The key to installing a Brick or Paver Walkway is to first properly prepare the area where the pavers are to be installed. The area should be dug out at least a foot down, removing all topsoil and clay soil. In addition, string lines should be strung on each side of the walkway. The string lines indicate the finished height of the walkway.

Once the area has been dug down, 3/4” gravel stone should be laid in and tamped down tightly. Then 2” of sand, or stone dust should be spread over the gravel. Again the stone dust should be tamped down. Stone dust is preferred. The height between the tamped down sand and the stringline should equal the thickness of the brick or paver.

Now that you have a stable base, place a 1” pipe or ledger board the length of the walkway on either side of the walkway. Then using a flatedge, e.g. a 2”x4” board, slide it over the two lengths of the ledger board. In doing this you will create a level surface area to lay the pavers.

Now place on the level stone dust strips of plastic brick borders. Install a run on both sides of the prepared area. These strips will act as your walkway border and help to maintain the integrity and shape of the walkway. You can get these plastic strip borders at most home improvement stores. The strips should be anchored down with 12” galvinized nails. You should sink these nails into the ground and through the strips every foot.

Once this is done, you can then begin to lay the pavers. There are many patterns you can lay. I particularly like the Herring Bone pattern. The key to laying the pavers is to ensure that they interlock with each other. Always stagger adjacent rows of bricks by 1/2 of a brick to interlock them. This will again help maintain the integrity of the walkway.

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