How Do You Lay a Concrete Sidewalk?
- Step 1: Mark Your Path Determine the exact path of your sidewalk. ...
- Step 2: Begin Digging This step is the most time-consuming part of building your sidewalk. ...
- Step 3: Put the Forms Together ...
- Step 4: Pack the Soil and Lay the Gravel ...
- Step 5: Protect the Sidewalk with Concrete Mesh ...
- Step 6: Order Concrete ...
- Step 7: Pour the Concrete ...
- Step 8: Flatten the Concrete ...
Full Answer
How much does it cost to install a concrete sidewalk?
A concrete sidewalk costs $20.20 per foot on average. Materials cost about $11.20 per foot and labor costs about $36.00 per hour. Additives like color, stamping, and unique aggregates can raise the price of your concrete sidewalk to $30.00 or more per square foot.
How to install a cobblestone paver walkway?
How to Design and Build a Paver Walkway
- Planning for a Paver Walkway. Start by deciding on a pattern and style. ...
- Paver Walkway Basics. For this walkway, we're using interlocking paver base panels (illustration above) instead of the gravel base.
- Preparing the Area. It's time to apply your plan. ...
- Installing the Walkway Foundation. ...
- Installing the Pavers. ...
- Adding Jointing Sand. ...
- Finishing Touches. ...
How to pour a beginners concrete slab walkway?
- Calculate the right volume. Concrete is always ordered in cubic yards. ...
- Order from the nearest supplier. Get fresh concrete mixed near the site, not mixed across town by some company with a lower price.
- Ask for 5 percent “air entrainment” in the mix. ...
- Get the right strength. ...
- Have your checkbook ready. ...
How much concrete side walk cost installed?
With all these sidewalks everywhere, you may be wondering how much it would cost to get a concrete sidewalk installed for yourself. A concrete sidewalk costs $20.20 per foot on average. Materials cost about $11.20 per foot and labor costs about $36.00 per hour. Additives like color, stamping, and unique aggregates can raise the price of your concrete sidewalk to $30.00 or more per square foot.
What do you put under a concrete sidewalk?
A firm, well-drained base is the key to crack-free concrete. The best plan for a solid base usually includes compacted soil followed by several inches of a base material such as gravel. But the best base depends on climate and soil conditions.
How deep do you dig for a concrete walkway?
Slice off sod with a sod cutter, then dig out the rest of the sidewalk path to a depth of 6 in. Dig out about 3 in. wider on both sides of the paint marks to leave room for forms. Set aside some topsoil to fill against the forms and sidewalk later.
How do you prep the ground for concrete?
2:176:18Pouring a concrete slab: Prepare the Ground & Drainage - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe first thing you want to do is bring in a backhoe or a skip loader and scrape off any organicMoreThe first thing you want to do is bring in a backhoe or a skip loader and scrape off any organic material or topsoil from the area where the slab will be poured topsoil.
Do you need gravel under concrete sidewalk?
You do need gravel under a concrete slab, footing, or patio. Gravel provides a solid foundation for your concrete as it can be compacted. It also improves drainage, preventing water from pooling beneath the concrete.
Is there a difference between concrete and cement?
What is the difference between cement and concrete? Although the terms cement and concrete often are used interchangeably, cement is actually an ingredient of concrete. Concrete is a mixture of aggregates and paste. The aggregates are sand and gravel or crushed stone; the paste is water and portland cement.
How much slope does a concrete walkway need?
How Much Slope? The standard slope for proper concrete drainage is a one-quarter inch drop for every foot of length. So, to calculate the difference in height between one end of a patio or walkway and another, simply multiply the length by one-quarter.
Can I pour concrete directly on dirt?
Long story short, yes you can pour concrete over dirt.
What happens if you don't put gravel under concrete?
Because concrete is a very porous material, it will absorb any moisture that it contacts. This can cause pooling. Without crushed stone, pooling water will settle under it and erode your slab. Adding a layer of crushed stone will add proper drainage, as well as create a barrier between your slab and the ground.
Do you put sand down before laying concrete?
As a general rule, stay away from using sand as a subbase. You're better off using gravel; your concrete will last longer and have less of a chance of cracking over time.
What is the best sub base for concrete?
The best sub-base for a concrete slab is gravel. The soil has to be prepped first before the gravel can be laid down; pouring concrete directly onto rock is not considered a best practice. You can use different kinds of gravel for the subbase as long as it is clean and uniform in shape and size.
Can you pour concrete on top of grass?
You should not pour concrete over the grass directly. For your concrete to harden flat and smooth, it is best to clear all vegetation and pour the concrete on top of smooth and debris-free soil. What is this? Leaving grass under your concrete slab can cause some unnecessary issues for you in the future.
Should you put plastic under concrete?
0:101:02Why a Plastic Vapor Barrier Under Concrete Slab - Mondays with MikeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut you want to have a six mil plastic. That's code to put down over the slab or I should say theMoreBut you want to have a six mil plastic. That's code to put down over the slab or I should say the dirt. Before you pour your slab. The reason that is is moisture migrates from the dirt up.
Is 2 inches of concrete enough for a walkway?
A concrete walkway should be 4” thick, at a minimum. If you opt for less than 4”, you'll experience more cracking sooner. Thicker concrete is always better, more stable, and has fewer cracks. It will also withstand weather and traffic better as 4” of concrete is much stronger than 3”.
How deep does a concrete drive need to be?
four inchesAs for thickness, non-reinforced pavement four inches thick is standard for passenger car driveways. For heavier vehicles, a thickness of five inches is recommended. To eliminate standing water, the driveway should be sloped towards the street a minimum of one percent, or 1/8 inch per foot, for proper drainage.
How wide should a cement walkway be?
For any two people to walk together, 5.0 feet of space is the bare minimum. In some areas, such as near schools, sporting complexes, some parks, and many shopping districts, the minimum width for a sidewalk is 8.0 feet.
How thick does a concrete garden path need to be?
Thickness – Pavements for foot traffic only (eg paths and patios) should have a minimum thickness of 75 mm. Pavements for vehicles less than 3 t gross mass should have a minimum thickness of 100 mm.
How far apart should a dummy joint be?
These should be spaced apart equal to the length. e.g. 4' wide = Dummy Joints should be spaced every 4"/ 5'=5". Dummy joints should not be spaced more than 6'. Use a fiberboard expansion material where your concrete meets other structures and every 25' in in your sidewalk.
How to keep concrete from staining?
Try finding a compound that will dry clear so it will not stain the surface. This type of compound may appear pink in color. But don't worry, it will disappear once dry. If the temperature is expected to drop below 45°F use of a concrete blanket is advised or any kind of covering that can hold the heat from the concrete in. This should be maintained for 120 hours.
How to finish concrete with cream?
Roll the concrete using a concrete roller. This pushes the aggregate in the mix down while at the same time raises the cream used to finish the concrete.
How to float concrete?
Bull float the concrete. Push the float over the concrete, to the form then pull it back to you. The slower you do this the better.
What is the best material to build a sidewalk?
Form your sidewalk using a rigid, yet flexible piece (s) of material. Thin plywood 1/2" to 3/4" is best to use due to its flexibility. Strip plywood into 4" wide sheets. ...
What temperature should concrete be?
The temperature of the concrete should be between 50°F and 90°F during placement. This can be checked with a standard thermometer. If you purchase ready-mix concrete, be sure to request an air-entrainment additive. You should look for air-entrainment to be between 4-8%.
How to remove score marks from hand tools?
Use a magnesium float to remove the score marks left behind by the hand tools you used earlier, if desired.
How to make cement color?
For every two 60- or 80-pound bags of dry concrete mix, blend one ten-ounce bottle of liquid cement color with five quarts of clean water. Mix the liquid into the dry concrete until the color is uniform. Add more clean water as needed to achieve the desired consistency.
What is a concrete walkway?
A concrete path offers an inexpensive, easy-DIY alternative to pricier, more challenging walkway materials like brick and natural stone. A walkway or garden path enhances a home’s landscape and complements its exterior features.
How wide is steel mesh?
Steel mesh and expansion strip prevent heaving, cracking and buckling. Mesh comes in 5-ft. wide, 25- or 50-ft. long rolls. Some lumberyards also carry 5 x 8-ft. flat sheets of mesh that are easier to handle but cost more per square foot. If a roll is a little too short for the job, finish up the rest with these sheets rather than buying a second roll.
How to keep sidewalk dry?
To keep your finished sidewalk dry—slope the forms. Our sidewalk path’s consistent, natural slope away from the house toward the street provided good drainage. So we made the forms level from side to side. If your grade has dips or level sections, slope the sidewalk in those areas by dropping one side of the forms 1/4 in. for each foot of sidewalk width. A 4-ft. wide sidewalk should have one edge about 1 in. lower than the other in level areas to prevent ponding or ice accumulation during the winter.
What is a concrete broom?
Concrete broom (use the handle from the bull float). A groover that cuts control joints 1 in. deep. If the rental store only has groovers for shallow cuts, use it to shape the joints and deepen them with the corner of a trowel or a stiff putty knife.
How to stiffen siding on a pickup truck?
Tip: Getting the long, flimsy strips of siding home from the lumberyard is tricky, even in a pickup truck. Buy a 16-ft. 2x4 to stiffen the stack of siding and wrap packaging tape around the whole works for the ride home. Don't forget to staple a red flag to the end of the load for safety. Later on, you'll use the 2x4 for making temporary forms called bulkheads.
What is the best weather to pour concrete?
Pour the Concrete. Watch the weather channel; dry, cool weather is the best for pouring. The quickest route to disaster is an unexpected rainstorm, either in the middle of your pour or during the finishing process. If there's a chance of rain on the pour day, cancel the order and set it up for a different day.
How to overlap mesh?
Overlap mesh layers at least 6 in. and join them by either twisting cut ends around the next sheet or wrapping wires on each 6-in. square.
What is the cheapest material to build a sidewalk?
Concrete might be the cheapest building material on the planet. It’s hard to imagine a material that gives more bang for the buck than concrete for the cost of sidewalk. What other material yields a permanent, finished, durable, maintenance-free outside surface at a low cost and a day’s work? Around these parts, many contractors won’t put down a gravel base or even use steel reinforcing. Bonus: Your sidewalk will be stronger and last longer than many professionally poured sidewalks. In addition to the concrete walkway cost, suppliers usually add a ‘short load’ charge for small orders (generally under 3 yds.). This 4-ft. wide by 60-ft. long and 4-in.-thick walk required just over 4 yds of concrete.
How long does it take for a sidewalk to dry?
You will want to stake off the area so unsuspecting people won’t walk through it. Depending on the type of concrete used and the size of the sidewalk it will take anywhere from 24-72 hours before it can be walked on . The edges of driveways that will bear more weight may need longer. Check with the instructions provided by the manufacturer for specific dry and cure times.
How wide is a service walk?
You will want to start by placing sidewalk forms in the area you are going to install the walkway in. The standard width for service walks is two feet, and four week for main walkways.
Is it safe to walk on a concrete sidewalk?
A concrete sidewalk will provide you a nearly maintenance free walkway for your home. A concrete sidewalk is safer to walk on, and easier to keep clear of debris. It’s somewhat challenging but can be done by the do-it-yourselfer with some tools and a few friends.#N#Here’s how you can do this on your own:
How to Make A Concrete Walkway
- STEP 1
Prepare the project site by leveling the ground, removing sodor soil as needed. For a more durable base, excavate the area and add two to four inches of gravel (compact this layer so that it’s level and flat). - STEP 2
Following instructions on the package, mix a batch of concrete for the first section of your walkway. Place the QUIKRETE Walkmaker form at the start of your path, then shovel wet concrete into each of its cavities. Using a trowel, consolidate and smooth the concrete you’ve added up t…
Creating Curves
- STEP 1
After removing the form from a newly placed section, reposition the form in the direction of the curve, pressing down to slice off the inside corner (photo left). Trowelthe cut edge and the rest of the section to finish. Place the next section following the curve (photo right). - STEP 2
After the concrete has cured sufficiently, sprinkle the area around the joints with polymer-modified jointing sand, then sweep the sand into the gaps.
Infusing Color
- Color, which gives molded concrete a more natural-looking finish, is great for blending a walkwayinto the landscape. Adding colorant to the concrete mix is the easiest method, one that produces consistent results:
Adding Decorative Effects
- Use your broom or brush to fill walkway joints with sand or mortar mix for a look that mimics that of hand-laid stone or brick. In the latter case, mist the joints with water so that they harden in place. Create custom surface finishes either by pressing small stones or pea gravel into the wet concrete or by brushing on a layer of sand. Apply such finish materials approximately one hour a…