DIY Network

Easy Walkway: Bricks Set in Sand Instructions for an easy do-it-yourself brick walkway. From "The Dirt On..." episode DTDO-111

When it comes to landscaping projects, you don't always have to run straight for the pros. There are quite a few projects that you can do yourself without disastrous results so you can save money and have bragging rights. This is one of those projects. It's a simple pathway that's made with bricks set in sand. The "sand" part translates to "no concrete required" which means no contractor hired.

The basic steps in this project, as seen in DIY's The Dirt On episode 111, are summarized below.

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Figure A

• Mark the area (figure A) by using chalk or flour so you know exactly where you're going and you can visualize it in case you want to make any adjustments.

• Dig down about two to five inches the whole length of your walkway. (If you want the walkway to sit up higher, dig only two inches.)
  

  
  

• Line the edges with redwood 2x4s (figures B and C). You could use another type of wood, but redwood is rot resistant so it's a great option. This creates an edge for the walkway and it holds the bricks in firm.

• Tamp down the soil all the way down the line, making it as even as possible. At this point, you can lay down a weed barrier like landscape fabric if you're in an area where weeds are likely to pop up.

  Figure B

  Figure C

  
  

  	Figure D
  	Figure E

  
  

• Pour sand down the length of your pathway. You want to use "clean" sand (figure D). This has been sifted so it's more consistent in size, which will help with the drainage. You don't want to use "dirty" sand, which is also known as bay or fill sand. This is smaller in size and holds on to water instead of letting it drain away.

• Use a rake to even it out and lightly tamp it down. The amount of sand you use will depend on how high you want the brick to sit. Set one brick down to make sure it rests at the height you want it to.

• Use your redwood edging as a guide and lay your bricks down in any pattern you'd like (figure E). You can use any style brick you like but if you want to save some money, buy recycled bricks. They won't all be uniform in color and they may have some imperfections but that just adds character and gives you a unique pathway.
  

  	Figure F
  	Figure G
  	Figure H

  
  

• Lay the bricks right next to each other. You don't have to force them up against one another. If you use a basket weave pattern you won't have to make any cuts.

• Tap each brick into place with a rubber mallet (figure F). An ordinary hammer will shatter the bricks.

• If you see one brick is up too high, remove a small layer of sand below it with a spatula and tap it back down. .

• Use more sand to "glue" the bricks into their pattern by filling it into the small gaps between each brick (figure G). Pour sand over one spot at a time and use a broom to sweep the sand into the cracks.

• Once you've swept sand into all the cracks, water your pathway down. This will force all the sand down in between the cracks, locking those bricks in place. You'll have to repeat the process of pouring sand, sweeping it in and watering it down a few more times until the sand completely fills the empty space between the bricks (figure H).