How to Build a Sidewalk

Posted on September 15th, 2009 by Carmelia

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Building your own sidewalk may seem daunting, but it’s a project that’s totally worth doing. A sidewalk can help spare your lawn grass from getting trodden on, and it can be a good addition to your lawn’s overlook as well. You can save around 2/3 of the cost by building your own sidewalk. Here’s how you can get started.

What You’ll Need

Sidewalk cement
Cement trowel
Hammer
Tape measure
Shovel
2×4 frame
Gravel
Metal rake
Float
Shop broom

Procedure

Determine how wide and how long your sidewalk would be by using a tape measure. For uniformity, keep in mind that we’ll be using 2×4 forms, and that will be the basis of the width of your sidewalk.

sidewalk building

If you’re planning on making a curved sidewalk, measuring out the sidewalk will be a tad different. Use Masonite stripped down to six inches each divided into 4.9 meter lengths. Masonite can be flexed to make the curved form that you wish to use.
A sidewalk should ideally be level with the ground level for aesthetic reasons and to prevent you from tripping over it. Use a shovel to dig in a few inches into the lawn for the sidewalk. Remember that you need to add an inch or two when digging up the width area more to make way for the sidewalk forms later.
Stake down the sidewalk forms in the dug-up strip of lawn areas. For straight sidewalks, 2×4 studs are recommended, while Step 2 outlines what you should used for a curved sidewalk.
Connect the 2×4 frames using a 2×4 block on the outside side of where the joints between two different but connecting frames will meet.
Make sure that the measurement between all frames are even.
Tamp down the dirt in between the frames before laying down gravel or cement. (Tips on how to level a concrete slab before flooring)
You can opt to spread four inches of gravel first into the forms before pouring in the cement. This will help prevent the concrete from cracking due to the shifting ground beneath it. However, if you do opt to use gravel, keep in mind that you’ll have to dig more deeply to accommodate that extra layer, an extra four inches, in fact.
When pouring the cement for your sidewalk, use a wire mesh cut just enough to match the width of the forms. Hold it on top using globs of cement while you pour into the sidewalk forms.
Order sidewalk cement from your local cement company. The total price of the cement and the amount you’ll be buying depends on the square area your sidewalk will be taking up.
The cement company will be the one pouring into the sidewalk forms. Use a metal rake to push forward and pull back the cement to help roughly even it out and to get rid of any air bubbles in the cement.
Use a float to even out the surface of the cement. Run it over the top of the cement until you get it leveled down.
Leave the cement to set for a few hours and use a shop broom to give the surface texture and traction.
Remove the forms after three days and backfill the edges of the sidewalk.

Some Tips

Inform your utility companies if you intend to make your own sidewalk. You may end up marking underground lines and cause service disruption when making your own sidewalk. Call 811 for your state’s OneCall to help notifying your utilities

If you’re interested in learning more about similar do-it-yourself projects, these articles could be a big help: