| The use of Bricks or Pavers to create a | | | | strips should be anchored down with 12" |
| walkway or patio complements a home in a way | | | | galvinized nails. You should sink these nails |
| that is unmatched. It adds a level of quality | | | | into the ground and through the strips every |
| and elegance to a home entrance that can not | | | | foot. |
| be achieved with either concrete or asphalt. | | | | |
| Brick and Pavers also come in many different | | | | Once this is done, you can then begin to lay |
| colors and shapes allowing for unique color | | | | the bricks/pavers. There are many patterns |
| schemes and patterns to be achieved. In | | | | you can lay. I particularly like the Herring |
| addition, installing a Brick or Paver walkway | | | | Bone pattern. The key to laying the bricks |
| does not necessarily require a pro. With some | | | | pavers is to ensure that they interlock with |
| basic knowledge and a relatively simple | | | | each other. Always stagger adjacent rows of |
| walkway plan, a homeowner is capable of | | | | bricks by 1/2 of a brick to interlock them. |
| undertaking such a project. | | | | This will again help maintain the integrity |
| | | | of the walkway. |
| The key to installing a Brick or Paver | | | | |
| Walkway is to first properly prepare the area | | | | Inevitably bricks/pavers will need to be cut |
| where the bricks/pavers are to be installed. | | | | or split when building the walkway. Unless |
| The area should be dug out at least a foot | | | | you want to buy or rent an expensive wetsaw, |
| down, removing all topsoil and clay soil. In | | | | I would suggest purchasing a simple brick |
| addition, string lines should be strung on | | | | paver splitter. It is basically a chisel with |
| each side of the walkway. The string lines | | | | a wide end that is the width of the bricks |
| indicate the finished height of the walkway. | | | | pavers. To actually cut/split the brick |
| | | | paver, lay it in a bed of sand and place the |
| Once the area has been dug down, 3/4" gravel | | | | chisel at a 75 degree angle over the spot |
| stone should be laid in and tamped down | | | | where you want to break the brick. Then using |
| tightly. Then 2" of sand, or stone dust | | | | a hammer strike the butt end of the chisel |
| should be spread over the gravel. Again the | | | | firmly. You may need to do this a couple of |
| sand/stone dust should be tamped down. Stone | | | | times. You may also want to flip the brick |
| dust is preferred. The height between the | | | | paver over and strike the other side of the |
| tamped down sand and the stringline should | | | | brick using the hammer and chisle. Within one |
| equal the thickness of the brick or paver. | | | | or two strikes the brick/paver should break |
| | | | cleanly. If your walkway has curves you will |
| Now that you have a stable base, place a 1" | | | | need to buy/rent a wetsaw. |
| pipe or ledger board the length of the | | | | |
| walkway on either side of the walkway. Then | | | | After installing the bricks, build up the |
| using a flatedge, e.g. a 2"x4" board, slide | | | | outside edges with additional sand, and then |
| it over the two lengths of the pipe/ledger | | | | shovel in the topsoil and pack down firmly. |
| board. In doing this you will create a level | | | | |
| surface area to lay the bricks/pavers. | | | | Finally, spread stone dust over the new |
| | | | walkway and sweep into the cracks. Repeat |
| Now place on the level sand/stone dust strips | | | | this process a couple of times to ensure the |
| of plastic brick borders. Install a run on | | | | cracks are fully filled. This will complete |
| both sides of the prepared area. These strips | | | | the interlocking of the bricks and help to |
| will act as your walkway border and help to | | | | eliminate any weed growth. Just add grass |
| maintain the integrity and shape of the | | | | seed to the outside edges and you should have |
| walkway. You can get these plastic strip | | | | a beautiful entrance to your home within a |
| borders at most home improvement stores. The | | | | couple of weeks. |