How to Construct a Mortared Brick Walkway

Stake off the chosen path of the walkway, placing one stake on each side of the walkway location and approximately every 3 to 4 feet along the length of the walkway. Tie string between the stakes on each side of the walkway to outline the edges.

Obtain a building permit, as required, for your area. Whether or not you require a building permit, speak with local authorities and utility companies to ensure no underground pipes or wires exist in the area of the proposed walkway.

Excavate the path of the walkway to an overall depth of 6 inches. If the land you intend to place the walkway across has a slope in any direction, use a tape measure to measure the depth of the walkway every foot along its length. The excavated trench should measure 6 inches deep and follow the slope of the land. Use a level to compare the slope at the bottom of the trench and the slope of the ground's surface.

Compact the soil at the bottom of the excavated trench using a soil tamper. A soil tamper is a device that includes a broad, flat end attached to a pole. Hold the pole in both of your hands and repeatedly raise and pound the flat end of the tool against the ground to compact the soil until it resists shifting under foot traffic.

Apply a 2-inch layer of gravel into the bottom of the excavated walkway site. Push the gravel around with the spade and your feet to level the gravel layer to match the grade of the ground outside of the excavated site. Compact the layer of gravel using the soil compactor and the method described in the previous step.

Apply a 2-inch layer of masonry sand onto the gravel layer. This layer of sand provides a cushion between the gravel and bricks to compensate for any small uneven spots in the walkway's base.

Mix the contents of one bag of ready-mix mortar with water, according to package directions. To thoroughly stir the mix with water, you may use the spade or shovel as a stirring utensil. Immediately, rinse excess mortar off the spade or shovel when finished mixing.

Locate the center of the walkway's width at the one end. Apply a small pile or mortar to this location using a trowel to scoop up the mortar and empty it onto the sand layer.

Set the first brick into place at the center, top or bottom edge of the walkway. Tap the brick into place using a rubber mallet and level, keeping the slope the same as the surrounding ground.

Apply more mortar to the sand bed as well as all sides of the brick, except the top and bottom. Set the brick into place against the first brick, leaving a gap measuring approximately 1/2 inch. Smooth the mortar into the joint using a joint tool. Immediately wipe away any mortar on the top surface of bricks using a damp rag. Continue to set more bricks into place using the methods described in this and the previous step.