How to Make a Walkway From Bricks or Blocks

Sketch out a design plan for the walkway. Decide where the walkway will begin and end, and identify the course you want it to take. Lead guests through the garden or give them a direct route to the patio or pool area. Make the edges straight not curved to avoid cutting bricks or blocks. Once the walkway is drawn, choose or create the surface pattern. Basket weave, half basket weave and herringbone are a few traditional patterns.

Outline the borders with two ropes or landscape paint. Space the two sides 4 feet 6 inches apart for a primary walkway, and 30- to- 36 inches for a secondary path.

Dig out the chosen walkway area with a shovel. Remove dirt until the path is 8 inches below ground level. Tamp the dirt floor with a hand tamper.

Fill the walkway with two 4-inch layers of ¾-inch crushed rock. Tamp the rocks after pouring the first layer, then tamp the surface of the second layer until it is stiff. Tamped rocks will support the heavy blocks and keep bricks or blocks from sinking, while improving the area's drainage.

Arrange metal or wood edging against the sides of the inner walls to deter the paving material from rotating.

Rake 1 inch of grit sand over the crushed rocks so that the top of the base is even.

Lay the bricks or blocks against each other in the sand starting with one end and methodically working down the length of the walkway. Set a 5-foot long wood board across the walkway after laying each section and walk across it to embed the materials in the sand and make the surface level.

Dump masonry sand or stone dust over the walkway and sweep it over the gaps with a shop broom. Continue filling the joints between materials to pad them and keep them in place.