How to Build a Connecting Walkway From Porch to Driveway

Planning

• Before you begin, ask a representative from your local utilities company to mark the locations of underground utility lines so you can work around them. Form the outlines for the connecting walkway, from the driveway to the porch, using powdered chalk or garden hoses. Depending on personal preference and available space, keep the lines straight for a symmetrical arrangement or curve the lines for an informal yard. Keep the walkway 3 to 5 feet wide to provide comfortable passage for two people.

Digging

• Excavate the soil within the outlines to a depth of 6 inches for a pea gravel walkway or 8 inches for a paver walkway. Ensure that the depth is level throughout the span of the trench. Tamping the base with a hand tamper firms the soil and prevents shifts. Lay lengths of plastic or metal edging against the walls of the trench to outline the space and help contain the material when it is poured.

Filling the Trench

• Spread a sheet of weed barrier over the base of the trench to prevent weeds from infiltrating the walkway. Trim the edges of the weed barrier to fit the space. If you're installing pavers, pour 2-inch-thick layers of crushed gravel over the trench and compact it until you achieve a 4-inch-thick layer of aggregate. Also spread coarse sand over the aggregate to a depth that allows the pavers to fall one-fourth-inch above the desired level. Smooth the sand bed with a screed board.

Install Walkway Material

• Pour pea gravel into the prepared trench until its top falls slightly below the edges. Level the gravel with a rake so it is smooth. For a paved walkway, lay the pavers over the sand bed, spaced 1/8 inch apart. Trim pavers to fit around edges and corners using a brick saw. Once installed, sweep fine sand over the gaps between adjacent pavers.

Considerations

• Other materials for a connecting walkway include bricks and stones. You can also make a walkway composed of equally spaced stepping stones in grass. Whatever type of walkway you choose, you need to provide a firm and level base to help contain the material and protect them from the freeze-thaw cycles. Installed properly, a walkway serves as a lasting addition in your landscape.