How to Pave a Stone Walkway

Create the boundaries for the walkway and mark the ground with wooden stakes. Hammer the stakes into the ground every 1 to 2 feet, depending on the size and length of your walkway.

Dig out the topsoil and dirt from the area you have marked. Dig about six inches deeper than the height of your pavers. For example, if your pavers are 3 inches thick, dig out about 9 inches of dirt.

Lay a layer of landscaping fabric over the walkway. The fabric will keep weeds from growing into your walkway.

Pour 4 inches of gravel base over the fabric and mist with water to compact it. Gravel base is a combination of crushed stone and stone dust, which will from a solid layer when moistened and compacted. Use your shovel to pat down the gravel base to make a flat, hard surface onto which you will pour the sand.

Pour 2 inches of masonry sand over the compacted gravel base, and rake until smooth. Set one of your pavers as a test to ensure it is level with the ground.

Set the pavers down over the masonry sand in whatever pattern you have designed. Once the pavers are set, use a landscaping rolling compactor or a hand tamper to compact the pavers into the base ground. Once the pavers are in place, pour the stone dust over the top and sweep the sand into the gaps between the pavers with a broom. Sweep away any excess and roll or tamper the top once again to complete the setting of the pavers.