Erecting a sidewalk around your house can improve the overall look of your property and is often required by local ordinances. This project requires some tools that you may not have and a few extra materials, but it is worth the time, effort and expense if it will make your home more appealing to prospective buyers or renters.
The best way to build a sidewalk around your home is to hire a professional landscaper. While it may seem easy to install your own sidewalk, it requires extensive knowledge of proper soil conditions for pouring concrete and other details that can only be properly done by professionals.
Your home is an expansive space, and more of it should be available for your leisure. While some outdoor areas are easily accessible, there may be parts of your yard that could use a bit more of a connection to the rest of your property. In other words, if you want to make all the corners of your home accessible, then you need to consider a sidewalk! A sidewalk can offer easy entrance into the furthest reaches of your property while also enhancing its aesthetic appeal. If you’re interested in building this kind of walkway yourself (and saving money by installing it on your own), then we’ve got all the steps you’ll need to follow—literally.
To start, measure the path that you want to create with your new sidewalk.
To start, you will need to measure the path that you want to create with your new sidewalk. You can use a tape measure and measure from one point on the ground to another point, marking each measurement as you go. You can also use a wheelbarrow or other tool if the ground is too hard for walking or digging. If this is not an option, it may be best to hire someone else who has done this before instead of attempting it yourself!
Once your measurements are complete, add up all of the numbers together and divide by four (you’ll be doing this twice). This will tell us how many square feet we’re working with total across our entire project area.
Next, you will need to dig out the path.
Now that your driveway is ready to be paved, you’ll need to finish digging out the path around your house.
Use a shovel or spade to remove dirt from the area, then remove rocks and other debris with a rake. Compacting the soil will ensure your sidewalk is sturdy enough to hold up over time. Finally, smooth out the area with a rake so it’s not bumpy when you walk on it.
Now that you have cleared away all of the excess dirt and rocks from around your home, it’s time for some concrete work.
Begin laying materials and fill the area back up with soil.
You’ll want to start laying the materials in a flat, level surface. Start with the materials in the middle of your path and work your way outwards, compressing each layer as you go. You can use a tamping tool to compact the material or just use your hands if you don’t have one available (like me!). To fill back in any exposed edges of soil after you’ve laid down all of the material, use a shovel to add more soil until it’s level with what’s already on top.
Replant grass if needed.
If your lawn is damaged, you may need to replace it. If not, you can always add grass seed. Either way, first remove the old grass by digging up the roots and removing any debris that might be in your way. Next, purchase a replacement for the damaged area and plant it according to package instructions (usually something along the lines of “dig hole here, drop plant here”). Finally, if no damage was done before, simply get some seeds from a store or seed bank (on this particular subject).
These four steps will allow you to build a sidewalk around your house.
- The first step to building a sidewalk is to dig out the path.
- Once you’ve removed the grass and dirt, lay your pavers in place, making sure they’re level with each other.
- Fill in any gaps that may have been left behind by overzealous digging with soil or sand.
- Water down your new walkway so that it’s nice and compacted before you begin planting grass again on top of it.
Final words
If you decide to do this, it will take a good deal of time and effort. But if you are willing to put the work in, you will have a beautiful new sidewalk around your home.
