Tips for Ensuring a Long Lasting Brick and Paver Walkway
By Mark J. Donovan
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A brick and paver walkway ads beauty and charm to a home’s entranceway. However, if the brick and paver walkway ground preparation is done poorly it doesn’t take very long before the walkway looks unsightly and becomes a danger to your family and visitors.
When installing a brick and paver walkway it is critical that the ground be properly prepared first. If brick and pavers are placed directly over the existing soil, they will heave and pitch with changes in soil moisture content and temperature. In addition, weeds will easily grow up through the bricks and pavers creating an unsightly look. |
Brick and Paver Walkway Ground Preparation
The first step in brick and paver walkway ground preparation is to remove some of the existing soil from the planned walkway area. Start by just removing the topsoil from the walkway area. You may want to reuse this soil elsewhere on your property.
| Next, dig down further and remove another 4-8 inches of existing soil. If you live in colder climates with deep frost lines, you may want to dig a little deeper.
With the soil removed, install crushed gravel into the walkway area and tamp it down with a small soil compactor. Install and compact enough crushed gravel so that all but the final two inches of the dugout area is filled in. With the crushed gravel compacted, place landscaping fabric over it. The landscape fabric will help with drainage as well as mitigate weed growth. |
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Next, install a 1 inch bed of clean sand into the walkway area, and over the landscaping fabric. Use a length of 2×4 and a level on top of it, to smooth out the sand and to create a level bed.
| With the sand prepared and level, install lengths of plastic edge guides along the edges of the walkway. Use 12” spikes to secure the plastic edge guides to the soil.
Once the edge guides are in place you can then begin placing brick and paver stones. I personally find it quicker to install all of the whole paver stones into the walkway first, and then go back to install the cut pieces. |
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After you have installed all of the brick and paver stones, sweep some sand over them to lock them into place.
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Additional Landscaping Resources from Amazon.com
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