Installing concrete sidewalks can be a big job, but it’s easier than wood and much more durable. Use the right materials, proper tools and techniques, and you’ll have your new sidewalk installed in no time.
A concrete sidewalk is designed to be durable and long lasting. It can weather the elements year after year, providing an attractive path for pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles to use. The steps shown here provide instructions on how to create a basic straight sidewalk or one that curves around flower beds or landscaping features. These steps can be used when writing a contract for the construction of a new sidewalk or when repairing existing walkways that are cracked, broken or unusually sloped.
I love my house, but the one thing it’s missing is a sidewalk. With a sidewalk, I could go on walks around my neighborhood without having to walk on the road or in people’s yards. However, this project can be expensive and time-consuming if you have to hire someone else to do it for you. So I did some research and built my own.
Gather your materials
You’re going to need a few things in order to get started.
- Shovel
- Trowel
- Level
- Tape measurer
- Mason’s string (sometimes called line level)
- Power saw (to cut the mason’s string)
- Concrete mix, water, and mixing equipment (a wheelbarrow works well for mixing the concrete)
Call the utilities
- Call the utility companies to mark the location of power lines and other utilities.
- Contact your local water company to mark the location of your water lines.
- Contact your local gas company to mark the location of your natural gas lines.
Mark out the design you want your sidewalk to have
- Use a chalk line to draw the design.
- Use a straight edge to make sure the lines are straight and level.
- Make sure your design is the right size for your property, as well as for any other spaces that need paving (such as patios or driveways). It’s okay if this doesn’t match up exactly with existing dimensions, but it should be close enough that it looks good when you put them together later on in the process!
- Make sure your concrete is either rectangular or square in shape; otherwise, it’ll throw off everything else once we start putting things together later on in this tutorial.
Dig up the ground and level for the concrete
Now that you’ve purchased the concrete, it’s time to get to work. The first step is to dig up the ground and level it. There are a few ways you can go about this:
- Use a shovel and rake to dig up the ground.
- Use a shovel and trowel to smooth out the ground.
- Use a garden hose and rake to water the new sidewalk area, making sure that all parts of it are wet enough before adding any concrete (unless specified otherwise by your local building code). Finally, use a leveler or other tool that comes with your kit to check whether or not your site is level; if not, adjust accordingly before continuing with steps 2 through 4 listed below.
Fill in with gravel and pack it down
Once you’ve shoveled out the excess gravel, it’s time to get down to business. Use your rake to push down on the newly-placed gravel in order to pack it into place. Next, you’ll need some sort of device that can be used as a tamper or roller; I prefer using an old broom because they’re usually free and easy to find. Once your broom is ready for use, roll over the newly-paved area until all visible rocks are covered by concrete and most of their edges have been smoothed off. Any remaining loose stones should be swept up using another tool like a handheld vacuum cleaner or leaf blower—just make sure not to damage yourself with them.
Add a wooden frame around the edge of the sidewalk
A wooden frame around the edge of your sidewalk is important to keep the concrete from leaking out and being damaged. The wooden frame should be at least 1 inch thick and 2 inches wide.
Prepare the concrete by mixing it and adding water.
In order to prepare the concrete, you need to mix it in a wheelbarrow. To get started, add water to the dry concrete gradually until it reaches a consistency that is easy for you to work with. Adding too much water can make it difficult for the concrete to set properly and may result in cracks later on, so be careful not to add too much water at once! Once you have added enough water, mix it thoroughly using a shovel or trowel until there are no lumps of dry powder left in your mixture. This step will ensure that your final product has an even consistency throughout without any dry spots where cracks could form later on down the line due to uneven moisture levels inside each block of sidewalk material
Pour the concrete into your wooden frame
Once the frames are in place, pour the concrete into the wooden frame. Be sure to keep it level as you do so, and try not to let any spill over the sides of your frame. Let sit for 24 hours, then remove from your wooden frame when it has hardened completely (usually after about 24 hours)
Slope and smooth out the concrete using a rake.
Now that your concrete is poured, you’ll want to smooth it out using a rake. It’s important not to leave any air pockets in the concrete, so take your time and make sure the sidewalk dries at an even rate. If you don’t let it dry slowly enough, it will crack or otherwise break apart when exposed to weather or heavy foot traffic.
You should also be careful not to use too much force when smoothing out the concrete; doing so can damage its structure and make it weaker over time. Don’t use shovels or brooms on your sidewalk—these tools are too heavy for this job and may cause unevenness in the final product.
Let it sit and wait till solidified before removing frame.
Let the concrete sit and wait till solidified before removing frame. This will require about 3-4 hours of time. Once it’s solid, you can remove the frame, but be sure to let it cure for 7 days before putting any weight on it! If you have a lot of people walking over your sidewalk or if there is heavy rain, I’d recommend waiting longer than 7 days before applying sealant and power washing.
After you’ve removed all of your forms and allowed the concrete to cure (i.e., dry out), apply a sealer so that stains don’t penetrate into your new sidewalk or patio surface – this will protect against oil stains from cars driving over it as well as from water leaking into cracks where mildew could grow! The best way to do this is with a power washer – just set up some hoses so that you can spray away all dirt/dust/grease etc…and voila! You have yourself an instant beautiful new space ready for entertaining guests outdoors at picnics or pool parties.
The process of building a sidewalk can be accomplished by any homeowner with a little preparation
The process of building a sidewalk can be accomplished by any homeowner with a little preparation. Before you begin, you’ll need to know what you are doing and have the right tools and materials.
You also need patience because building concrete sidewalks correctly takes time; as we’ve discussed above, they’re not built overnight! You should never attempt this job if there is rain in the forecast or when it’s too cold outside for working with wet concrete (that’s why summer months are the best time for getting your sidewalk done). Finally, ensure that all other factors are favorable: good weather conditions and adequate daylight hours will help make sure that your project goes smoothly from start to finish.
Final words
Good luck with your concrete sidewalk project.
