Setting up a Brick Paver Walkway or Decorative Bricks

The use of Bricks or Pavers to create a pathway or patio area complements a house in a method that is unrivaled. In addition, installing a Brick or Paver sidewalk does not necessarily need a pro.

The key to setting up a Brick or Paver Walkway is to very first effectively prepare the area where the bricks/pavers are to be installed. The location ought to be dug out at least a foot down, removing all topsoil and clay soil. In addition, string lines ought to be strung on each side of the sidewalk. The string lines suggest the ended up height of the walkway.
When the area has been dug down, 3/4" gravel stone should be laid in and tamped down tightly. The height between the tamped down sand and the stringline must equal the thickness of the brick or paver.

Now that you have a stable base, put a 1" pipe or journal board the length of the pathway on either side of the walkway. Utilizing a flatedge, e.g. a 2"x4" board, slide it over the two lengths of the pipe/ledger board. In doing this you will produce a level area to lay the bricks/pavers.

Now location on the level sand/stone dust strips of plastic brick borders. Set up a run on both sides of the ready area. These strips will act as your pathway border and aid to maintain the stability and shape of the sidewalk.

The secret to laying the bricks/pavers is to make sure that they interlock with each other. Constantly stagger surrounding click here rows of bricks by 1/2 of a brick to interlock them. This will again help maintain the integrity of the walkway.

Inevitably bricks/pavers will need to be cut or split when developing the pathway. Unless you wish to purchase or lease a costly wetsaw, I would recommend buying an easy brick/paver splitter. It is essentially a chisel with a broad end that is the width of the bricks/pavers. To really cut/split the brick/paver, lay it in a bed of sand and place the chisel at a 75 degree angle over the area where you want to break the brick. Then using a hammer strike the butt end of the chisel firmly. You might require to do this a couple of times. You may also desire to turn the brick/paver over and strike the opposite of the brick utilizing the hammer and chisle. Within one or 2 strikes the brick/paver need to break easily. If your sidewalk has curves you will require to buy/rent a wetsaw.

After installing the bricks, develop the outside edges with additional sand, and after that shovel in the topsoil and pack down firmly.
Spread stone dust over the new pathway and sweep into the cracks. This will finish the interlocking of the bricks and assist to get rid of any weed growth.


In addition, setting up a Brick or Paver walkway does not always require a pro. The secret to setting up a Brick or Paver Walkway is to first effectively prepare the area where the bricks/pavers are to be installed. Now that you have a stable base, position a 1" pipe or ledger board the length of the pathway on either side of the walkway. These strips will act as your walkway border and aid to keep the integrity and shape of the pathway. Undoubtedly bricks/pavers will need to be cut or split when constructing the walkway.

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