Transform Your Concrete Walkway with an Elegant Brick Border

Concrete walkways are a practical and affordable option for creating paths and patios around your home However, plain concrete can look a bit drab and boring after a while An easy way to spruce up a concrete walkway is by adding an attractive brick border along the edges. Not only does a brick border add visual interest, color, and texture, but it also helps define the boundaries of the walkway.

In this article, we’ll walk through the steps for adding brick borders to dress up your existing concrete paths. With the right materials and techniques, you can complete this project over a weekend. Once finished, you’ll love the instant curb appeal and elegance a brick border brings to your concrete walkways.

Planning Your Brick Border

Before digging in, take some time to plan out your brick border project. Here are a few tips

• Measure the total linear feet of edges along your concrete walkway where you want to install the brick border. This will allow you to calculate the quantity of bricks and other materials needed.

• Choose your bricks. Some people like the look of clay bricks, but concrete bricks are a bit cheaper. Both types are durable. Standard brick size is 4 x 8 inches.

• Allow extra width for a gravel base under the bricks to prevent shifting. A 14 inch wide by 8 inch deep trench is typical.

• Mark the layout with spray paint or flour so you can visualize how it will look. Curve the borderlines around landscaping features.

• Contact your utility companies to locate any buried lines before digging.

Gather Your Materials

You’ll need the following supplies to add a brick border to a concrete walkway:

• Bricks – Calculate linear feet x 3 to determine quantity needed. Allow extras.

• Gravel – Compactable gravel for the base. About 6 inches wider than the bricks.

• Sand – Washed concrete sand to level the base. About 1 inch deeper than brick thickness.

• Plastic edging – Helps secure bricks and prevent shifting.

• Spikes – To anchor the plastic edging. Place every 12 inches.

• Shovel, rake, tamper – For digging and leveling the gravel base.

• Wood scraps – To build screed guides for leveling the base.

• Brick saw – For cutting pavers around curves (rent if needed).

Prepare the Gravel Base

A well-prepared gravel base is necessary to keep the brick border stable over time. Here’s how to do it:

• Dig a 14” wide by 8” deep trench along the edges of the concrete walkway. Dispose of excess soil.

• Fill the trench with compactable gravel in two 3” layers. Tamp each layer thoroughly.

• Screed the gravel flat and smooth using a guide board, 3.5” below walkway edge.

• Compact the gravel again until solid. The level will drop slightly.

• Add a 1” layer of sand. Dampen and screed flat.

The screeded sand and tamped gravel will make a firm base for the brick border, so it won’t move once it’s in place.

Install the Brick Border

With the base prepared, you’re ready to install the brick border:

• Place the bricks on the screeded sand, leaving a small gap to the walkway edge.

• Use a brick saw to cut any custom shapes needed to fit around curves.

• Place bricks end-to-end. Estimate gaps and cut as needed for tight fit.

• Press plastic edging into place along the back of the bricks. Anchor with spikes.

• Tamp bricks to embed into sand until flush with walkway edge.

• Sweep sand into the brick joints. Tamp again to settle.

• Backfill behind edging with soil. Compact lightly and slope smoothly.

• Make any final cuts for a tight fit. Complete by setting and trimming sod behind border.

Finishing Touches

The final step is to apply some finishing touches:

• Sweep away any leftover sand or debris from brick surface.

• Use a concrete bonding agent to secure loose joint sand.

• Consider sealing the bricks to enhance color and prevent stains.

• Plant flowers, ground cover or decorative grasses along the inside edge.

• Add lighting, such as low-voltage landscape lights, to illuminate path at night.

• Enjoy your newly spruced up concrete walkway!

With proper planning and preparation, you can install an elegant brick border along your concrete walkway in a weekend. The upgrade instantly provides visual interest, clearly defines the path’s boundaries, and adds a touch of class. Every time you use your walkway, you’ll appreciate the beauty and charm of your new brick border. Over time, the weathering of the bricks will only add more character. Your neighbors are sure to notice and admire this simple yet dramatic improvement that lifts your walkway from drab to fab.