How to Make a DIY Concrete Home Improvement Sidewalk

Measure the length and width of the walk. Convert the measurements to inches and multiply by the depth of the walk. Divide the result by 1296 to find out how many cubic yards of concrete you need to make the sidewalk. Multiply the number of cubic yards you need by the number of bags in a cubic yard.

Stake the area where the sidewalk with go and mark it with string. Dig out the trench three inches deep for the trench. Make the trench three inches wider than the slab is going to be to accommodate the forms.

Lay the 2-foot-by-4-foot boards on the edge along the outside and ends of the sidewalk area. Cut them to the length you need at the ends. Pull the wooden marker stakes as you go. Drive them alongside the boards and nail together with concrete form nails. Roll up the string so you don't trip on it. Cut a 2-foot-by-4-foot screed board six inches wider than the width of the sidewalk and forms. You will use this to spread or screed the concrete level with the top of the form. Spread a 1-1/2 inch layer of sand in the bottom of the trench.

Lay reinforcing wire inside the form to strengthen the slab. Cut it to fit inside the forms.

Mix up the concrete according to manufacturer's instructions. Don't make it too thin and soupy as this weakens the concrete and slows setting.

Start the mixer. When ready, pour the concrete into a wheelbarrow. Starting at one end, emptying the wheelbarrow into the form. Screed the wet concrete flat with the top of the form. Use the 2 by 4 screed board. Work the board back and forth across the top edges of the form and work your way toward the unpoured end of the form.

Keep pouring load after load along the form while spreading the concrete with the screed board. Once you've screed six or eight feet of walk, rub the surface with the bull float to force down any aggregate near the surface. When finished, go back and screed another section.

Trowel the surface of the concrete when it begins to firm up. Lift the leading edge of the trowel slightly as you swipe the trowel back and forth across the surface. Moisture should work its way to the surface as you do. Trowel to the end of the walk. Edge the slab with the edger tool, rounding the edges of the sidewalk. Finally, mark the slab every four feet with the T-Square and score a shallow groove the width of the sidewalk with the grooving tool. This helps the slab expand and contract in the heat and cold. Clean the concrete mixer and your tools.

Test brush the surface gently with a driveway broom once it is almost hard. The broom should leave light streaks on the concrete surface, but not damage it. If the slab is dry enough, start at end you first poured and work your way down the walk, sweeping back and forth one pass per section. The light broom finish will help pedestrians avoid slipping.

Remove the wooden stakes with a claw hammer and mallet and pull up the form boards after the concrete has cured overnight. Clean up the area and you're done.