OT: Tips for Laying a Brick Walkway

[RPI-Fan]

Background: I'm moving back in with my parents at the end of June and am not going to have a job, and school doesn't start until late August.

So I'm going to re-do their 15-year-old front walkway (about a 20' x 5' L-shape). I plan on ripping it up and totally re-doing it, with a new subbase and everything (from what I can tell the guy that put it in originally did not do a very good job).

I've found some sites that offer the basics on re-paving a brick walkway, and I think I have enough to do it. But I figured that I'd like to ask if anybody here has any advice they could offer up from experience or otherwise.

Perhaps I'll even do a "dynasty" on it.

~rpi-fan

[Esquared1]

Background: I'm moving back in with my parents at the end of June and am not going to have a job, and school doesn't start until late August.

So I'm going to re-do their 15-year-old front walkway (about a 20' x 5' L-shape). I plan on ripping it up and totally re-doing it, with a new subbase and everything (from what I can tell the guy that put it in originally did not do a very good job).

I've found some sites that offer the basics on re-paving a brick walkway, and I think I have enough to do it. But I figured that I'd like to ask if anybody here has any advice they could offer up from experience or otherwise.

Perhaps I'll even do a "dynasty" on it.

~rpi-fan

1. Don't

If that does not work, this what we did with our brick paver patio:

(Check Home Depot's website, because they have directions.) Basically, dig 5-6 inches down, put down paver base (gravel), put down 1-2 inches of sand, level sand, lay bricks. Make sure to stamp down at every step, and level.

[Flasch186]

stamping = sucking

[Esquared1]

stamping = sucking

Though you can usually rent a powered stamper at your local hardware store, though it is very heavy and hard to move. Beats stamping by hand, which is well below average.

[RPI-Fan]

The advice I've read is to use a 2x6 and a mallet to "stamp" things down. Did you guys try that way and it still sucked?

Esquared: Why do you say "don't"?

Our walkway looks terrible right now so it really needs to be re-done. Plus, I won't have anything else I'm doing all day so it's something I'm able and willing, and expecting to put a lot of effort into.

[RPI-Fan]

Also, what's the price range on the various types of bricks?

[Esquared1]

The advice I've read is to use a 2x6 and a mallet to "stamp" things down. Did you guys try that way and it still sucked?

Esquared: Why do you say "don't"?

Our walkway looks terrible right now so it really needs to be re-done. Plus, I won't have anything else I'm doing all day so it's something I'm able and willing, and expecting to put a lot of effort into.

It took my wife and I 22 hours for a weekend to do a 12 x 14 area. It's clearly a lot of work.

Menards had a sale for .27/brick. Additionally, they delivered everything for $50. I don't have a truck, so that was very helpful. We used a lot of bags of sand a paver, so having it delivered saved many hours.

[RPI-Fan]

It took my wife and I 22 hours for a weekend to do a 12 x 14 area. It's clearly a lot of work.

Menards had a sale for .27/brick. Additionally, they delivered everything for $50. I don't have a truck, so that was very helpful. We used a lot of bags of sand a paver, so having it delivered saved many hours.

Great, thanks for the info. That is the kind of time I was thinking it would take (+/-). My parents have a station wagon so maybe we won't need to have things delivered, cutting costs down more.

[SirFozzie]

Laying bricks? Walking away? Sounds like you need Detroit Piston Power..

(Ok lack of sleep and pain make Foz go crazy) :D

[stevew]

Put in a free throw line and get Ben Wallace to shoot your new walkway.

[Franklinnoble]

My father-in-law was a mason his whole life. Here's my advice:

1. Don't rent a stamper. The 2x6 and mallet idea is fine.
2. The hose is your friend. Wet the gravel before you put the sand down, and wet the sand before you stamp it down.
3. It would be cheaper to buy the sand by the truckload. If you (or a friend) has a truck, just buy a truckload. Or have it delivered. It will be cheaper and easier that way.

Are you using pavers, or actual bricks?

Any other questions, let me know.

[GrantDawg]

Get it drunk.

[RPI-Fan]

My father-in-law was a mason his whole life. Here's my advice:

1. Don't rent a stamper. The 2x6 and mallet idea is fine.
2. The hose is your friend. Wet the gravel before you put the sand down, and wet the sand before you stamp it down.
3. It would be cheaper to buy the sand by the truckload. If you (or a friend) has a truck, just buy a truckload. Or have it delivered. It will be cheaper and easier that way.

Are you using pavers, or actual bricks?

Any other questions, let me know.

Thanks for the tips. We're still deciding on what kind of bricks to use. The guy who did it before used bricks, and among other problems they simply got destroyed. So depending on price, we may need/want to use pavers.

Do you have any preference or advice for one method over another?

[Franklinnoble]

If you're in a cold weather location, pavers are much better, because you essentially lock them together with sand, not concrete, and they can shift under the elements (not crack).

[RPI-Fan]

If you're in a cold weather location, pavers are much better, because you essentially lock them together with sand, not concrete, and they can shift under the elements (not crack).

Well the guy that did it before used sand (albeit very poorly -- the joints are terrible uneven, etc.), with bricks.

So pavers are much less likely to crack, right? Basically a very high-quality brick?

[Franklinnoble]

First of all, you can't join bricks with sand. They're meant to be held together with concrete.

The pavers are heavier, and are meant to be used as a walkway, and held together with sand.

[Franklinnoble]

dola... I'm not saying you're lying... I'm just saying the last guy shouldn't have tried to use sand to hold them together. :D