjust as desired.

Cut into the ground and remove the topsoil to reveal the leaching layer. Identify the leaching layer by the lighter color.

Place the removed soil onto a tarp or into a cart and place in another area of the yard.

Install 1-by-4 planks on either end of the walkway to serve as rails. Ensure rails are even with the surrounding ground level.

Remove large stones and filling pockets.

Pour a 1-inch layer of base gravel onto the walkway and tamp. Repeat until 4 inches of gravel have been added.

Cover the gravel with 2 inches of masonry sand.

Use screed to level the sand. Hold the screed so that the end arms catch on the railing; drag across the ground.

Tamp down. Repeat until the depth between the top of the railing and the sand layer is the height of your brick or stone.

Lay bricks or stones along the edge of the railing being careful not to upset the underlying sand layer.

Fill in the center of the path.

Brush sand into the joints between stones.

Wet sand to force it to settle. Continue to fill the joints.

Repeat once a week for two weeks.

Remove the railing and complete with decorative garden edging or plants.