The use of Bricks or Pavers to develop a pathway or patio area complements a home in a method that is unequaled. In addition, installing a Brick or Paver sidewalk does not always require a pro.
The key to installing a Brick or Paver Walkway is to very first properly prepare the area where the bricks/pavers are to be set up. In addition, string lines need to be strung on each side of the walkway.
When the location has been dug down, 3/4" gravel stone must be laid in and tamped down firmly. Then 2" of sand, or stone dust should be topped the gravel. Once again the sand/stone dust must be tamped down. Stone dust is chosen. The height in between the tamped down sand and the stringline need to equate to the density of the brick or paver.
Now that you have a steady base, put 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 2 lengths of the pipe/ledger board. In doing this you will develop a level surface area to lay the bricks/pavers.
Now place on the level sand/stone dust strips of plastic brick borders. Set up a run on both sides of the prepared location. These strips will act as your walkway border and aid to preserve the stability and shape of the pathway.
You can then begin to lay the bricks/pavers as soon as this is done. There are many patterns you can lay. I especially like the Herring Bone pattern. The key to laying the bricks/pavers is to ensure that they interlock with each other. Constantly stagger surrounding rows of bricks by 1/2 of a brick to interlock them. This will again help preserve the stability of the walkway.
When constructing the walkway, inevitably bricks/pavers will need to be cut or divided. Unless you wish to purchase or lease a pricey wetsaw, I would recommend acquiring a basic brick/paver splitter. It is basically a chisel with a wide end that is the width of the bricks/pavers. To actually cut/split the brick/paver, lay it in a bed of sand and location the sculpt at a 75 degree angle over the area where you desire to break the brick. Utilizing a hammer strike the butt end of the chisel securely. You may need to do this a couple of times. You may likewise wish to turn the brick/paver over and strike the other side of the brick using the hammer and chisle. Within a couple of strikes the brick/paver should break easily. If your walkway has curves you will require to buy/rent a wetsaw.
After installing the bricks, develop the outdoors edges with extra sand, and after that shovel in the topsoil and pack down strongly.
Spread stone dust over the brand-new pathway and sweep into the fractures. This will finish the interlocking of the bricks and assist to remove any weed development.
In addition, installing a Brick or Paver sidewalk does not necessarily require a pro. The key to setting up a Brick or Paver Walkway is to very first properly prepare the area where the bricks/pavers are to be set up. Now that you have a steady base, place a 1" pipe or journal board the length of the sidewalk on either side of the walkway. These strips will act as your pathway border and aid to maintain the integrity and shape here of the pathway. Undoubtedly bricks/pavers will require to be cut or divided when building the pathway.