How to Install an Outdoor Path & Pavers

Run a string line to lay out the course of the proposed path. Tie one end of the string to a wooden stake hammered into the ground with a rubber mallet, then run the line the length of the path to finish off with another stake. Run a second string line to set the other side of the path. Use a tape measure to make sure the width is a consistent 28 inches across the entire length.

Dig out the sod from between the two string lines using a shovel; dig the path 4 inches below the surface of the ground. Lay a level down in the path periodically to be sure it's smooth and consistent. Smooth out any rough areas by removing or adding soil.

Place 1-inch-by-4-inch-by-8-foot treated boards along the edges of the path and use the rubber mallet to pound them slightly into the ground to hold them in place.

Unroll landscape fabric and place it into the path. Trim the fabric to fit the space between the boards, using scissors or a utility knife. Try to use one continuous run of fabric, if possible, to avoid having seams.

Fill the path with coarse sand approximately 2 inches deep over the fabric. Smooth the sand with a piece of 2-by-4-inch lumber by dragging it across the sand along the whole length.

Lay 12-inch square and 2-inch thick pavers onto the sand as stepping stones for the path. Place two stones side by side on the path and insert a plastic spacer between the blocks to create the proper gap between the stones. Tap each stone a few times with a rubber mallet to seat it in the sand. Remove the spacers when the stones are seated.

Install another two stones side by side, with spacers between the rows, until the entire path is complete. Check each stone for level. Pour sand over the stones and into the gaps between pavers. Use a broom to sweep the sand off the stones and level it across the path.