How to Lay a Paver Block Walkway

Map out the location of your paver walkway by tracing lines on the ground with paint or chalk. You can also drive wooden stakes along the pathway and link them with nylon cord to create a guideline to follow.

Excavate your walkway area to a depth of 7 inches, or until you reach strong, stable soil beneath. Some areas have requirements for digging depths, so if necessary, consult your local administrators for building codes.

Compact the freshly exposed soil with a plate compactor or hand tamper to create a completely flat, level surface for installation. Lay landscape fabric over top to aid in drainage.

Spread an even, 4- to 5-inch layer of paver base or crushed stone through the excavated area. Compact the base with the plat compactor or hand tamper so that the surface is completely level. This will create a firm, stable surface for the pavers.

Cover the paver base layer with a 1-inch layer of concrete sand. Spread the sand evenly through the whole area, and then sprinkle it with water to encourage it to set flat.

Edge the walkway with metal or plastic paver edging to stop the pavers from shifting once they are installed. Use nails or stakes driven into the ground to hold the product in place.

Lay the paver bricks in the appropriate places within the patio edging. Use as many full bricks as possible; adjust the spacing between your pavers as necessary to use full bricks or to match your design ideas.

Pour concrete sand or crushed stone over the walkway and force it into the joints between paver blocks with a push broom. Water the surface lightly to settle the sand or stone and fill in any gaps in the joints. Sweep away any excess and then compact the surface once more to settle all materials in place.