Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Prepare a Base for Sidewalks
How to Prepare a Base for Sidewalks. A proper base ensures a sidewalk's strength and durability. A compact, well-drained base prevents the sidewalk from cracking and shifting when subsurface water seeps through. Though laying a proper foundation is crucial, it's a project you can do yourself with basic tools and attention to detail. Use a...
A proper base ensures a sidewalk's strength and durability. A compact, well-drained base prevents the sidewalk from cracking and shifting when subsurface water seeps through. Though laying a proper foundation is crucial, it's a project you can do yourself with basic tools and attention to detail. Use a wheelbarrow to transport heavy materials, and if you don't own a compacting machine, rent one from a home improvement store.
Things You'll Need
Landscape paint
Rake
Compactor machine
Gravel
Level
Landscape fabric
Sand
Use landscape paint to outline the area where you plan to lay the sidewalk. With a flat shovel, remove grass and debris from the outlined area, and continue digging down to 6 inches below the surface.
Rake the surface of the ground until it is level. Use a compactor machine or tamper tool to compress the surface. Compressing the surface prevents the ground from settling over time, which can cause a sidewalk to crack or sit uneven.
Pour 4 inches of gravel over the compacted surface, and rake the gravel to spread it evenly. Tamp the surface of the gravel until it is even. Place a carpenter's level on the base to make sure it is completely level.
Roll landscaping fabric over the surface to improve the site's drainage and prevent weeds from growing below the base.
Spread a 1-inch layer of gravel over the landscaping fabric, tucking the edges of the fabric beneath the gravel so it won't show through on the sides of the walkway.
Pour a 1-inch layer of sand over the gravel to shore up the surface. Dampen the sand and allow it to dry before laying your sidewalk. As the sand dries, it will cling to the gravel like concrete powder, increasing support to the base.
