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