How to Pave a Walkway in Concrete

Plan the size and course of the site, using a tape measure and ropes to outline the shape. Space the ropes 40 inches apart to allow for handicap access, or 30 to 36 inches if the walkway is secondary. Add an additional 6 inches to the width for the temporary form boards.

Cut through the grass along the ropes, using a shovel, and unearth 8 inches of dirt. Dig until the area is level, and pack the loose dirt down with a manual tamper.

Dump ¾-inch aggregate into the site and rake it evenly. Tamp the aggregate down and continue adding more until you have a 5-inch layer. The tamped rocks wedge together to make a hard, flat surface. Place wire mesh over the top to reinforce the concrete.

Insert wooden garden stakes in the earth every 4 feet against the interior edges of the path, using a hammer. When you're finished, the stakes should be 1 inch above ground level.

Fit 2-inch by 4-inch boards against the inside walls of the foundation. Line up the top edge with the top of the garden stakes, and hammer the boards to the stakes with nails to frame the site. These form boards will shape the wet concrete until it hardens.

Mix ready-mix concrete in a wheelbarrow with the suggested amount of water until the mixture has a peanut butter--like texture.

Pour the concrete onto the foundation, starting at one end and working across. Spread the concrete with a gauge rake to remove air pockets and spread it evenly. Drag a 5-foot straightedge back and forth over the width of the walkway to fill any low areas and level the surface. Make the top as smooth as you can by running a squeegee or trowel down the length of the walkway. Stop smoothing the concrete when water bleeds to the surface. Once it reabsorbs, go over the top with a shop broom if you want to rough up the surface to give it traction.

Draw straight control joints across the surface every 3 feet, using the end of a trowel. The joints should equal half the depth of the concrete slab to prevent cracking. For example, if the slab is 4 inches thick, control joints should be 2 inches deep.